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Plant. —A centrifugal pump operated by alO h.p. flameproof motor was installed in the Main Dip and will be replaced by a larger pump when the necessary equipment is available. All plant operated satisfactorily and repairs and maintenance were efficiently attended to by the engineering staff. Buildings.—An extension to the bathhouse was completed, and a new explosives magazine was erected near the mine entrance. Birchwood Colliery Coal-winning.—The gross output for the year was 22,524 tons 1 cwt. Afterallowing for waste (407 tons 15 cwt.) and the quantity used on works (483 tons 15 cwt.) there remained for disposal 21,632 tons 11 cwt. _ 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 .. 21,632 11 0 31st March, 1949 — Less stocks in yard .. .. •• Total disposed of .. 21,632 11 0 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Railed 21,290 11 0 Local and mine sales .. • • 24 -0 0 Workmen and free issues .. 318 0 0 21 5 632 11 0 The gross output for the colliery since taken over by the State on 28th November, 1947, totals 28,716 tons 2 cwt. 1 qr. Bavs Worked— The Birchwood Colliery worked 230 days out of a possible 242 ordinary working-days. In addition, the colliery worked on 2 statutory holidays, making the total days worked 232. The difference between the days worked and the possible number of ordinary working-days is accounted for as follows : 1 day, union meeting , 1 day, funeral of ex-member of Miners' Union ; 1 day, power failure ; 3 days, machinery breakdowns: 6 days, prolonged disputes meetings. Employees. —In connection with coal-wmnmg, the average number of persons engaged in and about the mine was 53 men, made up as follows Underground : Coalhewers, 19 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 21. Surface : 13 men. No boys were m regular employment at the colliery. , , , , , Daily Output.—The average daily output was 97 tons 1 cwt., and the coal-hewers average daily output was 5 tons 14 cwt., as compared with 84 tons 16 cwt. and 5 tons 4 cwt respectively for the previous year. (Note.— These figures are based on coalproduction only, and do not include stone dumped ex the mine, of which there was a mnSl payments aggregating £l3 16s. Bd. were made to coal-hewers under the minimum-wage clause. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings. —The coal-hewers average daily earnmgs (gross) were £3 Bs. 10d., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £3 2s. lOd. a decrease of 2s. per day when compared with the previous year. Accidents. Only a few minor accidents occurred during the year. Stone-dusting work was done regularly throughout the year. . Underground Worlcings.—Development work m Nos. 3 and 4 Dips terminated m stony coal less than 4 ft. in thickness and pillar-extraction commenced m the area to the north-west of the main drive.

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