C.—2

MINING AND QUARRY ACCIDENTS. In metalliferous mines, at which 6,746 men were ordinarily employed, five persons were killed and three persons seriously injured. At stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, employing 2,002 men, there were four fatal accidents and ten serious accidents. In coal-mines, where 4,231 persons were ordinarily employed, two persons were killed and twenty persons seriously injured. CO-OPERATIVE MINING, STATE COAL RESERVE. Twenty co-operative parties working portions of the State Coal Reserve near Greymouth produced during the year 1935 91,384 tons, the number of men employed being 166. During the previous year eighteen parties produced 95,357 tons, there being a decrease this year of 3,973 tons. The institution of the co-operative mining ventures on the State Coal Reserve has been a most successful experiment, and has been of great value to the State. Up to the end of 1935 these parties have produced a grand total of 1,022,559 tons of coal, and have in the same period paid royalties to the State amounting to £46,832. A number of small isolated blocks of coal have been worked which could not have been profitably mined by a major organization, and if the co-operative system had not been developed much of this coal would probably have been left unmined for all time. STATE COAL-MINES. The outputs from both the Liverpool Colliery and the James Colliery showed substantial increases for the year. The profit for the year ended 31st March, 1936, after providing for interest and depreciation, amounted to £10,182, a decrease of £2,823 on the result for the previous year. A sum of £8,819 was transferred to the sinking fund, leaving a net surplus for the year of £.1,363. The steps taken to keep in much closer touch with the Department's customers throughout the country generally, with a view to improving the service given, have resulted in increased "business. The advertising campaign has been continued in several centres. As an indication of the results being obtained, the Liverpool Colliery worked during 1935-36 24 per cent, greater time than for the previous year, while at the James Colliery the increase was 36 per cent. The employees at the State collieries, in common with other coal - mine employees, received an increase (amounting to approximately £3,436 for the year) of 5 per cent, in the rate of their wages as from May, .1935, but no increase in the price of coal has been made on this account. The operations of the State coal-mines and State Coal Depots for the year ended. 31st March, 1935, are briefly reviewed hereunder. Output and Sales. Liverpool Colliery.—The gross output for the year was 121,531 tons, as compared with 102,484 tons for the previous year, an increase of 19,047 tons. James Colliery.—The gross output for the year was 34,502 tons, as compared with 26,845 tons for the previous year, an increase of 7,657 tons. A comparative statement for the two years is shown hereunder

Note.—The difference between the gross and the net output is the allowance for mine consumption and waste. In addition to the above, 1,552 tons of coal was purchased for resale, of which 1,166 tons was purchased from co-operative parties on the West Coast.

10

Output, in Tons, 1935-36. : Output, in Tons, 1934-35. Mine. Gross. Net. Gross. Net. ! I I Liverpool .. .. 121,531 115,260 102,484 96,880 James .. .. j 34,502 33,170 26,845 25,965