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

from the tramway standards. It was resolved he could have these standards taken down. He then reported on having arranged terms for the fixing of 8 illuminated signs on tramway standards as follows - 1. Church Street picture house (Ritz), at the corner of Cannon Street with Church Street. 2. T. H. Carr Ltd, Lonsdale Street Bakery, at the corner of Blackburn Road opposite to the corner of Church Street. 3. Bonnard & Sefton of Abbey Street, at a place opposite the Abbey Street shop. 4. Walton’s of 114 Abbey Street, on Blackburn Road near to the Market Clock. 5. Walter Smith of 74 Blackburn Road, on Blackburn Road opposite the shop. 6. W. Saul & Son of Black Abbey, on Blackburn Road opposite the Market Hall. 7. W. Saul & Son of Black Abbey, on the Market Hall side of Peel Street opposite Lloyd’s Bank. 8. W. Saul & Son of Black Abbey, on Abbey Street near to Black Abbey. It was resolved to approve these signs. The Committee then considered a suggestion that the position of the tram stop at Daisy Hill on Manchester Road should be changed. It was resolved the Tramway Manager would look into this suggestion and then report back. The Town Clerk reported that he was in receipt of an application from Ribble Motor Services to start an omnibus service between Accrington and Burnley. It was resolved the Committee would offer no objections to the Watch Committee, providing ‘certain’ conditions were put in place to prevent competition with the interests of the tramway, as had been the case with other similar licences. September Efforts were being made to find a compromise solution to a dispute that was threatening to end in strike action by workers in the industry. A secret meeting of the T&GWU was being held in order to discuss the latest proposals, a record of which would be sent to Sir David Shackleton at the Ministry of Labour. A further meeting with the Joint Industrial Council was dependent upon the Union’s decision. However, a delegates’ conference had rejected the employers latest proposals and adjourned to the following Wednesday deferring any strike action until after that date. At the meeting of the delegates, Mr Ernest Bevan, the Union’s General Secretary, had stated that this offer was unacceptable. The Electricity & Tramways Committee met and the Chairman submitted wordy correspondence he had received between the respective secretaries of the employers and employees associations, with respect to the notice given by the National Council to terminate the June 1921 agreement on wages in the tramway industry and the ‘sliding scale agreement’. It was resolved the Committee’s view was that the two sides should meet in order to arrive at an amicable solution on the basis of a sliding scale of wages in proportion to the fluctuating cost of living, also that the representatives of the employers should do everything within their powers to bring about a joint meeting for this purpose. The Chairman intimated that instructions had now been issued for the restoration of the tram stop on Daisy Hill, Manchester Road. October At a meeting of the Electricity & Tramways Committee, the Tramway Manager reported that it was over two years since the motormen and inspectors had been supplied with new mackintosh coats, and he submitted tenders for the supply of new ones. It was resolved that the one submitted by Messrs Charles Machintosh Ltd, of Brook Street Works, Manchester, would as the lowest be accepted. A letter was received from Rawtenstall Corporation indicating they were agreeable to continuing with the current arrangements for through running for a further twelve months, commencing from October 1 st last. It was resolved to recommend this offer to a meeting of the Full Council. The Town Clerk reported he had been contacted by Oswaldtwistle UDC on the subject of the service through Oswaldtwistle. It was resolved the Chairman, Vice-Chair and Tramway Manager would receive a deputation from them to discuss this matter. Local tramway workers voted to accept a reduction in wages for adults by 4 shillings per week from the beginning of the month. The original demand from the Tramway Owners’ Association was for a cut of 12 shillings in three stages. The results of the Accrington ballot which showed a ‘considerable’ majority in favour of acceptance would be made known to the Head Office of the T&GWU in London. Employees in the tramway industry had seen a reduction in wages of 10 shillings per week since June, 1921.

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