a-2

42

In the foregoing statement a decrease of 188,716 tons is shown in the annual output; for such decrease the bituminous-coal mines of the West Coast arc responsible for 148,875 tons; but at all the coalfields, except Waikalo and Inangahua, the output for 1917 was less than that of the preceding year. The decline in the coal-product inn was due lo restriction of output at sonic mines during the first four mouths of the year; also lo the reduction in the number of millers employed underground. In Otago damage by Hood during (he early part of the year caused temporary suspension of work al some mines. The quantity of coal imported into the Dominion during 11117 was 291,597 lons, as against 293,956 (luring 1910; the quantity exported being 228,843 tons, as against 331,675 during the previous year. The production from, and (he mi.Tiber of persons employed at. the principal collieries of the Dominion are shown in Ihe following table : —

The only new colliery of importance which attained the output stage during the year was the Awaroa Colliery, the property of Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited), situated about six miles south-west from Huntly on a short branch line from the Iluntly-Pukemiro Railway. At some of the principal collieries on the west coast of the South Island some coal areas which hitherto had remained inoperative, owing to difficulty of access, sntallncss of seam, or friability of coal, have been developed as a result of the increased price and considerable demand for coal of almost any class.

SECTION II.—PERSONS EMPLOYED.

Total Number of t ... ™ . , Output for Name of Colliery. Locality. Class of Coal. far, Total Output to 31st December, 1917. Persons ordinarily employed. I I Northern District. Tons> Hikurangi ... ... ... Hikurangi... Semi-bitu- 31,881 minous Taupiri Extended ... ... Huntly ... Brown ... 192,205 Pukemiro ... ... ... Pukemiro... „ ... 89,375 Waipa ... ... ... ... Glen Massey „ ... 81,718 West Coast District. ,, ,, , j , | Millerton ... Bituminous 279,760 Coalbrookdale ... ... -p. . , „ nm I Denniston „ 200,950 Westport-Stockton ... ... Mangatini „ 167,122 (Point Elizabeth... ! DunoUie ... Semi-bitu- 119,411 State Coal-mines -j minous (Liverpool ... Kewanui ... Bituminous 145,856 Blackball ... ... ... Blackball... „ 132,515 Southern District. Kaitangata and Castle Hill ... Kaitangata ; Brown ... 107,274 Nightcaps ... ... ... Nightcaps... j '„ ... 73,133 Other New Zealand collieries ... All coalfields > Various ... 445,519 Tons. 1,099,922 2,182,181 181,966 319,699 5,252,4.25; 7,601,5881 1,203,492 2i255,717i 95 339 145 100 440 J 409 280 189 472,471 2,588,380 302 |, 286 3,507,495 1,254,144 288 116 18,329,110 || 994 Totals ... ... ... ... 2,068,419 2,068,419 46,158,590 3,983

Average Number of Persons employed during 1917. Inspection District. Above Ground. Below Ground. Total. Northern West Coast Southern 225 590 275 I 618 1,596 679 843 2,186 954 Totals, 1917 1,090 2,893 I 3,983 Totals, 1916 988 3,000 I 3,988