Section 48

48. Every auditor shall be supplied with a copy of the half-yearly balance-sheet, and it shall be his duty to examine the same, with the accounts and vouchers relating thereto. Every auditor shall have a list delivered to him of all books kept by the Bank, and shall at all reasonable times have access to the books, accounts and other documents of the Bank, and may (at the expense of the Bank) employ accountants or other persons to assist him in investigating such accounts, and may, in relation to such accounts, examine the directors or any other officer of the Bank. The auditors shall make a report to the proprietors and shareholders upon the annual balance-sheet and accounts; and in every such report they shall state whether, in their opinion, the balance-sheet is a full and fair balance-sheet containing the particulars required by the bye-laws made under this Act, and properly drawn up so as to exhibit a true and correct view of the state of the Bank's affairs, and in case they have called for any explanation or information from the directors, whether it has been given by the directors and whether it has been satisfactory. Such report shall be read together with the report of the directors at the annual general meeting.