Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1913. No. 348.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1912.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this 19th day of December, One thousand nine hundred and thirteen.

DENMAN,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

AGAR WYNNE.

POST AND TELEGRAPH REGULATIONS.

SHORT TITLE.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913.

REPEAL.

2. All Regulations previously made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, and in force at the commencement of these Regulations, except:—

(a)Regulations for securing the telegraph lines of the Postmaster-General from interference or injurious affection by electric lines or works, and
(b) Telephone Regulations

are hereby repealed save as to any right, privilege or obligation acquired, accrued, or incurred thereunder.

SUNDAY ARRANGEMENTS.

Postal.

3. Country post offices, where mails arrive late on Saturday night or on Sunday, shall, if required by the Deputy Postmaster-General, open for the delivery of correspondence for such time not exceeding one hour as the Deputy Postmaster-General may consider will meet local requirements.

Telegraphic.

4. An officer must be in attendance at the Chief Telegraph Office of each State throughout the day and night to attend to inquiries. He will receive telegrams for transmission to similar offices within the Commonwealth at ordinary rates for press and double the ordinary rates for other telegrams; to certain principal offices in each State to be specified by the Deputy Postmaster-General, which are in call at 9 p.m., at the foregoing rates; to New Zealand, Great Britain, and Foreign Countries at ordinary rates. Telegrams may also be handed in at 9 p.m. at the principal offices before-mentioned for transmission at the rates quoted above.

C. 14098.—Price 1s. 9d.

HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS.

5. On Christmas Day and Good Friday the same arrangements shall be observed as on Sunday; and on other Public Holidays the arrangements shall Be as follow:—

—	New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, King’s Birthday, Boxing Day, and Holidays proclaimed throughout the Commonwealth, or appointed or proclaimed in any State or part of a State, and generally observed in that State or part as Public Holidays.	Other days or half-days appointed or proclaimed as Holidays in any State or part of a State, but not generally observed in that State or part as Holidays.
General Post Office— The Delivery Office, Registration Office, and office for sale of postage stamps to be open................	From 9 a.m. to 12 noon	As on ordinary days
Private boxes to be open as usual. The country mails usually despatched in the afternoon and evening, alsothe coastwise, Inter-State, and foreign mails, to close....................................	At 12 noon, unless otherwise specially intimated	As on ordinary days
The first delivery only to be effected by letter carriers. The Parcels Office to be open.............................	From 9 a.m. to 12 noon	As on ordinary days
The Money Order Office to be open	From 9 a.m. to 12 noon	As on ordinary days
The Chief Telegraph Office to be open............	As on ordinary days
All Post and Telegraph Offices above the 4th Class to be open for telegraphic business.......................	As on ordinary days
Branch Offices in the cities, and suburban and country offices to be open............................................	From 9 a.m. to 12 noon	As on ordinary days
The first delivery only to be made by letter carriers.
The iron pillar receivers and letter boxes in the capital cities and suburbs will be cleared	Only at the ordinary hours in the morning, or alternatively in the evening, as may be arranged	As on ordinary days

Note.—IfBritish and foreign mails arrive, or are despatched, on any of the above-mentioned holidays; special arrangements must be made to suit the public convenience.

LOITERING IN POST OR TELEGRAPH OFFICES.

6. Any person who loiters in a Post Office or Telegraph Office shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £5, and any person found so loitering may be ejected.

POSTAL REGULATIONS.

LATE FEES.

7. The late fee on all unregistered postal articles except newspapers and parcels posted in the Commonwealth, for delivery therein, shall be 1d. each; and on such articles posted for transmission to places beyond the Commonwealth—each a single rate of postage.

UNPAID OR INSUFFICIENTLY PREPAID LETTERS, POST CARDS AND PACKETS.

Within the Commonwealth and to Papua, New Zealand and Fiji.

8. (I) Wholly unpaid or insufficiently prepaid letters, letter cards, post cards or packets posted in the Commonwealth for delivery therein and in Papua, New Zealand and Fiji, shall be charged double the deficiency or delivery.

Beyond the Commonwealth.

(2) Wholly unpaid or insufficiently prepaid letters, letter cards or post cards, and insufficiently prepaid packets, posted in the Commonwealth for delivery in places beyond the Commonwealth shall be charged double the deficiency on delivery. Wholly unpaid packets addressed to places beyond the Commonwealth shall not be transmitted.

