Summoning of witnesses

(1) The magistrate may, at the request of either of the parties, summon all persons as witnesses and may administer an oath to them touching the matter of the complaint or of the defence to it. (2) Any person so summoned who fails without any reasonable or lawful excuse to obey the summons, or refuses to be examined upon oath, shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding ten dollars, to be ordered, levied and paid in the manner and by the means, and with the power of commitment hereinbefore directed as to the order and judgment to be given between the parties in the original complaint, excepting so far as regards the form of the order.