'Mesopotamia. Commission' [‎17v] (37/256)

2 Special Commissions {Dardanelles [6 & 7 Geo. 5.]
and Mesopotamia).
A.I). 1916.
Powers of
Commis
sioners.
Discretion
to hold pro
ceedings
either in
public or in
private.
are hereby appointed Commissioners for the purpose of inquiring
into the conduct of operations of war in Mesopotamia, including
the supply of equipment to the troops, the provision for the
sick and wounded, and the responsibility ol those departments
of the Government whose duty it lias been to minister to the 5
wants of the forces employed in that theatre of war. t
2. —(1) The Commissioners appointed under this Act (in this
Act referred to as the Commissioners) shall have all such powers,
rights, and privileges as are vested in the High Court or in any
judge thereof, on the occasion of any action, in respect of the 10
following matters:—
{a) The enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining
them on oath, affirmation, or otherwise, and the issue
of a commission or a request to examine witnesses
abroad; and 15
(6) The compelling the production of documents; and
(<?) The punishing persons guilty of contempt;
and a summons signed by one or more of the Commissioners may
he substituted for and shall he equivalent to any formal process
capable of being issued in any action for enforcing the attendance 20
of witnesses and compelling the production of documents.
(2) A warrant of committal to prison issued for the purpose
of enforcing the powers conferred by this section shall he signed
by one or more of the Commissioners, and shall specify the prison
to which the offender is to he committed, hut shall not authorise 25
the imprisonment of an offender for a period exceeding three
months.
(3) Any person may appear before the Commissioners by
counsel or solicitor if authorised to do so by the Commis
sioners. 30
(4) The Commissioners may act notwithstanding any vacancy
in their number, and three shall he a quorum.
3. —(1) The Commissioners shall, having regard to the
interests of the public and to naval, military, and diplomatic
considerations, allow or refuse to allow the public or any portion 35
of the public to he present during any proceedings of the
Commissioners.
(2) If any person who is present at any proceedings of the
Commissioners [at which the public or any portion thereof are