C.—2a

1945 NEW ZEALAND

STATE COAL-MINES (REPORT ON THE WORKING OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1945

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 30th May, 1945. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the workings of the State coal-mines for the year ended 31st March, 1945. Liverpool Colliery Coal-winning.—The gross output for the year was 121,728 tons 14 cwt., a decrease of 13,531 tons 15 cwt. when compared with the figures for the previous year. After allowing for waste (818 tons 14 cwt.), there remained for disposal a net output of 120,910 tons. Taking into account the stocks on hand at the beginning and end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year: Ist April, 1944 —- Tons cwt - Tons cwt " qr ' Stock in bin and yard .. .. 1,674 6 1 Stock on wharf .. .. • • 571 9 2 2,245 15 3 Add net output for year .. .. 120,910 0 0 123,155 15 3 31st March, 1945— Less stock in bin and yard .. .. 2,921 3 1 Less stock on wharf .. • • 391 17 3 3,313 1 0 Total disposed of .. .. •• 119,842 14 3 Disposals Shipped .. •• 71,882 22 Bailed to Canterbury, Otago, &c. .. 33,734 16 0 Railway sales .. .. •• 4,175 10 0 Local and mine sales .. .. • ■ 4, 148 10 0 Sales to workmen and free issues .. .. 1,661 16 1 UsedonWOTks 4 ' 2 *° ° ° 119,842 14 3 - The gross output from the colliery since its inception totals 4,046,872 tons. Days worked.—During the year the colliery worked on 228 days, a decrease of 7 days when compared with the previous year. The possible working-days, including Good Friday, Easter Saturday (1944), and fourteen back Saturdays, were 275. The difference between the days worked and the possible working-days is accounted for as follows : 4 days, power failure ; 1 day, Easter Monday ; 1 day, Anzac Day ; 5 days, bathhouse cold ; 7 days, heating and fire in mine ; 1 day, shortage of timber , 1 day dispute re waiting-time ; 3 days, heavy rain ; 10 days, Christmas holidays ; 2 days, additional Christmas holidays taken by men ; 4 days, dispute re pay ; 6 days, lack of transport railway strike , 1 day, Good Friday (1945) ; 1 day, funeral of late mine-manager. , , . , Employees.—ln connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed m and about the mine was 295 men and 14 boys, made up as follows—Underground: Coal-hewers, 79 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 165. Surface: 51 men and 14 boys. . . , Expenditure.—The total expenditure in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores mine timber, and compensation, together with subsidies on railway tickets and cost of fuel used on works, amounted to £167,937 as compared with £138,026 for the previous year. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £2 15s. 4d. per day, and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £2 lis. 9d., an increase of 7s. per day when compared with the previous period. Daily Output.—The average daily output was 533 tons 18 cwt. and the coal-hewers average daily output was 7 tons 18 cwt., as compared with 575 tons 12 cwt, and 7 tons 11 cwt, respectively for the previous year. The total number of hewer shifts for the year was 15,428. Deficiencies.—There were no payments made under the minimum-wage clause during the year. Accidents. During the year there were numerous accidents of a minor nature, but none of a serious nature.