The Short Title of this Act shall be “The Commissioners Powers Act 1867.”

It shall be lawful for any board or commission appointed or issued or to be appointed or issued by the Governor in Council to summon by writing under the hand of the chairman or any commissioner or member of the board any person whose evidence shall in the judgment of the said board or commission or any member thereof be material to the subject matter of the inquiry to be made by such board or commission to attend the said board or commission at such place and time as shall be specified therein and such person may be required by such summons to bring any books papers writings deeds and documents of which any court of law might compel the production and any member of such board or commission may examine such person upon oath touching the matter to be inquired into by such board or commission.

If any person on whom any such summons shall have been served by the delivery thereof to him or by the leaving thereof at his usual place of abode shall neglect or fail to appear according to the exigency of the summons requiring his attendance or being present shall refuse to be sworn or to give evidence or to make answer to such questions as shall be put to him by any member of such board or commission touching the subject matter of the inquiry or if any person having the custody or control of such books papers documents and writings shall upon being summoned as aforesaid fail or neglect to produce them at the time and place named in such summons such person so offending shall forfeit and pay for every such default any sum not exceeding twenty pounds to be recovered in a summary way before a resident magistrate or any two justices of the peace by any person authorized by the board or commission so to do.

All witnesses attending in pursuance of the summons of any such commissioner other than any party prosecuting any claim before such board or commission shall be entitled to expenses for travelling and maintenance during his absence from his usual place of residence according to the scale allowed by the rules of the Supreme Court in civil cases to witnesses and such expenses shall be paid by the Colonial Treasurer out of the ordinary revenue if certified by the chairman of such board or commission.

Every person wilfully and corruptly giving false evidence upon oath before any such board or commission shall be deemed guilty of perjury and may on conviction be sentenced to penal servitude for any term not exceeding four years or imprisonment with or without hard labour for any term not exceeding two years.