Section 31

The court may, on the application of the Official Assignee or of any creditor who has proved his debt at any time after a receiving order has been made against a debtor, summon before it the debtor, or his wife, or any person known or suspected to have in his possession any of the estate or effects belonging to the debtor, or supposed to be indebted to the debtor, or any person whom the court deems capable of giving information respecting the debtor, his dealings or property, and the court may require any such person to produce any documents in his custody or power relating to the debtor, his dealings or property.

If any person so summoned, after having been tendered a reasonable sum, refuses to come before the court at the time appointed, or refuses to produce any such document, having no lawful impediment made known to the court at the time of its sitting and allowed by it, the court may by warrant cause him to be apprehended and brought up for examination.

The court may examine on oath, either by word of mouth or by written interrogatories, any person so brought before it concerning the debtor, his dealings or property.

If on the examination of any such person it appears to the court that he is indebted to the debtor, the court may, on the application of the Official Assignee, order him to pay to the Official Assignee, at such time and in such manner as to the court seems expedient, the amount in which he is indebted or any part thereof, either in full discharge of the whole amount in question or not as the court thinks fit, with or without costs of the examination.

If on the examination of any such person it appears to the court that he has in his possession any property belonging to the debtor the court may, on the application of the Official Assignee, order him to deliver to the Official Assignee such property or any part thereof at such time and in such manner and on such terms as the court thinks just.

The powers given to the court under this section may in all cases be exercised by the Registrar and any order made or act done by the Registrar shall be deemed the order or act of the court, but the examination may at any time be adjourned by him to be heard before the court.