C.—2

the job is nearly completed. Difficulties with the workmen over dust in the Morgan East dip workings were met during the year, with a resultant slowing up of development in this section. A full investigation was made by the Coal-mines Council and this, coupled with medical examination of some of the workers, enabled the Council to fix suitable conditions under which work could proceed with proper regard for the health of the employees. In the Strongman Colliery, production showed an increase compared with the previous year. Coal-winning operations in this colliery wore mainly confined to the development of solid places, although two pairs of miners were engaged in extracting head coal in the No. 1 North section. The Blackball Colliery worked steadily throughout the year, in which output increased substantially over 1942-43. All the coal was won in the course of development work, and, although the quality of the product was quite satisfactory, the coal was of a soft, friable nature and gave only a low percentage of lump coal after passing over the screening plant. Heavy costs for timbering and pumping out the large volume of water in the mine were again incurred. There was some improvement in output from the Wallsend Colliery, where production was secured almost wholly from development of solid places. In the Dobson Mine dip development was continued in difficult country and at very high costs. Pending boring, this development was suspended, but has again been resumed now that the boring revealed a seam of coal 10 ft. thick 15 chains ahead of the workings. Further boring is being undertaken as rapidly as possible to prove the extent of the coalfield ahead of the mine, as this data is essential to enable a proper working policy to be determined. At the Mangapehi Colliery, in the North Island, an increased output was secured, and satisfactory results were obtained from development and prospecting work. At the Tatu Colliery, Ohura, the main work was development and pushing ahead with the installation of a new power unit which is nccessary before either development or coal-winning can be effectively undertaken. In this colliery a special study of a method of working to minimize the problems associated with a bad roof and heaving lloor is being made. Unexpected faults or " wants " have upset the original developmental plans and have prevented improvement in output up to the present, and the future of this colliery is very uncertain. The James Colliery closed down on the 23rd July, 1943, all of the extractable coal having been won from the mine. Full details in respect of the operations and financial results of the collieries appear in the annual report of the State coal-mines (C-2a). A comparative statement for the last two financial years is shown hereund<y!&^-

The disposals, inclusive of stock on hand at the beginning of the year, were as follows : —

5

Output 1943-44. Output 1942-43. §>•£ | \ •£ 00 X += CO -g Mine. — <r> 8 » ©O O f-l O M Gross. Net. Gross. Net. S3 § g ® § J| Ph hh{z; Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Liverpool .. .. .. 135,260 131,010 165,837 160,260 *18-44 *18-25 Strongman .. .. 105,701 104,270 94,170 92,180 12-24 13-11 Jamest .. .. 12,003 11,813 29,529 28,770 *59-35 *59-93 Blackball 45,029 44,315 34,527 34,294 30-41 29-22 Maneapehi .. .. 70,929 69,442 J52,062 50,915 36-23 36-38 Tatu .. 28,949 22,852 29,620 24,440 *2-27 *6-50 Wallsend 58,742 55,284 J6,883 6,441 Dobson .. .. .. 61,876 60,656 $7,081 6,913 | .. Glen Afton Opencast, No. 1 .. 6,176 6,175 Totals .. .. 524,665 505,817 419,709 404,213 25-00 25-14 Note. —The difference between the gross and the net output is the allowance for mine consumption and waste. * Decrease. f Colliery ceased operations on 23rd July, 1943. Output includes 6,883 tons slack lilted from dump. t Output for six weeks only.

Supplied too 1943-44. 1942-43. 6 Tons. Tons. Depots 136,121 132,990 2-35 Railways .. •• •• 132,431 96,328 37-47 Other Government Departments .. .. .. 22,028 23,758 *7-28 Shipping 15,118 10,289 46-93 Gasworks 169,396 107,667 57-33 Other consumers .. .. .. .. ■ • 31,351 26,235 19 • 5 Totals 506,445 397,267 27-48 * Decrease.