STATUTE 4 & 5 WILLIAM IV. CAP. 76. An Act for the Amendment and better Administra- WHEREAS it is expedient to alter and amend the (1) This appointment is to continue in force for five years, and from thence to the end of the next session of parliament; after which, so much of this act as relates to the appointment of commissioners shall cease, (sert. 10, post,) if no other provision by statute be made upon the subject. of commi Style of com. missioners, pointment, it shall be lawful for the surviving or continuing commissioners or commissioner to act as if no such vacancy had occurred. II. And be it further enacted, that the said who may sit commissioners shall be styled "The Poor Law as a board, summon and nesses, and call for pro duction of papers on oath; with power to Commissioners for England and Wales;" and the examine wit- said commissioners, or any two of them, may sit from time to time, as they deem expedient, as a board of commissioners for carrying this act into execution; and the said commissioners acting as such board shall be and are hereby empowered, by summons under their hands and seal, to require the attendance (2) of all such persons as they may think fit to call before them upon any question or matter connected with or relating to the administration of the laws for the relief of the poor, and also to make any inquiries and require any answer or returns as to any such question or matter, and also to administer oaths, and examine all such persons upon oath, and to require and enforce the production upon oath of books, contracts, agreements, accounts, and writings, or copies thereof respectively, in anywise relating to any such question or matter; or, in lieu of requiring such oath as aforesaid, the said commissioners may, if they think fit, require any such person to make and subscribe a declaration (2) As to the punishment for not obeying this summons, or for refusing to produce books, papers, &c., or for giving false testimony, see sect. 13, post. of the truth of the matters respecting which he shall have been or shall be so examined: provided always, that no such person shall be required, in obedience to any such summons, to go or travel more than ten miles from the place of his abode; (3) provided also, that nothing herein but not to inquire into contained shall extend or be deemed to extend any title. to authorize or empower the said commissioners to act as a court of record, or to require the production of the title, or of any papers or writings relating to the title, of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, not being the property of any parish or union. common seal. III. And be it further enacted, that the said To have a commissioners shall cause to be made a seal of the said board, and shall cause to be sealed or stamped therewith all rules, orders, and regulations made by the said commissioners in pursuance of this act; (4) and all such rules, orders, Rules, &c. and regulations, or copies thereof, purporting to be sealed or stamped with the seal of the said board, shall be received as evidence of the same respectively, without any further proof thereof; and no such rule, order, or regulation, or copy thereof, shall be valid, or have any force or effect, unless the same shall be so sealed or stamped as aforesaid. (3) As to the witness's expenses, see sect. 14, post. (4) See sect. 15, post. purporting to be sealed with snch seal, to be received as evidence. Commissioners to record their proceedings, submit and them yearly IV. And be it further enacted, that the said commissioners shall make a record of their proceedings, in which shall be entered in writing a to a secretary reference to every letter received, from whence, of state. its date, the date of its reception, and the subject to which it relates, and a minute of every letter written or order given by the said commissioners, whether in answer to such letters received or otherwise, with the date of the same, and a minute of the opinion of each of the members of the board of commissioners, in case they should finally differ in opinion upon any order to be given or other proceeding of the board; and such record shall be submitted to one of his majesty's principal secretaries of state once in every year, or as often as he shall require the same. Commissioners to V. And be it further enacted, that the said make a gene- commissioners shall, once in every year, submit ral report to the secretary to one of the principal secretaries of state a of state yearly; and to report proceedings general report of their proceedings; and every such general report shall be laid before both houses of parliament within six weeks after the receipt of the same by such principal secretary of state, if parliament be then sitting, or if parliament be not sitting then within six weeks after the next meeting thereof. VI. And be it further enacted, that the said to secretary commissioners shall from time to time, at such of state when required. times as any one of his majesty's principal secretaries of state shall direct, give to the principal secretary of state requiring the same such information respecting their proceedings, or any part thereof, as the said principal secretary of state shall require. appoint as sistant com missioners, and to remove same. VII. And be it further enacted, that the said Power to commissioners shall and they are hereby empowered from time to time to appoint such persons as they may think fit, to be assistant commissioners for carrying this act into execution, at such places and in such manner as the said commissioners may direct, and to remove such assistant commissioners, or any of them, at their discretion, and on every or any vacancy in the said office of assistant commissioner, by removal or by death or otherwise, to appoint, if they see fit, some other person to the said office: provided always, that it shall not be lawful for the be appointed said commissioners to appoint more than nine sent of treasuch assistant commissioners to act at any one time, unless the lord high treasurer, or the commissioners of his majesty's treasury for the time being, or any three or more of them, shall consent to the appointment of a greater number. Not more than nine to without con sury. ers not to sit ment. VIII. And be it further enacted, that no Commissioncommissioner or assistant commissioner, ap- in Parlia pointed as aforesaid, shall, during his continuance in such appointment, be capable of being |