LETTERS.

9. No letter may be of inconvenient form or dimensions, or contain any article likely to injure any person or the contents of the mail-bags.

LETTER CARDS.

10. Letter cards provided by private individuals and bearing impressed or adhesive stamps shall be allowed to pass through the post at the rate of postage prescribed for letters, but reply letter cards so provided may be so transmitted only within the Commonwealth.

11. Postage stamps may be impressed or printed on such letter cards under the same conditions as are set forth in the Regulations relating to “impressing or printing stamps on private post cards,” except that paragraph (a) of Regulation 25 under the latter head shall not apply to such letter cards.

POST CARDS.

12. Single post cards, and reply or double post cards, may be transmitted to places in and beyond the Commonwealth at the rates prescribed and in force in the Commonwealth.

13. Single post cards must bear at the head of the front side the words “post card” or their equivalent in any language. This provision, however, is not compulsory in the case of private post cards.

14. The dimensions of post cards must not exceed 5½ inches in length by 3½ inches in breadth, nor be less than 4 inches in length by 2¾ inches in breadth.

15. Post cards must be made of ordinary cardboard not thicker than the material used for the thickest official post card, nor thinner than the material used for the thinnest official post card.

16. Post cards may only be sent at post card rate if posted unenclosed, that is to say, without wrapper or envelope. Single cards bearing the printed inscription “Post Card,” or its equivalent in any language, may, however, be sent in envelopes at the packet rate of postage, provided that they conform to the Regulations, relating to commercial or printed papers; otherwise, enclosed post cards shall be subject to letter rate of postage.

17. Postage stamps must be affixed in the right top corner of the front side of post cards posted in the Commonwealth. The name and address of the addressee and service indications (Registered Acknowledgment of Receipt, &c.), must also appear on the front, of which the right half at least is reserved exclusively for such purpose. The sender may, subject to the terms of Regulation 18 following, use the back and the left part of the front for correspondence.

18. in addition to the stamps tor prepayment of postage, it is permitted to attach to a post card a gummed label not exceeding ¾ of an inch by 2inches, bearing the name and address of the addressee, and the name and address of the sender; vignettes or photographs on very thin paper may also be affixed to the back and to the left part of the front, provided that they adhere completely to the card. In the case of post cards to and from the United Kingdom, newspaper cuttings may be affixed under the same conditions. The public are prohibited from joining or affixing to post cards any other object whatever. Cards of the varieties known as “tinselled” and “beaded,” and cards with “pearling” decorations, are not permitted to pass through the post unless enclosed in envelopes. (See Regulation No. 16, above.)

19. In the international service reply or double post cards must bear at the head of the front side of the first half the words “Post Card with Reply Paid,” and in the same position on the second half the words “Reply Post Card,” or their equivalent in any language. Each of the two halves must, however, fulfil the other conditions laid down in these Regulations for single post cards, and they must not be closed up in any manner whatsoever.

20. The sender of a reply post card may indicate his name and address on the face of the “Reply” half, either in writing or by attaching a label, as provided in Regulation 18.

21. The prepayment of the “Reply” half by means of the postage stamp of the country which has issued the card is valid only if the two halves of the post card with reply paid were attached to one another when received from the country of origin, and if the “Reply” half is addressed to that country. Otherwise it shall be treated as an unpaid post card.

22. Post cards not fulfilling, so far as the prescribed conditions in regard to dimensions, external form, &c., are concerned, the conditions laid down in these Regulations, shall be treated as letters.

23. Private cards (single and reply) bearing adhesive postage stamps, may also be transmitted as post cards, at the same rates of postage as those prescribed and in force for post cards. Except as provided in Regulation 13, they must, in all respects, conform to these Regulations.

24. The stamp impressed on a post card may be used only in prepayment of postage on the post card on which it is impressed.

Impressing or Printing Stamps on Private Post Cards.

25. One penny and one penny half-penny postage stamps may be impressed or printed under the following conditions, on cards supplied by the public; but application, accompanied by a specimen card, must first be made, in writing, to the Deputy Postmaster-General:—

(a)The cards may not measure more than 5½ x 3½ inches, nor less than 4 x 2¾ inches, or exceed the thickness of the post card issued by the Department, and must be of approved colour.
(b)Not less than 500 cards of one size and in suitable sheets shall be received for stamping at any one time.
(c)There is no fee for stamping, but the value of the stamps must be paid in advance.
(d)No commission shall be allowed on the value of stamps impressed or printed on post cards for licensed vendors.

