§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received copies of resolutions passed by boards of guardians to the effect that, having regard to the difficulties which have arisen in various unions in the administration of outdoor relief in consequence of the action of the Local Government Board's auditors in surcharging guardians with the amount of relief granted to poor persons residing in a house where the income is alleged to be sufficient to mantain all the occupants of the house, whether such occupants are legally liable to support the poor person to whom the relief has been granted or not, the guardians are of opinion that steps should be immediately taken to prevent the irritation which must necessarily be the result of such surcharges upon guardians who have endeavoured conscientiously to perform: their duties and to exercise a wise discretion in the granting of relief to such persons by providing that the auditor shall not have power in such cases to surcharge the guardians without first obtaining the consent of the Local Government Board; and if he is prepared to give instructions to the auditors to the effect suggested in the resolution?
§ Mr. LONGI have received a few resolutions to this effect. I could not undertake to issue instructions of the kind suggested, as they would have the effect of limiting the statutory powers of the auditors. I have no reason to suppose that those powers are harshly or improperly exercised.