C—2

In order to maintain and increase present coal-production it is necessary to recruit men to the industry to replace wastage due to ageing miners, to lay out the development of a mine from the opening stages so that the mine can operate with, maximum efficiency, and to equip the mines with mechanical equipment suitable to the conditions. During 1948 progress has been made in these directions. There has been a small increase in the number of men employed both underground and on the surface, but the intake was necessarily confined to inexperienced men and s'ome time must elapse before they have acquired the necessary skill to make any marked effect upon output. Any increase in the number of men employed in the industry is dependent upon the provision of suitable accommodation. As far as single men are concerned, the position is being adequately met by the provision of hostels by the Labour and Employment Department at various mining centres. During 1948 hostela were completed at Reefton, G-ranity, and Huntly, while during the present year hostels have recently been opened at Ohura and Ohai. -At the moment additional huts,

6

Year. Output. Men Employed. Tons per Man Employed. 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 Opencast Minei 11,431 14,733 15,912 23,389 18,087 16,280 31,979 39,148 41,966 46,632 50,763 54,183 55,774 62,037 196,454 452,680 528,700 644,692 676,728 5 28 39 43 58 57 44 63 55 53 56 36 33 47 46 242 332 425 432 455 520 378 370 403 317 370 508 712 792 833 1,410 1,642 1,187 L, 349 812 1,363 1,244 1,492 1,487 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 All Mines 2,542,092 2,157,756 1,842,022 1,821,258 2,060,315 2,115,184 2,140,217 2,277,799 2,222,088 2,342,639 2,516,099 2,639,507 2,680,041 2,787,868 2,805,970 2,833,576 2,793,870 2,751,725 2,775,886 5,867 5,745 4,636 4,386 4,478 4,231 4,257 4,417 4,563 4,762 5,046 4,991 4,997 5,374 5,595 5,592 5,557 5,442 5,582 433 376 397 415 460 500 503 516 487 492 499 529 536 519 502 507 503 506 497