C.—2

SOCIAL AMENITIES Financial assistance for the provision of social amenities for mining communities was continued during the year. At the Benneydale Township the theatre and billiard-room were recently completed and are now in full use. HOUSING The provision of housing accommodation in mining townships continues to be retarded by the lack of materials and labour. In the near future a review of the position will probably be necessary owing to the return of directed labour to normal avenues of employment. CARBONIZING AND BRIQUETTING The following figures show the production of the low-temperature coal carbonizing and briquetting plant of Waikato Carbonization, Ltd., at Rotowaro during 1944 : — Raw coal carbonized .. .. .. ~ _ _ .. 31 965 tons Carbonized coal produced .. .. .. ~ _ 15*663 tons Average percentage of carbonized coal to raw coal .. .. 49 p er cent. Carbonettes manufactured .. .. .. .. 12 461 tons Tar and oil treated !! 289! 154 gallons. Pitch produced m tons _ Light and heavy oils produced 1,320 gallons Creosote produced 155,055ga110n5. 1. ™ „ 80 {, IOTl 0T P plant 5;0 29 tons. Char sold for other purposes . . .. .. .. 00 ong n n,, N ,° bri ? uettes wore manufactured by Smokeless Fuel and Briquettes (Canterbury), Ltd., during 1944, but the company produced 25,000 gallons of tar at the works at Sockburn. During the year four tenders, three from British firms and one from an American firm, were received for the equipment of a proposed briquetting plant to treat a blend of Strongman and Blackball slack coals according to specifications drawn up by Mr. A. B. Jones, the works manager of Waikato Carbonization Ltd., of Huntly. Is is expected that at least one additional tender is yet to be received, and decision is being deferred until this comes to hand. SUBSIDY ON COAL PRODUCTION For the financial year ended 31st March, 1945, the amount paid by way of subsidy on coal production and distribution was £717,916, made up as follows : tonnage subsidy (including provision for increases m mine stores), £469,243 ; subsidy in respect of coastal shipping freights, £52,420; and subsidy in respect of the additional cost of work on back Saturdays and statutory holidays and bonus payments, &c to workmen not on contract, £196,253. At 31st March, 1945, the total sum paid out tor coal subsidies since the subsidy was first introduced in May, 1940, amounted to £1,941,946. COAL-MINES COUNCIL The work of the Coal-mines Council continued during the year, its chief tasks, apart from special reports required from time to time, being the settlement of industrial disputes and the determination ot the terms and conditions of employment generally in the industry. PERSONS EMPLOYED IN OR ABOUT MINES AND STONE-QUARRIES AND IN OIL-PROSPECTING OPERATIONS The following table shows the number of persons employed in each inspection district during 1944 and 1943 :—

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Inspection District. Totals. Classification. ~ ~~ Northern West Coast (of! ,®? ut k° rn , Increase (North Island). South Island). I < Re^, of ® outh 1944. 1943. or I Island). Decrease. Gold, silver, and tungsten-ore 528 640 222 1,390 1,471 Dec. 81 £ oal '• . '• •• 2,112 2,491 992 5,595 5,' 374 Inc." 221 btone - quarries under the 1,031 97 403 *1,531 1 643 Dec 112 Stone-quarries Act ®! llca , 8 •• 5 13 12 Inc. 1 Umnabar .... 18 .. 18 18 Iron ore .. .. 17 " 3 " 20 2Q Manganese .. .. 1 .. .. ! 2 Dec " 1 Fuller's earth .. .. 2 .. .. 2 1 Lie Diatomaceous earth .. .. .. 2 2 2 Bentonite .. ... 5 _ t __ g " 4 " Serpentine .. .. 15 2 17 12 " * Asbestos .. .. .. 15 _ _ ] 5 15 " ® olo f ite 4 .. 4 3 i nc ." 1 ™ ay t •' •• •• •• 6 6 12 10 „ 2 •• 14 14 23 Dec. 9 ca '• 6 .. 6 Inc. 6 Oil prospecting .. .. .. 216 Dec. 216 Totals •• 3,737 3,264 1,644 8,645 8,824 Dec. 179 • *1,* h f, total nu ™ ber °f men employed at stone-quarries is actually 1,551, as certain of the minerals listed separately m this table are produced from quarries which come under the Stone-quarries Act. f Other than for brickmaking.