Note 78 — Chapter III · (continued 2)

The following estimate was prepared during the progress of the bill, and was printed by order of the house of lords.

Assuming that there will be a hundred unions, each having a workhouse capable of accommodating 800 persons, the paid officers, with their respective salaries in each union, may be stated as follows:—

Clerk of the union from £60 to 80

Master and mistress of the workhouse 60 ” 80

Chaplains 50 ” 80

Medical officers and medicines 100 ” 150

Auditor 20 ” 30

Returning officer 10 ” 20

Collector 50 ” 70

Schoolmaster and schoolmistress 50 ” 80

Porter and assistant-porter 20 ” 30

Other assistants in the workhouse and union, say 30 30

£450 to 650

For the hundred unions, this would give a total expenditure in salaries of from 45,000l. to 65,000l. per annum; or say 55,000l. on an average.

In addition to the above, it may be further assumed, that on an average throughout the year the workhouses will be three parts full, and that the total cost of maintenance clothing bedding wear and tear &c., will amount to 1s. 6d. per head per week, which is equal to 3l. 18s., or say 4l. per head per annum; this will give an expenditure of 240,000l. per annum for maintenance &c., in the hundred unions: which added to the 55,000l. for salaries, will make a total charge of 295,000l. annually for the relief of the destitute, under the provisions of the bill.

The money for building the workhouses is to be advanced by government, free of interest for ten years; and is to be repaid by annual instalments of five per cent. The cost of the workhouses has been stated at 700,000l., but assuming it to amount to 1,000,000l., this would impose an additional charge of 50,000l. annually for the first twenty years (exclusive of the interest after the first ten years on the then residue of the principal), which, added to the above, makes an aggregate charge of 345,000l. per annum.—G. N.