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81. As in previous years, the expense of the materials, skilled
labour and supervision was borne by the Borough Council, and the
Central Body supplied the unskilled labour for the work.
82. The Borough Council also submitted to the Central Body
schemes for the construction of an embankment wall at Bell Lane
wharf and the piping and filling in of a boundary ditch at Streatham,
but the Local Government Board declined to make any contribution
out of the Parliamentary grant towards the cost of these works,
and the Central Body was therefore unable to undertake them.
83. The Borough Council continued the loan to the Vacant
Land Cultivation Society of several small pieces of vacant land in
various parts of the Borough for cultivation by the unemployed
and other persons of small means, under the direction of the Society.
84. It was again suggested to the London County Council that
arrangements should be made with the Central Body for raising the
level of the land adjoining the Riversdale and Southfield Council
schools, Merton Road, Southfield, so that it might be available
for a playing field for children attending the schools in the neighbourhood,
and the Borough Council offered to assist by allowing
the necessary material to be taken from the adjoining shoot. The
County Council did not, however, see its way to proceed with the
work.
85. The Borough Council also carried out some channelling
works in various parts of the Borough, with the view of the same
being executed with unemployed labour.
86. The portion of the old Garratt Lane slop shoot laid out
as an open space by the Council in conjunction
with the Central (Unemployed) Body during the
winter of 1910-11, was opened to the public on 1st June, 1912,
under the name of " Tooting Gardens."
Tooting
Gardens.
87. The Council had under consideiation during the past year
the question of improving the public lighting of
the streets in the Borough. After correspondence
with the various gas companies, arrangements were made for a
Lighting.
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