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

resolved that the Chairman, Town Clerk and Borough Treasurer would be authorised to deal with these and all similar applications. 1915 ( Complications as a result of the conflict caused tramway staff to complain about temporary staff, whilst simultaneously making a case for an increase in earnings. The call of duty so enthusiastically responded to by the men of Accrington left vacancies in the Tramway Department, and as a war-time measure these were filled for the first time by female platform staff working both as conductors and cleaners. As well as a loss of advertising revenue thereby necessity had to be reductions in services. Despite all this the extensions to the Ellison Street depot were completed and more new tramcars arrived.) January The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee met to consider an application from Messrs J. W. Courtenay Ltd, for a reduction in their advertising rent owing to the war, but the Committee could not see their way to granting this request. A deputation was received from the motormen and conductors who presented a list of ‘alleged’ grievances as follows – 1. New men were being taken on whilst regular staff were on reduced hours. 2. There were inequalities in the number of hours being worked. 3. There was insufficient time being allowed for the working of the through Rawtenstall service. In response the Tramway Manager stated, “It was not his intention to engage any more men, unless the demands of the service required it, also that he would wish to allocate any extra hours of duty, so as to give each driver and conductor their fair share.” He was authorised to ‘keep an eye on the Rawtenstall service, and report back. In accordance with the Committee’s request the Tramway Manager submitted the following records of the number of 1 penny journeys made by persons in receipt of free passes, such as servicemen, soldiers, nurses and blind people over a period of three weeks as follows - Date Number of 1d journeys Equivalent to December 30 th 1914 1,096 £4 – 11s – 4d December 31 st 1914 1,111 £4 – 12s – 7d January 1 st 1915 163 £0 – 13s – 7d January 2 nd 1915 995 £4 – 2s – 11d January 3 rd 1915 326 £1 – 7s – 2d January 4 th 1915 744 £3 – 2s – 0d January 5 th 1915 1,358 £5 – 13s – 2d TOTAL 5,793 £24 – 2s – 9d

Date

Number of 1d journeys

Equivalent to £4 – 6s – 3d

January 6 th 1915 January 7 th 1915 January 8 th 1915 January 9 th

1,035

1,554

£6 – 9s – 6d

1,368

£5 – 14s – 0d

1,150

£4 – 15s –

213