C—2a

The following statement shows details of coal disposed of during the year : Ist April, 1948 — Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stocks in yard Add net output for year .. 24,789 11 0 31st March, 1949 Less stocks in yard Total disposed'of .. .. 24,789 11 0 Disposals' Tons cwt. qr. Railed .. .. .. .. 24,530 11 0 Local and mine sales .. .. 2 0 0 Workmen and free issues .. .. 257 0 0 24,789 11 0 The gross output for the colliery since taken over by the State on 2nd October,. 1944, totals 115,445 tons 0 cwt. 3qr. Days Worked. —The Mossbank Colliery worked 232 days out of a possible 242 ordinary working-days. In addition, the colliery worked 2 statutory holidays, making the total days worked 234. The difference between the days worked and the possible number of ordinary working-days is accounted for as follows : 4 days, prolonged union meetings ; 1 day, funeral of ex-member of Miners' Union ; 1 day, heating in workings • 3 days, power failures ; 1 day, union meeting. ' Employees. —In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons engaged in or about the mine was 45 men and 2 boys, made up as follows —Underground : Coal-hewers, 15 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 20. Surface : 10 men and 2 boys. Daily Output.—The average daily output was 112 tons 14 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 8 tons 7 cwt., as compared with 116 tons 16 cwt. and 8 tons 14 cwt. respectively for the previous year. Deficiencies. —Eight payments aggregating £9 15s. Id. were made to coal-hewers under the minimum-wage clause. Goal-hewers'' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £3 Bs. 10d., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £3 4s. 4d., an increase of 3s. 9d. per day when compared with the previous year. Accidents.—Only a few minor accidents occurred during the year under review. Stone-dusting.—This work was done regularly throughout the year. Underground Workings.—Pillar-extraction was continued throughout the year in the lower (south-west) part of the mine and in No. 1 rise panel. The completion of a new access drive released the coal-seam underlying the original drives and enabled production to be continued at a higher output towards the end of the year. Stone work carried out in the access drive consisted of one drive 780 ft. in length rising towards the surface at a grade of 1 in 3J and a cross-cut connection to the surface 170 ft. in length falling at the rate of 1 in 40. At the junction of both drives a 75 h.p. flameproof hauler was installed hauling a maximum load of 10 trucks with a gross weight of 15 cwt. each when loaded. Six electric lights enclosed in flameproof fittings were also installed in the new drive. The altered transport system resulted in the elimination of a steam-driven aircompressor, a steam-driven hauler, and two boilers. The extension of the bathhouse was completed, and preparations are proceeding for the installation of an electric air-conditioning system.

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