C.—2

for 1932 is bad, since it is expected that Arapuni Power-station will resume operations in June, 1932, with an output of 60,000 kw., and the Auckland Power-station, which now consumes over 3,000 tons of coal per week, will then close down. During 1930 competition between the various mines was very keen, and prices have been forced down to such an extent as to make it doubtful if any of the mines can produce coal and sell it at a profit at the present prices. The output from the West Coast District decreased by 3,937 tons. In the early part of the year the market was fairly good by reason of the coal strike on the Maitland field in New South Wales, but in the latter part of the year much idle time was experienced. The trade depression has reduced the consumption of coal on the railways, while the extended use of hydro-electricity is reducing the demand for coal for gasworks, household, and industrial purposes. The Buller district is more affected than the Grey district. The Buller district in former years supplied most of the bunker coal used in New Zealand ports ; that market has been much reduced through the increasing use of oil fuel on ocean liners. The Grey district has the advantage of through railway connection to Canterbury and has increased its market there at the expense of the Buller district. Both districts are suffering from competition with coal imported from Australia ; Newcastle screened coal can at present be landed at New Zealand main ports at prices below which it is possible to land screened bituminous coal from the West Coast. In the Southern District the output for the year showed an increase of 13,711 tons. In spite of this, much idle time was experienced during the summer months, and at some of the mines the miners are sharing the available work. Comparatively little time was lost during the year from industrial troubles. The number of co-operative parties working small mines still continues to increase. The production from and the number of persons employed at the collieries of the Dominion are shown in the following table :—

SECTION II.—PERSONS EMPLOYED.

43

Total nut-™.* fnr Total Output to Number of Name of Colliery. Locality. Class of Coal. ;L„ 31st December, Persons 1930. ordinarily employed. Northern District. ! Tons. Tons. Hikurangi .. .. .. Hikurangi .. Sub-bituminous 46,773 394,762 187 Wilson's .. .. .. „ .. „ 58,787 546,142 188 Rotowaro .. .. .. Huntly .. Brown .. 143,163 1,503,102 273 Pukemiro .. .. .. „ .. „ .. 127,205 1,886,708 257 Waipa .. .. .. .. „ .. „ .. 33,071 1,071,346 107 GlenAfton .. .. .. Glen Afton .. „ .. 177,244 1,180,373 361 Renown .. .. .. Waikokowai .. ,, .. 88,790 187,880 179 West Coast District. Westport-Stockton .. .. Ngakawau .. Bituminous .. 152,600 2,795,042 311 Millerton .. .. .. Millerton .. ,, .. 168,185 8,071,556 450 Denniston .. .. .. Denniston .. ,, .. 187,165 9,973,114 522 Westportmain .. .. .. Westport .. ,, .. 29,272 157,340 43 Cardiff Bridge .. .. .. Seddonville .. „ .. 24,844 190,280 28 Paparoa .. .. .. Roa .. Semi-bituminous 28,150 652,995 36 Blackball .. .. .. Blackball .. Sub-bituminous 96,076 3,897,427 301 Liverpool (State).. .. .. Rewanui .. Bituminous .. 132,550 2,163,947 334 James (State) .. .. .. Rapahoe .. Sub-bituminous 42,284 269,421 79 Dobson .. .. .. Dobson .. Bituminous .. 117,386 445,538 311 Wallsend .. .. .. Brunnerton .. ,, .. 62,573 314,999 161 Southern District. Shag Point .. .. .. Shag Point .. Brown .. 21,464 284,624 60 Kaitangata and Castlehill (3 collieries) Kaitangata .. ,, .. 101,672 4,792,036 249 Linton (2 collieries) .. .. Nightcaps .. ,, .. 116,910 731,549 165 Wairaki (2 collieries) .. .. „ .. „ .. 39,489 366,415 94 Mossbank (2 collieries) .. .. „ .. „ .. 50,613 314,495 78 155 other collieries .. .. All coalfields .. Various .. 495,826 7,887,214 1,093 Collieries abandoned or suspended, &c. Various .. ,, .. .. 23,762,486 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 2,542,092 73,840,791 5,867

Average Number of Persons employed during 1930. Inspection District. — Above Ground. Below Ground. Total. Southern .. .. .. 232 701 933 West Coast .. .. 766 2,354 3,120 Northern .. •• .. 439 1,375 1,814 Totals, 1930 .. 1,437 4,430 5,867 Totals, 1929 .. .. 1,370 4,127 5,497 ■ . J