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APPENDIX B

REPORTS RELATING TO THE INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES

The Inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector op Coal-mines to the UnderSecretary of Mines Wellington, 15th May, 1946. ■Sir, — I have the honour to present my annual report on the coal-mining industry of New Zealand for the year ended 31st December, 1945. OUTPUT The total output for the year was 2,833,576 tons, and increase of 27,606 tons on the 1944 production. The Northern and West Coast Districts' outputs increased by 10,130 tons and 30,378 tons respectively, but the Southern District's output decreased by 12,902 tons. The following statement shows the tons of coal raised, persons employed, lives lost iby accidents in or about colleries, &c., to 1945 :

ACCIDENTS The following is a summary of accidents in and about coal-mines during 1945 with "their causes :

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Year. Output, in Statute Tons. Persons ordinarily employed. Tons raised I per each Person employed below Ground. Lives lost by Accidents in or about Collieries. Per Million Tons produced. Per Thousand Persons employed. | Number of Lives lost. Above Ground. Below Ground. Total. • Prior to 1941 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Totals .. 95,336,168 2,639,507 2,680,041 2,787,868 2,805,970 2,833,576 1,358 1,338 1,375 1,637 1,660 3,633 3,659 3,999 3,958 3,932 4,991 4,997 5,374 5,595 5,592 726 732 697 709 721 1-51 2-24 2-87 4-28 212 0 ■ 80 1-20 1-50 214 1-07 526 4 6 8 12 6 109,083,130 562 1 For returns for previous years see page 53, Mines Statement, 1940.

Fatal Accidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. — Number of Separate Fatal Accidents. Number of Deaths Number of Separate Non-fatal Accidents. Number of Persons injured, including those injured by Accidents which proved Fatal to their Companions. Carbon-monoxide poisoning Explosions of fire-damp or coal-dust Falls of ground Explosives Haulage Miscellaneous —Underground On surface 4 2 4 10 1 9 5 3 10 1 9 5 3 Totals .. 6 6 28 28