SIR W. JAMESsaid, he had put a question to the right hon. Gentleman, in a late debate, which he had reason to think had been misunderstood by the right hon. Gentleman. He would, therefore, repeat the question which he had stated in a note to him, namely, whether the poor-law auditors were entitled to act upon their view of the Act of Parliament, contrary to the opinion of the Crown lawyers?
§ SIR G. GREYsaid, the poor-law auditors did incur some responsibility in acting upon their opinion in opposition to that of the law officers of the Crown. At the same time, the poor-law auditors were bound to exercise their own judgment in the matters within their cognizance, and to satisfy themselves that the accounts they audited contained legal or illegal items. If any party were dissatisfied with the decision of the poor-law auditors, he might appeal to the Court of Queen's Bench or to the Poor Law Commissioners.