C.—2

(e) Electricity at Collieries. (Regulation 243.) The following is a summary of the annual returns, in accordance with Regulation 243 (c), regarding electrical apparatus at collieries : — Number of collieries at which electrical apparatus is installed .. .. 70 Number of continuous-current installations .. .. . . .. 15 Number of alternating-current installations .. .. . . .. 56 Number of collieries electrically lighted .. .. .. .. 21 Number of collieries using electrical ventilating-machines .. .. 53 Number of collieries using electrical pumping plants .. .. .. 45 Number of collieries using electrical haulage plants . . .. .. 49 Number of collieries using electrical screening plants .. .. .. 35 Number of collieries using electrical coal-cutting machines .. .. 4 Number of collieries using electrical miscellaneous plants .. .. 27 Number of collieries using electrical locomotives .. .. .. 1 Total horse-power employed from motors on surface .. .. 8,918 Total horse-power employed from motors below ground .. .. .. 4,472 (/) Prosecutions. Twelve informations were laid during 1938 by the Inspectors of Coal-mines for breaches of the Coal-mines Act and the regulations thereunder. Four were against truckers working in a safety-lamp mine and charged with having smoking-material in their possession. Another trucker working at the same mine refused to allow himself to be searched, and he was charged with that offence. Two mine-owners and two mine-managers were prosecuted, and the other cases were against a deputy, a miner, and a carpenter. The case against the deputy was dismissed on payment of costs, but convictions were recorded in all the other cases. Accounts of the individual prosecutions are given in the reports of the District Inspectors of Coal-mines. SECTION V.—LEGISLATION AFFECTING COAL-MINES. There was no amendment to the Coal-mines Act, 1925, or to the regulations during the year, but preparations are well in hand for a consolidation of the regulations, and that work will soon be completed. I desire to acknowledge the ready assistance given by the District Inspectors of Coal-mines and their continued endeavour for better and safer mining methods. The Inspector for the Southern District, Mr. Job Hughes, resigned from the position to take charge of the Linton Collieries on 30th June and Mr. J. Hadcroft, one of the two West Coast Inspectors, was transferred to succeed Mr. Hughes. The vacancy on the West Coast was filled by the appointment, on Ist September, of Mr. James McArthur, manager of the Coalbrookdale Colliery. G. Duggan, Inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector of Coal-mines.

9 —C. 2.

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