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Session 11. 1923. NEW ZEALAND.

STATE COAL-MINES (REPORT ON THE WORKING OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1923.

Prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 118 of the Coal-mines Act, 1908.

The Superintendent, State Coal-mines, Greymouth, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department; Wellington. Sir,— 15th May, 1923. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the working of the State coal-mines for the year ended 31st March, 1923. Liverpool Colliery. The gross total output of coal for the year was 116,285 tons 3 cwt., a decrease of 21,622 ton s 17 cwt. when compared with the figures of last year. After making allowance for stocks on hand a* the beginning of the year, and deducting mine consumption and waste, there remained for disposal 117,391 tons 15 cwt., which is accounted for as follows : — Export — Tons.fiCwt. Tons. Cwt. Screened ... .. .. .. .. 18,9575,. 4 Unscreened .. .. .. .. .. 46,432|12 Small .. .. .. .. .. .. 32,548 181 9 Local sales — : ; | Screened .. .. .. .. .. 893 11 Unscreened .. . . . . .. .. 6,981 15 Bunker .. .. .. .. .. 5,316 15 13,192 1 Mine sales — Mine sales .. . . .. . . .. 26 10 Sold to workmen.. .. .. .. .. 2,268 1 Stock in bin .. .. .. .. .. 3,581 12 5,876 3 Stock on wharf — Screened .. .. .. .. .. 248 13 Unscreened .. .. .. .. .. 136 9 385 2 117,391 15 Used on works .. • .. .. .. .. 3,258 0 Waste 669 3 3,927 3 Days worked. — During the year the Nos. 1 and 3 mines worked 209| days and 215J days respectively, a decrease of 19-J and 13J days respectively, as compared with the number worked last year. The mine was idle for the reasons hereinafter set forth and for the periods mentioned, viz. :— No. 1 Mine. No. 3 Mine. Union holidays (not in award) . . .. .. .. 3 3 Union holidays (award) .. . . .. .. 20 20 Pay Saturdays .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 26 Seamen's strike .. .. .. .. .. ..11 11 Strike over walking-time .. .. .. ... .. 13 12 Stop-work meetings at mine . . .. .. .. .. 4 2 Stop-work meetings at wharf . . .. .. .. 1 1 Strike over reduced rates . . . . . . .. .. 2 1 Delays to shipping and irregularity of orders .. .. .. 17 17 Bar unworkable .. .. .. • • • ■ .. 1 1 Slip on railway .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 2 Fall on endless-rope road .. .. .. .. \\ Quarterly cavils .. .. • ■ • • • • If If 103J 97f

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