C—2

This scheme, which originated with the Miners' Phthisis Act, 1915, is administered by the Social Security Commission, and the following is a summary of the operatons for the year ended 31st March, 1948 : £ Payments from Ist November, 1915, to 31st March, 1947 .. 1,768,442 Payments from Ist April, 1947, to 31st March, 1948 .. .. 110,106 £1,878,548 Number of new grants for the year 1947-48 Males .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Females .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 29 Number of benefits in force at 31st March, 1948 Males .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 604 Females .. .. .. .. .. .. 81 685 Annual value of benefits in force at 31st March, 1948 .. .. £111,518 Dissection of benefits in force at 31st March, 1948 Single miners .. .. .. .. .. .. 292 Married miners .. .. .. .. .. .. 312 Widows .. .. .. .. .. .. 81 685 MEN EMPLOYED IN MINING AND QUARRYING

The table shows the numbers of men employed in each inspection district during 1947 and 1946

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Inspection District. Totals. Northern West Coast Southern (North Island). (South Island). (South Island). 1947. 1946. Gold, silver, and scheelite 492 527 172 1,191 1,166 Coal 2,086 2,408 948 5,442 5,557 Bentonite 4 4 Clays 54 11 54 119 Diatomite 2 2 Dolomite 7 7 Fuller's earth 1 1 Iron-ore 17 17 Limestone 243 83 *295 621 >• 1,960 Magnesite 3 3 Pumice 10 10 Quartzite " 3 3 Rock, sand, &c. 1 joi8 50 293 ! 1,361 Serpentine 6 2 8 Silica sand 5 4 j 9 - Totals 3,938 3,092 1,768 | 8,798 8,683