If a payment of the sum due to the master of a South African ship on account of wages has been delayed, the court trying any proceedings for the recovery of such wages may order the person liable to make the payment of wages to pay to the master, in addition to any sum due on account of wages, such sum as it thinks just as damages in respect of the delay, unless the court finds that the delay is due to the act or default of the master, or to any reasonable dispute as to liability, or to any other cause not being the wrongful act or default of the person liable to make the payment.