Accrington on Rails - The Tramways: A Complete History - Robert Kenyon

minutes. The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee considered a quotation from Brush Electrical Engineering for the supply of two saloon cars at £695 each. This quotation was passed to the Sub Committee with the authority to complete the purchase. A letter was received from Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Halifax Corporation Tramways Committee, on the subject of a proposed ‘joint’ conference on the mutual insurance against third-party risk on the tramways. The Tramway Manager submitted copies of the letters which had been exchanged between himself and the Secretary of the Amalgamated Association of Tramway & Vehicle Workers, on the subject of the alleged inspector’s grievances. The Tramway Manager explained that he had taken measures to placate these grievances to the satisfaction of those concerned. He then reported on the results passed on to him by the Motorman’s Instructor on the tests that had been carried out by him. On analysing these statistics he had come to the conclusion that of the 28 drivers tested, 16 could be described as first class, 7 second class and the remaining 5 third class. The Instructor was now devoting the majority of his time to the second and third class men, to make them ‘thoroughly efficient’. However, he reported that since the commencement of the programme of testing, there had been a “very marked improvement” in all of the motormen. It was further resolved the motormen and conductors should be invited to attend the local Ambulance Lectures, and subject to achieving a rate of attendance of 75% their fees would be paid by the Council. It was resolved to have telephone boxes at various places along the Tramway system, to be used for communications and as fire alarms, and that these should be painted to indicate that they are to be used for this purpose only. May At a meeting of the Town Council a Sub-Committee appointed by the Finance Committee discussed the question of making grants to ‘certain’ individuals in appreciation of the extra work involved in the promotion of the Accrington Corporation Tramways Act of 1905, the recent tramway arbitration proceedings and the inauguration of the new tramway system. It was unanimously resolved the following grants would be made – Mr A. H. Aitken (Town Clerk) – 150 guineas. The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee met to discuss certain matters relating to the equipment in the cars which had required attention and adjustment by the Brush Electrical Engineering Company. The Company’s representative who was present at this meeting, acknowledged his firm’s responsibility for these faults, whilst giving an undertaking that they would have “early attention”. It was resolved in the light of this undertaking being honoured and to further enquires by the Mayor and Town Clerk proving satisfactory, the tender submitted by Brush for the supply of two single deck cars of £695 each would be accepted. At a conference between representatives from Accrington, Haslingden and Rawtenstall corporations, the Haslingden contingent wanted to ascertain on what terms Accrington would be prepared to run cars between the Borough boundary in Baxenden and the Commercial Hotel in Haslingden town centre, whilst supplying power for this purpose as soon as their own overhead was completed. (Up until the time when Haslingden would have their own cars and be able to generate their own supply of electricity). After consideration, Accrington offered to provide as good a service as the number of available tramcars would allow with the necessary to operate them. This would be in consideration of a payment by Haslingden Corporation of 7 pence per car mile run over Haslingden’s lines. Haslingden would keep all the fares for stages run within their own borough and would have to employ and remunerate their own inspectors as well as being liable for all third party accidents which occurred within their own borough. This arrangement would run for a minimum of nine months and be subject to Board of Trade approval. The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee met to approve and adopt the provisional terms agreed at the conference between Accrington, Haslingden and Rawtenstall Corporations. The Mayor and Town Clerk reported on their visit to the Brush works, and having inspected ‘large numbers of workmen’s time and wage sheets’ had “unhesitatingly” placed the order for two single deck tramcars. It was further resolved that Mr Harry Pilling should make periodical visits to the Loughborough works for the purpose of supervision and inspection during the construction of these cars. Also presented was a further report from the Motorman Instructor of the tests made during the previous month and the Mr J. Beckett (Borough Treasurer) – 110 guineas. Mr J. Kenyon (Assistant Town Clerk) – 25 guineas.

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