C—2a

Taking into account the stocks at the beginning and end of the vear, 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 . . .. 1,543 5 2 Stock on wharf . . .. .. 399 11 0 1,942 16 2 Add net output for year .. .. 52,780 0 0 54,722 16 2 31st March, 1950 Less stock in bin and yard .. 1,395 0 3 Less stock on wharf . . . . 445 16 0 1,840 16 3 Total disposed of . . .. .. 52,88119 3 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Shipped .. .. .. .. 27,303 7 0 Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. .. 11,514 12 0 Railway sales ..' .. .. 12,845 13 0 Local and mine sales .. .. 1,209 7 3 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 9 0 0 52,881 19 3 The gross output from the colliery since it was taken over by the State Coal-mines on 22nd February, 1943, totals 378,746 tons 0 cwt. 3 qr. Days Worked, —The colliery worked 221 i days out of a possible 240 ordinary workingdays. The difference between the ordinary days worked, 221-1, and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows : 2f days, union meetings ; I day, referendum on military training; I- day, international football match ; f day, election day; 2 days idle after protracted union meetings ; 4 days, power failures ; 1 day, funeral of former workman ; 1 day, fault in mine-cage; 2f days, fault in winding wheel at top of shaft; 3 days, fault in auxiliary shaft; 1 day, bins full; 1 day, death of P. C. Webb. Employees. —ln connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 155 men and 4 boys, made up as follows—Underground : Coal-hewers, 41 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 85 men and 1 boy. Surface : 29 men and 3 boys. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings. —The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £3 19s. lid., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was €3 16s. lOcl., an increase of 7s. 9d. per day when compared with the previous year. Daily Output. —The average daily output was 252 tons 10 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 7 tons 0 cwt. 1 qr., as compared with 236 tons 7 cwt. 2 qr. and 6 tons 19 cwt. 3 qr. respectively for the previous year. The total number of hewer shifts for the year was 7,962. Deficiencies. —There were no payments made under the minimum-wage clause during the year. Accidents. —No serious accidents were reported at this colliery during the year. Underground Workings. —No. 1 Section : Coal-production from this section was won from pillar-extraction only. The thickness of the seam is approximately 10 ft. This section is nearing completion.

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