97.—(1) Witnesses shall be summoned and sworn in the same manner as nearly as circumstances admit as in an action tried in the High Court.
(2) On the trial a member of the election court may, by order signed by him, require any person who appears to him to have been concerned in the election to attend as a witness, and any person refusing to obey the order shall be guilty of contempt of court.
(3) The election court may examine any person so required to attend or who is in court although he is not called and examined by any party to the petition.
(4) A witness may, after his examination by the court, be cross-examined by or on behalf of the petitioner and respondent, or either of them.
(5) In Scotland one of the deputies of the Lord Advocate or the procurator-fiscal of the district may, if the Lord Advocate so decides, and shall, if the election court so requests attend the trial of the petition as part of his official duty.