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

November The Electricity & Tramways Committee met, when the Tramway Manager reported on the unfinished condition of the new Ellison Street depot car shed, which had been left in this condition since the outbreak of the War. Principally this involved concreting of the floor and the laying of one more set of rails. The Borough Surveyor estimated that it would cost £550 to complete this work, and it was resolved that this should be done. The Tramway Manager was then authorised to purchase an ‘emergency jack’ for use out on the tracks at a cost of £15. A letter was received from the Brush Electrical Engineering Company stating that “due to increases in the cost of labour” since the contract was signed for the supply of four new cars for Accrington, the cost of the build would be increased by an average of £426. It was resolved that the Borough Treasurer should pay these increased charges in due course, and that the Town Clerk should apply for powers to borrow the extra money as the amount originally sanctioned was being exceeded by a significant amount. The Chairman reported that he had met with the local Ambulance Authority who had requested a revision in the amount charged for use of this vehicle, in cases where the patient was being conveyed to the Blackburn Infirmary. The Tramway Manager was asked to provide certain statistical information relating to this and report back. Again no motion was passed on a second application by the North East Lancashire Carriage Association, for the Corporation to stop running special cars for the conveyance of mourners to the Burnley Road cemetery. A letter was received from the Secretary of the local Tramway Workers’ Association, asking for mackintoshes to be issued to all conductors working on the Corporation’s tramway. This item was referred to a later meeting. A communication was received from Mr J. Beckett, the General Secretary of the Municipal Tramways Association, with regard to the application for an increase in wages. It asked if the Corporation were prepared to go to arbitration on this issue. It was resolved the Corporation would agree to this course of action. Another letter was received, this time from Rawtenstall Corporation, saying they were agreeable to the arrangements which were in place for a continuation of through running for a further twelve months. It was resolved that the Town Clerk would replay that they were indeed agreeable to this proposal. The Committee then went into the issue of the proposal to introduce penny stages, but had not had sufficient time to come to a conclusion on this issue. However, the Town Clerk stated that under the Tramways Act 1920 (Temporary increase of charges), a public enquiry concerning the Council’s application for an Order to increase fares on the tramway would be held in London on the next Tuesday, the 30 th of November. The Ministry of Transport had requested that representatives of the Council should be in attendance to present their case so that the application could be dealt with immediately. It was resolved the Chairman, Town Clerk and Tramway Manager should attend as requested. The Electricity & Tramways Committee met again to receive a deputation from the United Vehicle Workers in order to discuss certain matters. The Chairman indicated that prior to this meeting ‘certain’ members had been appointed to act as a ‘workers committee’, and they would be prepared to meet with an equal number of representatives of employees from time to time, to talk over the details of working in the Department. This deputation then placed before the Committee an application to be given Grade 1 status in the Lancashire Area Scheme. Following the withdrawal of this deputation, the Committee discussed this request. It was then resolved the Committee could not deal with the issue of grading except through the District Council of the Lancashire & Cheshire Tramway Authorities Council. December At a meeting of the Electricity & Tramways Committee, it was resolved the Tramway Manager would convene a meeting with the employees in his department for the purpose of arranging a ‘limited’ service of cars on Christmas Day, on the lines and subject to the conditions this Committee had discussed. It was left up to the Tramway Manager to arrange these terms. It was also resolved that none of the representatives of the employees should lose any pay by attending meetings with the Committee. Other matters discussed were the question of reconstructing cars which did not have vestibule fronts in order to have them brought into line with the newer cars and of making better use of the bogie cars until these conversions had been completed. The Committee promised to give these suggestions careful consideration. The Tramway Manager then reported that one of his inspectors had been absent through sickness for three months, during which time the other two chief inspectors had ‘very willingly’ covered his duties which had involved them working a considerable amount of overtime. It was resolved they should both receive £5 as a reward for carrying out these extra duties. The Committee then appointed a sub-committee consisting of the Chairman, Vice-Chair, Alderman Rawson and Councillors Lambert and O’Connor to look into the proposal to introduce 1 penny stages. In accordance with his instructions the

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