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The Manager, Mossbank State Colliery, Ohai, to the Under-Secretary, MinesDepartment, Wellington Sir, — 14th June, 1946. I have the honour to submit my report on the workings of the Mossbank StateMine and the Bar 20 Opencast for the year Ist April, 1945, to the 31st March, 1946. Mossbank Colliery Coal-winning.—The gross output for the year was 24,127 tons 14 cwt. 2 qr. After allowing for waste (508 tons 6 cwt. 2 qr.) and the quantity used on works (983 tons 5 cwt. 2 qr.), there remained for disposal a net output of 22,636 tons 2 cwt. 2 qr. The following statement shows details of coal disposed of during the year : Ist April, 1945 — Tons cwt. qr. Stocks in yard .. .. .. .. Nil Add net output for year .. .. 22,636 22 Add surplus stock .. .. .. .. 88 13 2 22,724 16 0 31st March, 1946 Less stock in yard .. .. .. .. Nil Total disposed of .. .. .. 22,724 16 0 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Railed .. . .. .. 22,437 1 0 Local and mine sales .. .. 35 0 0 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 252 15 0 22,724 16 0 The gross output from the colliery since operated by the State totals 35,946 tons 18 cwt. 2 qr. Days worked. —The Mossbank Colliery worked 229-75 days out of a possible 242 ordinary working-days. In addition, the colliery worked 12 back Saturdays and 6> statutory holidays, making the total days worked 247-75 days. The difference between the ordinary days worked and the possible number of ordinary working-days is accounted for as follows : 0-75 days, power failure; 1 day, Easter Tuesday; 1 day r YE celebrations ; 4 days, dispute over telephones ; 2 days, VJ celebrations ; 1 day r dispute over waiting- time ; 1 day, funeral of member of Miner's Union ; 1 day, defect in fan starter; 0-5 day, Christmas holidays. Employees. —In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 46 men and 1 boy, made up as follows Underground : coal-hewers, 17 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 21. Surface : 8 men and 1 boy. Daily Output. —The average daily output was 96 tons 7 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 7 tons 8 cwt., as compared with 93 tons 16 cwt. and 7 tons 4 cwt. respectively for the previous year. Dejiciencies. —No payments were made under the minimum-wage clause. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings. —The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) was £3 os. lid., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £2 14s. 6d., an increase of 4s. 9d. per day when compared with the previous year. Accidents. —Two serious accidents and several minor accidents occurred during the year under review.

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