When a person not being in the place in which he usually lives, or has his home, shall apply to an overseer of the poor or superintendent or director of welfare of a municipality, county or district, stating that he is desirous of returning to his home but is poor and has not the means to do so, that officer may employ or let out the poor person to labor at some suitable place to be selected by the officer and at wages which shall seem to him just.
When in the opinion of the officer the poor person has earned a sufficient sum, the officer shall, with the money so earned, and such additions thereto, not exceeding twenty dollars, from the treasury of the municipality, county or district as he may think reasonable, cause the person to be returned to his home whether in this state or elsewhere.
N.J.S. § 44:1-127