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

They drew the Committee’s attention to the fact that during the coming year there would have to be a very substantial increase in the fares charged on all sections of the tramway, or a very heavy burden imposed upon the rates in order to offset the tramway’s losses. Amongst the conditions discussed and agreed upon by the Municipal Tramway Authorities and representatives from the National Transport Worker’s Federation was this - “That all the recommendations with regard to the wage rates and hours of service, should be on condition to powers being granted by the ‘proper’ authority to increase statutory fares before June 30 th next. Failing this, the conditions relating to the wages and conditions of service should be terminated by receipt of one month’s notice from either side.” The Committee then considered the present charges made against the Tramway Department for electricity consumed by the tramcars. It was resolved the Borough Treasurer should charge 2 pence per unit for all current supplied during the financial year 1918 – 1919. April At a meeting of the Chairmen of all the Council’s Committees a general review of all clerical staff was carried out. This affected the following employees in the Tramway Department – Name Ag e Service Military service Present annual salary Proposed new salary May At a meeting of the Electricity & Tramways Committee the Borough Treasurer submitted the following statements of accounts for the tramway over a number of previous years – Year Incom e Balance Net Revenue Balance available Net Revenue Cost permanent way repairs 1910/1 1 £24,51 0 £9,363 £1,754 £700 1911/1 2 £26,22 1 £10,427 £2,646 £495 1912/1 3 £27,82 2 £12,368 £4,554 £804 1913/1 4 £30,19 4 £12,683 £4,732 £985 1914/1 5 £27,85 0 £11,411 £3,179 £958 1915/1 6 £29,27 2 £9,774 £578 £1,323 1916/1 7 £30,44 1 £8,680 minus £874 £1,539 1917/1 8 £36,71 2 £12,772 £2,363 £1,825 1918/1 9 £42,99 5 £12,589 £3,205 £3,558 The Depreciation & Renewals Fund for the permanent way. The basis for the contributions to this fund was laid down on October 15 th , 1908, at 1 penny per car mile. It was on the basis of an assumption that the renewal of the permanent way would cost £4,400 per mile of single track over a life span of 16 years. It is now obvious that when the time for renewal arrives it will be inconsiderable excess of this sum, so it will be necessary to make some provision for this deficit. The amount in the Renewals Fund on March 31 st , 1918, was £26,383 – 14s – 2d. S. E. Ogden 37 11 ¾ years - £130 + £75 – 8s – 0d War Bonus £65 + £78 War Bonus NO change. E. Roberts 27 11 ¾ years 4 years £120 per annum J. Baron 25 11 years 4 years 9 months £65 + £78 War Bonus £100 per annum

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