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

assistance and gave Mr Pilling instructions to approach the Tramway Manager of Rawtenstall Corporation Tramways to take up this issue with him. The deputation from Haslingden who had highlighted this issue then took their leave. It was then resolved the Borough Surveyor should supervise the complete laying of a fourth line of rails and the cleaning pits in the new extension of the Ellison Street sheds, and also the levelling off of the floor. It was further resolved the Tramway Manager should confer with the Borough Surveyor, as to the division of the paint-shop from the joiner’s shop with roller doors, and then report back. It was finally resolved to accept the quotation from Messrs Perkin & Co. Ltd of Leeds, for the supply of one hacksaw machine and one swivelling machine vice for the Tramway depot, along with the tender from Messrs Hayward & Campbell of London, for a set of travelling platforms to be used for the purpose of cleaning the double deck cars. At a meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee, the Tramway Manager reported on the issue of double return tickets for workmen, as ruled upon by this Committee, asking for a time limit to be fixed within which these tickets would be available during the mid-day period. It was resolved that the tickets would only be valid between 12 noon and 14:30. The Town Hall & Markets Committee met and in response to a request from the Tramway Manager, it was resolved to fix a new window complete with glass ventilators in the office beneath the Market Hall clock, and that the quotation of £1 – 7s – 6d from Messrs Riley & Riley would be accepted for this work. At another meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee the Town Clerk reminded them that the five-year agreement with the Postmaster General for the conveyance of mails, postmen and telegraph boys, entered into by the Corporation in September, 1909, would be terminated by a period of six months’ notice at the end of August. The Town Clerk was instructed to give the required period of notice, with a view to negotiating new terms. A letter was received from Messrs J. W. Courtenay, requesting the Corporation to suspend their advertising contract as from August 1 st last, “until the trade of the country resumed its normal state”. It was resolved that this Committee could not accede to this request at present. Correspondence was then received from the Accrington Branch of the Tramway & Vehicle Workers’ Association, asking for some compensation for conductor Barnfield, who on May 20 th last had been involved in an accident. The Borough Treasurer was instructed to pay Mr Barnfield half wages for the fortnight during which he was off duty. He was authorised to write to the Association to point out, that this accident would not have occurred had the printed rules and regulations been adhered to. It also requested they inform their members that under similar circumstances they could not expect to receive compensation in the future. It was then resolved to instruct the Borough Treasurer to pay the wives or dependents of reservists or others in the Tramway Department, who had been called up for military service in consequence of the war, half wages during their enforced absence. A letter was read out by the Tramway Manager stating that the men in his department had decided, (along with those employed in other of the Corporation’s departments), to contribute on a percentage basis to a weekly levy during the continued period of distress in order to provide some relief. August At a meeting of the Finance Committee the Borough Treasurer reported on the following list of men who had left the Tramway Department to enlist in the military or other services in connection with the war. Motormen Maudsley and Radcliffe had enlisted with the army. Conductors Lambert and B. Parker had also enlisted with the army. Parcels Clerk Joseph Baron had also left for duty with the Ambulance Corps. It was resolved that any man enlisted would be granted half wages during the period of his absence, and in every instance would be restored to his previous duties upon their safe return. September At a meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee, the Town Clerk reported on a meeting held recently between Accrington, Haslingden and Rawtenstall Corporations, to consider the subject of through running, and the possibility of revising the frequency of the service, which was not warranted by the financial results. It had been agreed that from November 1 st , for a period of twelve months, the present 10-minute frequency would be replaced by one of every 15-minutes on every day Inspector Slattery had joined the Ambulance Corps. Parcels Clerk Richards had gone to join the Territorials.

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