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

proposed change to the 1919 agreement. It was pointed out that meetings of these two bodies would take place in Manchester on the 22 nd of November, and again in London on December 9 th . It was resolved the Chairman and Vice-Chair would attend the one to be held in the Capitol. The Tramway Manager reported he had been approached by Haslingden Corporation with regards to the proposed reduction in services. In view of the prevalent conditions of trade, he recommended that the following service should be put into operation as from December 1 st ; Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, every 15 minutes throughout the day. Tuesdays and Saturdays, every 15 minutes to noon and every 10 minutes thereafter. Sundays, no change to the present service. It was resolved that these services would be put into operation as he had suggested. The Committee also considered the question of even more reductions in services in order to minimise the losses currently being incurred by the Tramway Department. They then instructed the Tramway Manager to investigate the possibility of introducing even more cuts in services. In view of the Committee’s decision to resume Sunday morning services, the Tramway Manager submitted statistics for their guidance, which indicated that to re-introduce Sunday morning services would entail a ‘very serious’ loss. No motion was passed on this information. With regard to the Parcels Department, the Tramway Manager submitted a financial statement showing the results of its working between April 1 st and November 9 th last. It indicated a ‘slight’ reduction in receipts which was mainly put down to the consequences of the coal strike. The Tramway accounts for the half-year ending September 30 th , 1921 were as follows - Expenditure = £32,300. Income = £29,540. Loss = £2,760. The Electricity & Tramways Committee met and the Chairman reported on the conference of the Municipal Tramways Association held in London to discuss a revision of the agreement, at which the following resolutions were passed - 1) This Association would be advising not to change the ‘normal’ working week from 48 hours. 2) That this Association is in favour of a request made by the National Council for a meeting to discuss a full revision of the 1919 agreement. 3) That in the event of the representatives of the employees refusing to agree to the appointment of a committee to discuss this suggestion, the Association should give notice of a termination of this agreement from March, 1919 with immediate effect. The Tramway Manager was instructed to prepare a report including the financial details which might be useful to this Committee when considering any future reductions or changes to the tramway services, which might help minimise the losses currently being incurred by his department. 1922 (Two eras dawned in 1922. One, the introduction of electricity to the general public, would prove another source of revenue for the Corporation, the second the increase of motorised traffic in the shape of omnibuses would prove to be a threat to the profitability of the tramway department. January The Electricity & Tramways Committee met with a deputation from the local branch of the United Vehicle Workers who had requested a meeting in order to discuss certain alleged grievances which were itemised as follows - 1. It was suggested that the recent reduction in hours owing to the reduction in services and designed to prevent a surplus of men, had not worked satisfactorily. It was suggested that a guaranteed week of 48 hours should be re-introduced. 2. The Committee were asked to review a number of cases where the Tramway Manager had dismissed staff. (Each case was then discussed in detail.) 3. A question was then submitted concerning the composition of the Works Committee. 4. The Committee was then asked to deal with certain matters of administration affecting conductors and the ‘checking-in’ of their returns. The deputation was given assurances that all these matters would receive careful consideration. A letter was received from the Town Clerk of Rawtenstall suggesting a meeting of representatives from Accrington, Haslingden & Rawtenstall to discuss arrangements for the continuation of through running. The Committee then discussed the matters raised by the United Vehicle Workers and it was decided to revert to a guaranteed working week of 48 hours, and the Tramway Manager was instructed

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