C—2a.

Taking into account the stocks at the beginning and end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year : Ist April, 1949 Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stock in bin and yard . . . . 2,458 17 1 Stock on wharf . . . . . . 715 8 2 3,174 5 3 Add net output for year .. 97,400 0 0 Add surplus stocks .. .. 0 0 — 99,400 0 0 102,574 5 3 31st March, 1950 Less stock in bin and yard .. 2,933 17 3 Less stock on wharf 2,933 17 3 Total disposed of .. .. .. 99,640 8 0 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Shipped .. .. .. .. 49,012 11 0 Bailed to Canterbury, &c. .. .. 44,056 12 0 Railway sales .. .. .. 908 18 2 Local and mine sales .. .. 4,879 12 1 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 782 14 1 ■ 99,640 8 0 The gross output from the colliery since its inception totals 4,547,262 tons 14 cwt. Days Worked. —The colliery worked 226 days out of a possible 240 ordinary working-days. The difference between the ordinary days worked, 226, and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows : 6 days, deaths and funerals of workmen ; 1 day, death of P. C. Webb ; 2 days, slip on railway incline ; 2 days, mechanical breakdown ; 1 day, miners did not work ; 1 day, international footbal 1 match ; 1 day, trucking dispute. Employees. —ln connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 304 men and 13 boys, made up as follows— Underground : Coal-hewers, 72 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 173. Surface : 59 men and 13 boys. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings. —The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £3 15s. 4d., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £3 lis. Bd., a decrease of sd. per day when compared with the previous year. Daily Output. —The average daily output was 442 tons 13 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 6 tons 13 cwt., as compared with 443 tons 8 cwt. and 6 tons 17 cwt. respectively for the previous year. The total number of hewer shifts for the year was 15,030. Deficiencies. --There were no payments made under the minimum-wage clause during the year. Accidents. —On 27th April a deputy was struck by falling coal and died from his injuries before reaching the hospital. On 12th July a miner was struck by a falling prop, receiving head and shoulder injuries.

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