C—2a

Taking into account stocks at the beginning and end of the year, the followingstatement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year: Ist April, 1949 — Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr Stock in bin and yard . . .. 100 4 1 Stock on dump .'. .. .. 40 0 0 — 140 4 1 Add net output for year .. .. 18,907 0 0 19,047 4 1 31st March, 1950 Less stock on hand .. . . 63 15 3 Less stock on dump . . .. 40 0 0 lO3 15 3 Total disposed of .. .. .. 18,943 8 2 Disposals Tons. cwt. qr. Shipped .. 112 15 0 ■ Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. .. 16,090 0 1 Local and mine sales .. .. 1,966 2 0 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 774 111 18,943 8 2 The gross output of the colliery since its acquisition by the State on 3rd June, 1946, totals 74,120 tons. Days Worked. —The colliery worked 236 days out of a possible 240 ordinary workingdays. The difference is accounted for as follows : 1 day, breakdown of fan ; \ day, dispute re house coal; £ day, breakdown of main winch ; 1 day, clothes in bathhouse damp ; 1 day, tribute late P. C. Webb. Employees. —In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 85 men and 5 boys, made up as follows— Underground : Coal-hewers, 18 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 47. Surface : 20 men and 5 boys. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings. —The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £3 4s. sd. per day, and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £3 Is. 4d., an increase of 4s. 3d. per day when compared with the previous period. Daily Output. —The average daily output was 81 tons 14 cwt., and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 4 tons 3 cwt. 3 qr., as compared with 85 tons 10 cwt. and 5 tons 5 cwt. 2 qr. respectively for the previous period. The total number of hewer shifts for the year was 4,618. Deficiencies. —There were no payments made under the minimum-wage clause during the year. Accidents. —No serious accidents were reported at the Burke's Creek Colliery during the year. Stone-dusting. —This work was carried out regularly in the dry portions of the mine. Underground Workings. —The output for the period was obtained from development of the Alpine Section in the Bayne Area and from the extension of the Main Dip workings. North-east Section —Bayne Area : The development levels at 144 ft. datum were extended to and stopped at the north-east boundary of the Bayne Area. A pair of rise headings were driven to the south-east for exploratory purposes and for the development of panels' adjacent to the boundary. Development in this section (the Alpine) has proved the existence of two sharp north and south synclinal folds, approximately 10 chains

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