5
27. The profits of the factory in the Lahore Asylum are shown in Statement
No. XI to have been Rs. 1,027-10-0, which is an improvement of Rs. 112-14-8
on 1893; and in Delhi Rs. 862-15-4, compared with Rs. 684-14-11 in 1893, an
increase of Rs. 178-0-5. As requested by the Government of India, in letter
No. 445, dated 26th July 1894, the attention of the Superintendent of the
Lahore Asylum was drawn to the matter of the development of manufactures.
That officer explains that manufactures have not been neglected, all the
patients fit to work being kept employed. All the clothing that can be made
by unskilled labourers is made up in the asylum, and all the gardening is done
by the lunatics. With respect to garden produce, a larger number of lunatics
have to be supplied with vegetables, and there is no market in Lahore for surplus
stock. When there is such surplus stock, the lunatics get more than the sanctioned
scale, but the excess price is not shown in the accounts. Of the sum of Rs. 1,915
spent on clothing and bedding in 1893, Rs. 1,208 was spent on raw material,
Rs. 55 for the clothing of European and Eurasian lunatics, Rs. 417 for clothing
and uniform of warders, and Rs. 235 for the labour of lunatics, so that raw
material to the value of Rs. 1,208 was made up for the sum of Rs. 235.
28. The Superintendent of the Delhi Asylum draws particular attention
to the impossibility of obtaining efficient warders at the present rates of pay,
Rs. 5 to Rs. 8. Coolies of the worst character can only be procured for the
lower rate. Their object is plunder, and the lunatics suffer. A proposal is
now under consideration for raising the wages of these men.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
D. O'C. RAYE,
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Punjab.