Regulation of Railways Act 1873

25 Powers of Commissioners.

For the purposes of this Act the Commissioners shall, subject as in this Act mentioned, have full power to decide all questions whether of law or of fact, and shall also have the following powers ; that is to say,

(a) They may, by themselves or by any person appointed by them to prosecute an inquiry, enter and inspect any place or building, being the property or under the control of any railway or canal company, the entry or inspection of which appears to them requisite;

(b) They may require the attendance of all such persons as they think fit to call before them and examine, and may require answers or returns to such inquiries as they think fit to make;

(c) They may require the production of all books, papers, and documents relating to the matters before them;

(d) They may administer an oath ;

(e) They may when sitting in open court punish for contempt in like manner as if they were a court of record.

Every person required by the Commissioners to attend as a witness shall be allowed such expenses as would be allowed to a witness attending on subpoena before a court of record; and in case of dispute as to the amount to be allowed, the same shall be referred to a master of one of the superior courts, who, on request, under the hands of the Commissioners, shall ascertain and certify the proper amount of such expenses.