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

breaking his spectacles. When challenged by Mr O. C. Evans for Walsh, Bassett was asked, “You have a reputation for challenging drivers who are obstructing the tram lines, have you not?” Bassett replied, “I am not a fighting man and I have had my fill of fighting, and there was only one punch thrown, that of Walsh”. Evans then asked, “But you did take up an aggressive stance and isn’t it true to say that Walsh got in first, and when you received something you had not expected you withdrew”? The tram driver, George Cheesby, said he saw Bassett with a black eye and blood coming from his mouth, and asked Walsh, “Why did you hit him?” To which Walsh had replied, “It was my chance to get my own back on him, as I had taken enough of his ‘old buck’”. Mr Bugler for the prosecution asked Walsh if he was a fighting man, and had he not previous form for ‘bashing’ policemen. This statement Walsh did not deny, but said he had not been fined on that occasion. The Tramway Manager, Harry Pilling, said they took assaults on staff extremely seriously. Major Halstead, the Mayor and Chairman said the case had been proved, fining Walsh 20 shillings, plus witness costs and advocate’s fees. He was also fined an additional 5 shillings and ordered to pay 7 shillings for a new pair of spectacles for Bassett. December At a meeting of the Electricity & Tramways Committee, a letter was received from Messrs J. W. Courtenay intimating that their advertising contract had expired on November 31 st . They proposed the Corporation should receive any revenues from advertisements received after this date, and Messrs Courtenay in their capacity as agents, having given use of their advertising plates and glasses, should receive a commission of 33⅓% of these gross receipts. It was resolved that as a temporary expedient these terms would be accepted for the year commencing January 1 st , 1918, subject to a term of three months’ notice by either party. 1918 (A strong lobby including Councillors of the Methodist faith, demanded that there would be no advertising of alcoholic beverages on the Corporation’s tramcars. The Council made successful moves to secure the services of the Transport Manager for the long term, and the finances of the undertaking were placed under rigorous scrutiny including those connected to the operation of the ambulance service. In order to co-ordinate policies with like-minded tramway operating authorities the seeds of an operators union were sown.) January The Electricity & Tramways Committee met and after reconsidering the offer made by advertising contractors Messrs Courtenay, it was decided not to accept their offer of terms for the continuation of advertising on Accrington’s tramcars. It was resolved the Tramway Manager was authorised to allow advertising on the cars on such terms and conditions as he might deem acceptable, with the exclusion of all alcoholic liquor. It was resolved they should join a Federation of Lancashire & Cheshire Tramway undertakings if one was formed. It was then resolved that all employees who worked on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day should receive double War Bonus. February The Borough Treasurer reported to a meeting of the Electricity & Tramways Committee on his attendance at a conference held in London, attended by all the tramway authorities of Great Britain and Ireland, the topic under consideration being the recent application on behalf of the tramway employees for a War Bonus of £1 per week over and above the pre-war rates. No resolution had been reached and the conference had been adjourned. March At a meeting of the Town Council it was resolved to adopt a recommendation from the Lancashire & Cheshire Local Authorities, to increase the War Bonus paid to all corporation employees from 12 shillings to 14 shillings per week. The Borough Treasurer reported that at a subsequent conference it had been decided that this increase of 2/- should not be back-dated. However, a letter had been received from the National Union of General Workers, stating they were not prepared to accept this, asking for a full 16 shillings per week. At a meeting of the General Purposes Committee the Borough Treasurer produced a list of all those employed in the Tramway Department who were not covered by the Union’s agreement on pay as follows - NAME Job Annual pay War Bonus Total salary S. E. Ogden Cler k £130 – 0 – 0 £49 – 8 – 0 £179 – 8 – 0 Miss A. Dunn .. £58 – 10 – £27 – 6 – 0 £85 – 16 –

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