SUPPLY.—REPORT. (Hansard, 23 August 1887)

§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

One moment, before this is passed. I wanted to say one or two words in order to place before the Government a matter which I was prevented by a little error from placing before them in Committee yesterday evening. It is in reference to the chaplains at gaols. I only wanted to mention this—that there are a number of gaols — some 18 altogether, I think—with less than an average daily number of 100 prisoners, yet in every one of those gaols there is a chaplain employed and paid at the rate of £100 or £150 a-year. There are 12 chaplains at £100 a-year and six at £150, and I only want to suggest to the Government that great economy might be effected in this item. I do not for one moment mean to say that it is not desirable to have somebody who can conduct religious services in the gaol; but I know as a fact that it is perfectly possible to employ some local clergyman in the different towns where the gaols are situated, on the same principle as that in which chaplains in workhouses 1673 are appointed. You can get in almost every town a local clergyman who would be willing to do all the duty required at a salary of £40 or £50 a-year in addition to what he receives from his benefice. It seems to me that if you proceed in this manner and on the same lines as you adopt in the case of chaplains for Workhouses and Unions, you might effect an enormous saving. At present you pay for these 18 chaplains £2,100 a-year; I have made a calculation by which it appears to me that you could save, at least, £900 or £l,000perannumon that item alone. I therefore thought it my duty to bring this matter before the House in the briefest possible manner.