§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the Undersecretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been called to the continuance of high rates of mortality in a number of Bengal gaols during the last year; whether the average mortality in the Bengal gaols has exceeded 60 per 1,000, being much higher than the average among the general population; whether the death rate in Singhboom Gaol was 102 per 1,000, in Moorshedabad Gaol 107, in Beerbhoom Gaol 111, in Purneah Gaol 114, in Dinagepoor Gaol 117, in Lohardugga Gaol 119, in Bogra Gaol 122, in Burdwan Gaol 142, in Champaran Gaol 145, and in Mymensingh Gaol 226 per 1,000; whether he is aware that no local unhealthiness accounts for this excessive mortality, 1412 and that, for instance, while the death rate in Beerbhoom Gaol was 111 per 1,000, it was 24 per 1,000 in the Beerbhoom district, and while the death rate in Burdwan Gaol was 142 per 1,000, in the Burdwan district it was 35 per 1,000; and, that facilities will be given by Government for a thorough examination of the causes of the excessive mortality in Indian gaols?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSThe Bengal Gaol Report for last year has not yet been received; but the figures given in the Question show that it is based on the Report for 1882, in which year there was a great deal of sickness. As regards every one of the gaols mentioned in the Question, except that at Lohardugga, the Report states expressly that the surrounding district was suffering severely from malarial fever; and as to Beerbhoom, which is expressly referred to as having a mortality higher than that of the district, it is stated in the Report that the mortality of the general population, though far below that of the gaol population, was higher than any on record. Government are not in possession of any trustworthy statistics as to the death rates of the general population; and, therefore, all these comparisons are more or less misleading. Of the deaths which did, in fact, occur in gaol many were caused by ailments not specially induced by residence in goal. For example, the actual number who died in the Burdwan Gaol in the year was 14; of these five were in bad health when admitted to the prison, and never did any work; and as regards Moorshedabad, the Report shows that of the 17 prisoners who died during the year 13 were in bad health when admitted. The rate of mortality, however, has certainly been very high, and is not clearly accounted for, although the subject has been receiving constant attention. The Secretary of State directed last year that the whole subject should be thoroughly investigated.
§ In answer to Mr. BUCHANAN,
§ MR. J. K. CROSSsaid, that if the hon. Member desired to move for any extracts from the Report he should be happy to furnish them.
§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSSwished to know whether the investigation into the matter had taken place, or would it take place as soon as possible?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSYes, Sir. Perhaps he might be allowed to say that there was considerable misapprehension as to the state of affairs. If they took the whole of the persons who passed through the gaols and the number who died, it did not seem so very excessive as it appeared from the general statistics. Of 94,348 people who passed through the gaol, the deaths were 1,085.
§ MR. O'DONNELLsaid, he understood the Under Secretary admitted that the mortality exceeded 60 in 1,000, and in some cases went up to 100, or even 200, in the 1,000. Was it not the case that the wholesale mortality to which he had called attention had been brought for a long succession of years to the notice of the Government, and that, nevertheless, this wholesale assassination of prisoners continued year after year? He wished to know whether the Under Secretary would answer his last Question—what facilities would be given for a full examination of that excessive mortality?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSsaid, he had already stated that the Secretary of State last year directed that a thorough investigation should be made; but the Report had not yet been received, and he would rather wait for it before answering that Question.