C.—2.

The following statement shows the tons of coal raised, persons employed, lives lost by accidents in or about collieries, &c., to 1936 : —

SECTION lII.—ACCIDENTS. The following is a summary of accidents in and about coal-mines during 1936, with their causes

In 1936 the fatal accidents in New Zealand coal-mines were at the rate of 0-94 per thousand persons employed, and at the rate of 1-87 per million tons of coal produced. _ For the third year in succession I have pleasure in recording that no fatal accident occurred m Northern District coal-mines. In West Coast coal-mines two fatalities occurred in 1936 and two also in Southern District mines. Two of the four fatalities were caused by falls of coal m working-places. The fatal accidents are referred to in the District Inspectors' reports, but the following are short statements concerning them : — . . John McLeod, a miner working in the Linton No. 1 Mine, was fatally injured on 13th January by being struck by a runaway truck. The full truck of coal had been standing on a flat sheet at the

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Lives lost by Accidents in or Persons ordinarily employed. Ton g ra i se( j about Collieries. Year - Statute Tons j sot employed Per Million xho P u e s r and Number Statute ions. Mow Ground Tons inousano o£ Llvea Above Ground. Below Ground. ; Total. produced, employed 8 Prior to 1900 13,444,437 * * * * * * U5 1900 .. 1,093,990 | 617 1,843 2,460 593 3-65 1-62 4 1901 .. 1,239,686 ! 688 2,066 2,754 600 2-42 1-09 3 1902 .. 1,365,040 803 2,082 2,885 655 1-46 0-69 2 1903 .. 1,420,229 717 2,135 2,852 66o 2-81 1-40 4 1904 1 537 838 763 2,525 3,288 609 2-60 1\-1 4 iTot :: iffi™ 833 2 ',436 3,269 651 3-78 1-83 6 1906 .. 1,729,536 1,174 2,518 3,692 687 3-46 1-62 6 1907 .. 1,831,009 1,143 2,767 3,910 662 ! 6-55 307 12 1908 .. 1,860,975 992 2,902 3,894 641 , 2-68 1-28 5 1909 .. 1,911,247 1,159 3,032 4,191 630 | 3-66 1-67 7 1910 .. 2,197,362 1,136 3,463 4,599 634 7-28 3-48 6 1911 •• 2,066,073 1,365 2,925 4,290 706 | 6-77 3-26 14 1912 .. 2,177,615 1,130 3,198 4,328 681 4 13 2-08 9 1913 1,888,005 1,053 3,197 4,250 590 , -3-18 1-41 6 1914 .. 2,275,614 1,176 3,558 4,734 o39 ~1 o3 10-35 49f 1915 .. 2,208,624 1,050 3,106 4,156 711 i 4'07 --16 9 1916 .. 2,257,135 988 | 3,000 3,988 752 2-65 1-50 6 1917 .. 2,068,419 1,090 2,893 3,983 715 1-03 1-00 4 1918 .. 2,034,250 1,102 2,892 3,994 703 2-95 1-50 6 1919 1 847,848 1,095 2,849 3,944 648 5-41 2-53 10 1920 •• 1,843,705 1,152 2,926 4,078 630 0-54 0-24 1 1921 .. 1,809,095 1,218 3,149 4,367 574 5 52 2.8 10 1922 .. 1,857,819 1,191 3,365 4,55b 552 3 23 1 31 6 1923 •• 1,969,834 1,353 3,647 J 5,000 540 , 2*53 1 00 5 1924 .. 2,083,207 1,364 3,505 4,869 594 4*80 -05 10 1925 2 114 995 1,288 3,489 4,777 606 1 3-78 167 8 1926 .. 2',239',999 1,336 3,823 5,159 586 6-69 2-90 15 1927 .. 2,366,740 1,386 3,988 5,374 593 4-23 1-86 10 1928 .. 2,436,753 1,366 4,010 5,376 608 3-69 1-67 9 1929 .. 2,535,864 1,370 4,127 5,497 614 4 73 2 18 12 1930 .. 2 542,092 1,437 4,430 5,867 o74 5 oO 2 38 14 1931 2*157 756 1,414 4,331 5,745 1 498 1*85 0'69 4 1932 " 1*842,022 1,257 3,379 4,636 545 6-51 2-59 12 1933 .. 1,821,258 1,192 3,194 4,386 570 3-84 1-59 7 l<m 2 060,315 1,229 3,249 4,478 634 3 88 1 78 1935 " 2 115 184 1 127 i 3,104 4,231 681 0-94 0-47 2 1936 :: 1:103 1 ™ ™ °- 94 Totals ■ 85,977,543 •• ; 1 • :/ " , 184 • * For returns for previous years see page 32, Mines Statement, 1921. t Tf ear of Ealph-s (Huntly) explosion.

Fatal Accidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. Number of Persons , T , , injured, including Number of Number of a dumber °# those injured by Separate Fatal Deaths Separate Non-fatal Accidents which Accidents. Accidents. proved Fatal their Companions. Explosions of fire-damp or coal-dust .. • • • • • • * * Falls of ground ...••• z 1 Explosives ... • • • • • • * * Haulage ~ Miscellaneous —Underground .. .. • • On surface .... 1 1 * * Totals 4 T 26 26