A referee appointed as provided in this article shall have all the powers and be subject to all the duties of a referee appointed under Chapter 31 of Title 15, so far as practicable, and may punish for contempt a witness duly served as prescribed in § 39-3-330 for nonattendance or refusal to be sworn or testify or to produce books, papers and documents according to the direction of the endorsements aforesaid in the same manner and to the same extent as a referee appointed to hear, try and determine an issue of fact or of law.