§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, on 7th ultimo, Auditor McHugh surcharged the Chairman of Macroom Union £2 8s. for alleged "exorbitant" outdoor relief to a suspect's family; whether, as they were previously in respectable circumstances, he could state upon what principle the auditor decided £1 a-weekan exorbitant sum to maintain a family upon; whether there is any, and what, limit to the guardians' power to grant outdoor relief in money to poor persons (not farmers); and, whether the auditor's power of surcharge is absolute, and, in case of refusal by the guardians to pay the surcharge, what means can be taken to compel them?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that the surcharge in question was imposed because the auditor considered it 1436 an exorbitant amount of relief given to a suspect's family. The relieving officer considered 8s. a-week sufficient; and although that was the average now paid in similar cases, the Guardians persisted in giving £1 a-week. The Guardians' power of giving relief was subject to the auditor's power of surcharging them,.