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

The Chairman then stated, “You ought to give us some definite proposals, as I do not see what answer we could give to you right now!” Mr Garcke in reply stated , “I regard this as a preliminary meeting for the purpose of ascertaining whether in principle you are willing to receive our proposal on the lines I have indicated. It is of no use our formulating any proposals without some previous debate, and this is the purpose of this conference.” The Town Clerk remarked, “That the question was one of rates with the Corporation, and this entire question was one of money.” Mr Garcke retorted , “We should not be justified in coming into an area at all if we do not render a public service. Now if you ask us for a price for the right to render this service, the character of the service we render will be in some way diminished by that. Is it better for you to have cheap fares, clean cars and other advantages, for which we get absolutely nothing? I venture to think that when you are dealing with a tramway company, it is a company to be encouraged because it does render a public service. We are bound to do the correct thing for the public, and it is far more of an advantage to a public to receive us in a kindly light.” Again the Town Clerk remarked, “That the whole of the object was money”. The Chairman requested that the Company put down their proposals in ‘black and white’. The Corporation had been making its own enquiries and was desirous of coming to a reasonable conclusion. Mr Garcke then thanked the Committee for the reception that had been given to him, whilst stating that they would forthwith work out a detailed scheme and submit it in writing. Adding , “If and when the Corporation had scrutinised it, if it did not fully express BET’s views, they would again be very happy to attend on the Committee and impart further information”. Alderman Kenyon then thanked the Chairman and the Committee for the reception that had been accorded to the deputation. The meeting then came to an end. November The following correspondence was then dispatched from the British Electric Traction Company Ltd. Donnington House, Norfolk Street, Strand. LONDON WC November 7 th , 1899. To the Town Clerk, ACCRINGTON. Dear Sir, In view of the agreement existing between this Company and the Accrington Corporation Steam Tramway Company, the terms of which are no doubt familiar to you, we have been favoured by the Accrington Company with a copy of the proposal for the renewal of their Lease, which they have placed before you and with which we desire to say we are in perfect accord. As, however, they have referred to the policy of this Company with regard to the joint working of the Rossendale and Accrington Companies, we take this opportunity of informing you what that policy is, and of giving you some of the particulars of the several arrangements similar to the ones proposed to be made by your Corporation with the Accrington Company, which have been entered into by my Company and ‘other’ Corporations. In carrying out this proposed scheme it will be necessary as stated, to consolidate the Accrington and Rossendale Companies, in doing this however, it is our intention to retain the ‘local’ character of the Company, not only with respect to the name, but also in the

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