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Taking into account the stocks at the beginning of the year, the statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year : Ist April, 1948 —- Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stock on wharf . . .. 22 16 0 Stock in bins and vard .. 130 0 0 152 16 0 Add net output for year .. .. .. 58,873 10 0 59,026 6 0 31st March, 1949 Less stock in bins and yard .. 648 1 1 Less stock on wharf .. .. 420 9 0 __ 1,068 10 1 Total disposed of .. .. 57,957 15 3 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Shipped 30,548 9 0 Railed 21,864 14 2 Railway sales .. .. .. 3,589 0 1 Locai and mine sales .. .. 989 4 0 Workmen and free issues .. .. 966 8 0 57,957 15 3 Days Worked. —The colliery worked 2391 days out of a possible 242 days. In addition, the colliery worked 2 substituted statutory holidays and 5 annual holidays, making the total days worked 246f days. The difference between the ordinary days worked, 239f and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows : union meetings and cavils, 2f days ; polling-day, } day. Employees. —In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 121 men and 7 boys, made up as follows : Underground — Hewers .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 • Deputies, shiftmen, and truckers .. .. .. 53 men 2 boys Surface .. .. .. ■. . • • • 43 men 5 boys. Coal-hewers Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers average daily earnings (gross) were £3 6s. 4d., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £3 2s. Bd. Daily Outputs. —The average daily output was 240 tons 17 cwt and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 11 tons 11 cwt. The total number of hewer shifts worked was 5,137. Accidents. —There were 45 accidents during the year, none being of a serious nature. Underground Workings.— l Old Dip Mine : Pillar-extraction has been carried on during the year on the Settlement section and in the lower areas of this mine. In the Settlement, a line of strong concrete dams was built in an endeavour to hold a barrier of water between a recent fire and the present workings. Good extraction has been obtained here by the four pairs working in high coal.

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