C— 2a.

1932. NEW ZEALAND.

STATE COAL-MINES (REPORT ON THE WORKING OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1932.

Prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 184 of the Coal-mines Act, 1925

The Superintendent, State Coal-mines, Greymouth, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. g IE _ 12th April, 1932. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the workings of the State Coal-mines for the year ended 31st March. 1932. Liverpool Colliery. Coal-winning.— -The gross total output for the year was 120,560 tons 18 cwt., a reduction of 10,541 tons 13 cwt. when compared with the figures of last year. After making allowances for stocks on hand at the beginning of the year and deducting mine consumption and waste, there remained for disposal 117,604 tons 8 cwt., which is accounted for as follows : —

The gross total output from this colliery since its inception amounts to 2,317,403 tons 14 cwt. Days worked.— During the year the colliery worked on 172 days. The possible working-days, excluding union holidays and pay Saturdays, were "279. The difference between those worked and the possible working-days is accounted for as follows : Lack of orders, 65 ; dispute between Miners' and Engine-drivers' unions, 10; stop-work meeting, 1; demonstration at Blackball, 1; stop-work meeting over tribute mining, 1 ; stoppage over reduction in wages, 2 ; heavy rainfall, 1 ; back Saturdays, 26 : total, 107. Employees. —In connection with coal-winning the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 356, made up as follows : Underground—Coal-hewers, 118 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 138. On the surface—7o men and 30 boys. In addition to the above, an average of 5 men were employed on development work. Expenditure— -The total expenditure in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores, minetimber, and compensation, together with subsidies on railway tickets and cost of fuel used on works, amounted to £88,330 16s. lid., as compared with £102,470 17s. 4d. for the previous year. -In addition, £3,574 10s. was expended on development work, comprising the drainage-adit, concrete wall at the bins, and drill-store at Dunollie.

I—C. 2a,

Screened. Unscreened. Small. Total. I Tons owt. qr. Tons owt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Tons owt. qr. Export .. .. 11,241 6 0 ' 24,031 7 0 29,127 15 0 64,400 8 0 Rail to Canterbury .. 10,334 11 3 9,460 11 0 17,756 10 0 37,55112 3 Local sales .. .'. 5,395 4 3 535 3 0 . 2,999 12 3 8,930 0 2 Mine sales .. .. .. 17 0 0 .. 17 0 0 Sales to workmen and free .. 1,978 8 0 .. 1,978 8 0 issues Stock in bin .. .. .. 3,877 11 3 400 0 0 4,277 11 3 Stock on wharf .. .. 206 16 0 57 16 0 184 15 0 449 7 0 27,177 18 2 39,957 16 3 50,468 12 3 117,604 8 0 Used on works .. .. .. 5,016 0 0 .. 5,016 0 0 Waste .. .. . • 984 18 0 .. 984 18 0 Totals.. .. 27,177 18 2 45,958 14 3 50,468 12 3 123,605 6 0