The secretary or an assistant whom he may designate may investigate upon the verified complaint of any interested person, or upon the verified complaint of any agricultural co-operative association organized pursuant to the provisions of chapter 13 of this title (s. 4:13-1 et seq.), or of his own motion, the record of any person applying for or holding a license as commission merchant, broker, dealer or agent, and for such purpose may examine the ledgers, books of account, memoranda or other documents of any such person and may take testimony thereon under oath, but information relating to the general business of any such person, disclosed by the investigation and not relating to the immediate purpose thereof, shall be deemed of a confidential nature by the secretary or assistant.
N.J.S. § 4:11-23