Imprisonment for failure to obey order

(1) If the person summoned as provided in section 64 of this Act, fails to comply with the summons without lawful excuse or if he makes default in payment into court in the manner aforesaid, the magistrate may commit such person to prison for a term not exceeding six weeks or until payment of the sum ordered to be paid (if paid before the expiration of such term). (2) No committal under sub-section (1) of this section, shall be ordered for default in payment unless it be proved to the satisfaction of the magistrate that the person making default either has or has had since the date of the order, the means to pay the sum in respect of which he has made default, and has refused or neglected, or refuses or neglects, to pay it. (3) Proof of the means of the person making default may be given in such manner as the magistrate thinks just, and, for the purposes of such proof, the debtor and any witness may be summoned and their attendance enforced by the same processes as in cases in which the magistrate has summary jurisdiction in criminal matters, and such debtor and witnesses may be examined on oath. 57 (4) Every order of committal under this section shall be issued, obeyed, and executed in manner similar to commitments by magistrates in the exercise of their summary jurisdiction in criminal cases. (5) Imprisonment under this section shall not operate as a satisfaction or extinguishment of the judgment debt. paid.