C.—2

CO-OPERATIVE MINING, STATE COAL RESERVE. Nineteen co-operative parties working portions of the State Coal Reserve near Greymouth produced, during the year 1938, 108,214 tons, the number of men employed being 170. During the previous year nineteen parties produced 109,052 tons, there being a decrease this year of 838 tons. Up to the end of 1938 these parties have produced a grand total of 1,341,444 tons of coal, and have in the same period paid royalties to the State amounting to £63,028. STATE COAL-MINES. The net profit for the year ended 31st March, 1939, after making provision for interest and depreciation, amounted to £13,313, an increase of £145 compared with the previous year. A sum of £11,767 was transferred to the sinking fund, leaving a net surplus for the year of £1,546. The Liverpool Colliery worked 202 days during the year, an increase of 1 day 5 hours compared with the previous year. At the James Colliery work was carried out on 208 days, a decrease of thirty-two days compared with the previous year. Output and Sales. Liverpool Colliery.—The gross output for the year was 137,533 tons, as compared with 137,806 tons for the previous year, a decrease of 273 tons. James Colliery.—The gross output for the year was 42,649 tons, as compared with 42,608 tons for the previous year, an increase of 41 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, 2,689 tons of coal was purchased for resale, of which 1,312 tons was purchased from co-operative parties on the West Coast. The disposal, inclusive of stock on hand at the beginning of the year, was as follows : Supplied to —Depots, 46,612 tons ; railways, 34,256 tons ; other Government Departments, 8,840 tons; shipping, 6,487 tons; gasworks, 64,864 tons ; other consumers, 5,932 tons : total, 166,991 tons. The total sales of State coal from the Liverpool Mine for the year amounted to 131,437 tons, value £165,243* as compared with 128,793 tons, value £165,752* for the previous year —an increase of 2,644 tons, with a decrease in value of £509. The average price realized by the mine on the total sales for the year was £l ss. l-7d.,* a decrease of 7-2 d. on the previous year's average. The total sales of State coal from the James Mine for the year amounted to 35,554 tons, value £49,579,* as compared with 36,889 tons, value £46,538,* for the previous year —a decrease of 1,335 tons, with an increase in value of £3,041. The average price realized by the mine on the total sales for the year was £l 7s. 10-6 d.* per ton, an increase of 2s. 7-9 d. on the previous year's average. The sales of coal, &c., through the medium of the depots totalled 122,335 tons, value £209,267,* as against 117,821 tons, value £199,343,* for the previous year.

* These values include sales made c.i.f. and f.o.b. as well as f.o.r.

7

Output, in Tons, 1938-39. Output, in Tons, 1937-38. Mino. 4 Gross. j Net. | Gross. j Net. Liverpool .. .. 137,533 131,807 137,806 132,144 James .. .. 42,649 41,434 42,608 j 41,099