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Strongman Colliery Coal-winning.—The gross output for the year was 100,275 tons 4 cwt., a decrease of 6,839 tons 10 cwt. when compared with the figures for the previous year. After allowing for waste (1,355 tons 4 cwt.,) and the quantity used on works (500 tons), there remained for disposal a net output of 98,420 tons. Taking into account the stocks at the beginning and end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year ■ Ist April, 1945 — Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stock in bin and yard .. .. 150 8 1 Stock on wharf .. .. .. 129 0 2 Stock on dump .. .. 1,317 18 3 1,597 7 2 Add small taken on charge ex-dump .. 1,626 16 2 Add net output for year .. .. 98,420 0 0 101,644 4 0 31st March, 1946 Less stock in bin and yard .. 972 15 0 Less stock on wharf .. .. 886 7 3 1,859 2 3 Total disposed of .. .. .. 99,785 1 1 Disposals Shipped .. .. .. 70,698 2 0 Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. 15,895 2 0 Railway sales .. .. .. 3,538 19 3 Local and mine sales .. .. 6,195 7 2 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 3,457 10 0 99,785 1 1 The gross output from the colliery since its inception totals 617,859 tons 14 cwt. Days worked.—The colliery worked 217 days out of a possible 242 ordinary working-days. In addition, the colliery worked 6 back Saturdays, 1 agreement holiday, 1 statutory holiday, and 3 substituted statutory holidays, making the total days worked 228. The difference between the ordinary days worked, 217, and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows : 3 days, power failure ; 1 day, funeral of employee ; 1 day YE celebrations ; 2 days, dispute re heating ; 1 day, stop-work meeting 1 day, copy truckers' contract not supplied ; 1 day, bathhouse cold ; 2 days, YJ celebrations ; 1 day, dispute re rate of payment for YJ days ; 1 day, Liverpool trolley dispute ; 3 days, dispute re Labour Day payment; 1 day, hewers did not work ; 7 days, tonnage-rate dispute. Employees. —-In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 237 men and 7 boys, made up as follows—Underground: coal-hewers, 67; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 115. Surface: 55 men and 7 boys. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £2 17s. 6d. per day, and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £2 12s. lid., an increase of 3s. 9d. per day when compared with the previous year. Daily Output.—The average daily output was 439 tons 16 cwt. and the coal-hewers' daily output was 7 tons 6 cwt., as compared with 439 tons and 7 tons 14 cwt. respectively for the previous year. The total number of hewer shifts for the year was 13,709. Deficiencies. —There were no payments made under the minimum-wage clause during the year. Accidents.—No serious accidents were reported at the Strongman Colliery daring the year.

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