C.—2A.

supplying all plant and material required near the entrance to the mine. As this system of working was an experiment, it was arranged that a record should be kept of the amount the party would have earned under the industrial-agreement rates, in order that a comparison in the two systems could be obtained. The party worked under the co-operative system from the beginning of October to the 14th March, and they would have continued working under this system had the union t stepped in and compelled them, tojterminate their contracts. The following is a comparative statement showing the amount the party would have earned under the industrial-agreement rates, together with the amount earned under the co-operative system : Industrial agreement, £2,090 18s. Bd. ; co-operative system, £2,525 Is. 4d. : difference, £434 2s. Bd. From these figures it will be seen that the party earned to the extent of £434 2s. Bd. more under the co-operative system than they would have under the industrial-agreement rates for the period. During the time this mine was being worked on the co-operative system the men worked amicably together, and the management were perfectly satisfied with the manner in which they carried out their work. There is no doubt but that the co-operative system is preferable in many ways to the old system to all concerned, and it is a great pity the union stepped in and caused them to terminate their contracts. At the Liverpool Colliery there are several sections suitable for working under the co-operative contract system, if the union would only agree to them being so worked. For some reason or other the union is opposed to sections being worked on the co-operative system. From what can be ascertained, the union is not opposed to the system if there was one contract price covering all sections, but this the management claim is not practicable, owing to several sections nearing exhaustion, whilst others are only in the development stage. A party of twenty-one men came to terms with the management for working the No. 3 mine (bins seam) on the co-operative-contract system, but they worked only eighteen days when they were compelled by the union to terminate their contract. In this case a record was not kept of the difference in earnings between the industrial-agreement rates and co-operative-contract rates. The men, however, were so satisfied with the new system that they did not like terminating their contract. During the period the coal-hewers worked 194 days and produced 1,439 tons 13 cwt., an average of 7 tons 7-4 cwt. per man per day. The other nine men worked 79 days, making a total of 273 for the party. After making allowance for stores (explosives), their net total earnings amounted to £585 17s. Bd., an average of £2 2s. lid. per day for all members of the party for the period. Tree-planting. —On a portion of the State Coal Reserve at Dunollie about 45 acres were planted in five different varieties of trees, viz. : Oregon pine, 30,000 ; Eucalyptus viminalis, ] 5,000; E. Macarthuri, 12,200 ; E. euyenioides, 400 ; E. Gunnii, 400 : total, 58,000 trees. Of the trees planted, those planted on the flat on the banks of the Seven-mile appear to have come on best, particularly the Eucalyptus. The Oregon pines have also done well on the fiat, but not so well as the Eucalyptus. On the small hill overlooking the Dunollie Station, about 3 acres were planted in Oregon pine, but these have not done well. The soil apparently is either not suitable, or the failure may be due to the plants being too long on hand before they were planted. Arrangements have been made to plant an additional 50 acres during the ensuing year on the area adjoining the one already planted on the banks of the Seven-mile Creek. An officer from the Forestry Department recently paid a visit of inspection, and after a consultation it was decided that the area now being felled and burned be planted in Pinus radiatu, Eucalyptus Gunnii, and E. viminalis —20,000 of each. Last season the trees to be planted arrived at one time and necessitated a deal of labour in what is known as " heeling in." This season, however, arrangements have been made for the trees to arrive in parcels of 20,000, with an interval of three weeks between each. During the recent summer the trees on an area of approximately 3| acres were destroyed by fire. The fire was discovered late one Saturday evening, and how it originated was never ascertained. James Collieky. The gross total output for the year was 28,995 tons, an increase of 3,188 tons 9 cwt. over the previous year. After making allowance for stocks on hand at the beginning of the year and deducting mine consumption and waste, there remained for disposal 27,793 tons 8 cwt., which is accounted for as follows :— Export — Tons cwt. Tons cwt. Screened .. .. .. .. .. 9,277 10 Unscreened .. .. .. .. .. 740 10 Small .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,175 15 Nuts .. .. .. .. .. .. 689 3 17,882 18 Rail to Christchurch — Screened .. .. .. .. .. 7,091 14 Unscreened .. .. .. .. .. 251 18 Small .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,244 16 Nuts .. .. .. .. .. .. 99 10 8,687 18 Local sales — Screened .. .. .. .. .. 527 3 Unscreened .. .. .. .. .. 17 4 Small .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 13 Nuts .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 10 —— 560 10

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