The director may examine on oath all persons who are believed to possess knowledge of material facts relative to the existence or dissemination, or danger of dissemination, of contagious diseases among domestic animals, or relative to any other matter within the provisions of this chapter, and, for the purposes of this chapter, shall have all the powers vested in justices of the peace by chapters two hundred and twenty-two and two hundred and thirty-three to take depositions, to compel witnesses to attend and testify before him and to administer oaths. Witnesses shall receive the same fees for attendance and travel as witnesses before the courts. The expense of procuring the attendance of such witnesses shall be paid by the commonwealth. Copies of the records of the division, or of any order, rule or regulation issued by the director, if duly certified by the clerk, and any certificate by the clerk of the issuing, recording, delivering or publishing of such orders, rules or regulations under this chapter, shall be competent evidence of such fact in any tribunal.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 129, § 10