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

that the existing fund should be closed on March 31 st next and then recalculated on a 5% basis. The Electrical & Tramways Committee met again when the Tramway Manager reported he had received correspondence from the advertising contractors requesting a rebate in consequence of the suspension of through running to Bacup. This matter was referred to the Town Clerk for him to resolve. The Committee then resolved to allow the Chairman and Tramway Manager to purchase a circular saw and a quantity of timber for use in the tramway depot. It was further resolved to grant the coachbuilder and coach painter a War Bonus, which would bring them into line with other workers who were dealt with in the terms of the recent arbitration award. Correspondence was received from the Town Clerk of Blackburn suggesting the temporary arrangement, that neither authority would seek damages from the other in respect of collisions between their two tramcars should continue so long as the through running arrangements were in force. It was resolved to adopt this course of action. At a meeting of the Markets Committee, it was resolved that a Sub-Committee should investigate complaints that there was a nuisance being caused by an ‘objectionable smell’ coming up from the cellars of the Market Hall in the vicinity of the ‘temporary’ tramway waiting place. (NOTE) On February 1 st Accrington Corporation Tramways following an agreement reached with Blackburn Corporation Tramways Department, commenced a service of through running cars to Blackburn. Accrington’s contribution to the service was three cars, all of which had their tops removed in order for them to pass beneath the bridge where the railway line crossed over the road at Blythe’s Bridge in Church. These cars were all Brush built with ridged 4-wheel trucks. They have been identified as numbers 9 , 10 & 17 .) February A letter was received by the Electrical & Tramways Committee from the Amalgamated Association of Tramway & Vehicle Workers making an application for the payment of a War Bonus of 6/6d per week to female workers employed as conductresses and also to those working in the tram sheds. It was resolved that the issue relating to War Bonus, having been referred to the Committee of Production for arbitration, and this body had declared within their decision on January 3 rd , expressly decided to make NO changes to the wages or War Bonuses paid to female employees. Under the circumstances this Committee could therefor make no exceptions to the terms of the award. A letter was received from Messrs Briggs, Jones & Gibson asking the Committee to make some concessions to the terms of their three-year contract to supply uniforms to the Tramway Department as this contract was made prior to the outbreak of the war, after which the price of raw materials had greatly increased. It was resolved that in respect of the current year’s supply, a payment equivalent to 25% over and above the contract prices would be paid. At a meeting of the Council Cllr Nuttall requested a ‘better’ tram service on the Baxenden Section, as with the recent increase in fares on the railways it might encourage more people to travel by tram, especially if the service was more reliable and frequent. In response Alderman Higham said he would approach Mr Pilling, the Tramway Manager, to see if it was possible to have more cars operating on the service. The Tramway Manager then submitted a report on the large increase in the running costs of the Tramway and this resulted in a debate on a revision of the current fares structure. It was resolved the following alterations would be made - 1. The ordinary through single fare and the workpeople’s return fare between Accrington and Haslingden should go up from 3d to 4d, (subject to the approval of Haslingden Corporation). 2. All workmen’s 1d return tickets should be withdrawn for the present time. At a meeting of the Electrical & Tramways Committee, the Chairman reported that he, Alderman Rawson and Councillor Morley, had met with representatives of Haslingden Corporation to discuss an increased payment by Haslingden for their tramway services. It was referred to their respective Treasurers and Managers to agree upon a figure which better represented the present cost of providing these services, and subsequently another meeting would take place in order to settle on terms for the future. The Town Clerk then submitted a draft agreement with respect to through running with Blackburn Corporation Tramways. It was resolved to approve this draft arrangement. March The Electrical & Tramways Committee met in order to discuss the arbitration on the tramway employees War Bonus. The Chairman reported that he and the Tramway Manager had attended a meeting

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