C.—2.

The output for 1931 (2,157,756 tons) is 384,336 tons less than that of 1930, and is the largest yearly decrease so far recorded. There was a steady increase since 1922 until this year. In the Northern District there was an increased output of 68,587 tons consequent on the steamdriven power plant at Auckland being required to generate current while the hydro-electric-power station at Arapuni was under repair. In common with the rest of New Zealand the northern miners, owing to the decreased demand, suffered a great deal of idle time, but it is pleasing to record that there was little stoppage owing to labour disputes. Erom the West Coast District the output was 395,577 tons less than that of the previous year, that decrease being due chiefly to the restricted use of bituminous coal and to frequent stoppages owing to petty labour disputes. The demand for coal for railway use is still much restricted owing to the trade depression, and there seems little likelihood of any improvement in that direction for some time. In the Southern District the output shows a decrease of 57,346 tons. That decrease is most noticeable at mines supplying the better grade of household fuel, as the community is purchasing the cheaper fuels and farmers are even sawing down fir and other trees for domestic fires. Much idle time was experienced at the Kaitangata and Oliai Mines, and at most of the latter the miners are still sharing the available work. The production from and the number of persons employed at the collieries of the Dominion are shown in the following table : —

SECTION II.— PERSONS EMPLOYED.

6—C. 2.

41

Total Total Output to Number of Name of Colliery. Locality. Class of Coal. i qqi 31sfc December. I Persons la,u - 1931. ! ordinarily employed. Northern District. Tons. I Tons. Hikurangi .. .. .. Hikurangi .. Sub-bituminous 54,394 I 449,156 177 Wilson's .. .. .. „ .. „ 46,857 592,999 184 Rotowaro .. .. .. Huntly .. Brown .. 130,754 1,633,856 287 Pukemiro .. .. .. „ .. „ .. 110,069 1,996,777 236 Glen Afton .. .. .. Glen Afton .. „ .. 185,202 1,365,575 430 MacDonald .. .. .. Waikokowai .. „ .. 91,905 91,905 193 Renown .. .. .. „ .. „ .. 82,749 270,629 183 Egmont .. .. .. Tangarakau .. „ .. 26,557 42,854 56 West Coast District. Westport-Stockton .. .. Ngakawau .. Bituminous .. 107,356 2,902,398 306 Millerton .. .. .. Millerton .. „ .. 71,757 8,143,313 389 Denniston .. .. .. Denniston .. „ .. 133,762 10,106,876 487 Westportmain .. .. .. Westport .. ,, .. 14,758 172,098 45 Cardiff Bridge .. .. .. Seddonville .. „ .. 20,624 210,904 29 Paparoa .. .. .. Roa .. Semi-bituminous 26,608 679,603 36 Blackball .. .. .. Blackball .. Bituminous .. 12,171 3,909,598 47 Liverpool (State).. .. .. Rewanui .. „ ., 120,840 2,284,787 347 James (State) .. .. .. Rapahoe .. Sxib-bituminous 38,783 308,204 79 Dobson .. .. .. Dobson .. Bituminous .. 66,432 511,970 288 Wallsend .. .. .. Brunnerton .. ,, .. 58,861 373,860 173 Southern District. Shag Point .. .. .. Shag Point .. Brown .. 17,011 301,635 60 Kaitangata and Castlehill (3 collieries) Kaitangata .. ,, .. 92,773 4,884,809 245 Linton (2 collieries) .. .. Nightcaps .. ,, .. 90,516 822,065 180 Wairaki (2 collieries) .. .. „ .. ,, .. 29,030 395,445 64 Mossbank (2 collieries) .. .. ,, ., ,, .. 45,669 360,164 76 157 other collieries .. .. All coalfields .. Various .. 482,318 7,807,693 1,148 Collieries abandoned or suspended, &c. Various .. „ .. .. 25,379,374 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 2,157,756 75,998,547 5,745

Average Number of Persons employed during 1931. Inspection District. —-———w —-—* Above Ground. Below Ground. j Total. : I . Southern .. .. 232 705 937 West Coast .. .. . . 698 2,049 2,747 Northern .. .. .. . . 484 1,577 2,061 Totals, 1931 .. 1,414 4,331 5,745 Totals, 1930 .. .. 1,437 | 4,430 : 5,867 l ... I