PACKETS.

Definition of Packets.

26. Packets may consist of Commercial Papers, Printed Papers, or Patterns, Samples, and Merchandise as hereinafter defined.

Within the Commonwealth and to Papua, New Zealand and Fiji.

Commercial Papers.

27. Commercial papers include all papers and documents not wholly printed, which have not the character of actual or personal correspondence, such as—

Acceptances.

Accounts, Invoices, and Receipts. The remark “With thanks,” and advice as to when or how the goods are forwarded shall be allowed on those documents, which may also bear the ordinary trade notices (whether printed or impressed with a rubber or other stamp) such as “All empties returned must be advised”; “When remitting please return the statement to be receipted”; “Terms, cash in advance”; “Terms, 2½per cent. discount for cash”; “This settles your account up to date.”

Ballot papers.

Bankers’ packets, when sent from one bank to another.—Such packets may contain cheques, cheque-books, drafts, or orders, provided they are forwarded in covers with the ends sufficiently open to admit of postal officials seeing that nothing in the nature of a letter is enclosed.

Australian (Commonwealth Government) Notes sent from or to the Commonwealth Treasury, or from one bank to another, within the Commonwealth, in sealed packets bearing upon the covering wrappers the words “Australian Notes only,” and Queensland State Treasury Notes sent by Bankers to their Head Offices in Brisbane in sealed packets bearing upon the covering wrappers the words “Queensland Treasury Notes only.”

Bank pass-books—Provided they are enclosed in covers indorsed “Passbook only,” and sufficiently open to admit of postal officials seeing that pass-books only are being transmitted. Pass-books or cards connected with a Society may be transmitted under similar conditions.

Bills of exchange.

Bills of lading.

Cards, single, bearing the printed inscription “Post Card,” or its equivalent in any language, if conforming to the Regulations relating to Commercial Papers.

Cheque forms bound in books.

Drafts.

Drawings.

Examination papers (corrections allowed).

Files of official papers forwarded between Government Departments or between officers thereof, provided the remarks and instructions thereon are at least seven days old at the time of posting.

Insurance documents (policies, &c.).

Invoices (see Accounts).

Legal documents (affidavits, briefs, deeds, depositions, &c.).

Manuscript or forms filled up in writing for printing or publication.

Maps.

Music (written).

Notices of meetings.

Obliterated postage stamps.

Orders for goods, partly printed (instructions as to packing, the route for forwarding, and effecting insurance of the goods may be added).

Pay-sheets.

Plans.

Prices current.

Promissory notes, signed, also those unsigned, but wholly or partly filled in.

Proxy forms or notices. Such particulars as the date, signature, name of proxy, date of meeting, name of shareholder or member, and number of votes may be inserted, but nothing may appear either in writing or print which does not form part of the document as a legal instrument.

Rate notices.

Receipts (see Accounts).

Returns or periodical statements.

Scrip.

Ships’ manifests;

Specifications.

Spent letters—that is, letters which have clearly served their original purpose, and are at least two months old.

Stock sheets.

Travellers’ cards, circulars, or orders. In the case of orders, instructions as to packing, the route for forwarding, and effecting insurance of the goods, may, be added.

Travelling stock notices.

Way-bills, and other similar documents.

28. Except where specified, any writing in the nature of a letter or personal communication is not permissible, and, if any such writing appear on the article, the latter may be charged as an insufficiently prepaid letter.

29. A packet containing a mixture of commercial and printed papers shall be treated as if the whole contents were commercial papers.

30. The following may be allowed on commercial papers:—

(a)To indicate on the outside of the missive the name, commercial style, and address of the sender.
(b)To add in manuscript on printed visiting cards the address of the sender, his title, as well as good wishes, congratulations, thanks, condolences, or other formulas of courtesy expressed in not more than five words or by means of conventional initials (p.f., &c.).
(c)To indicate or to alter in a printed paper in manuscript or by a mechanical process the date of despatch, the signature, and the commercial style and the profession, as well as the address of the sender, and the name and address of the addressee.
(d)To enclose copy with corrected proofs, and to make in those proofs alterations and additions which relate to correction, accuracy, and printing. In case of want of space, these additions may be made on separate sheets.
(e) To correct also errors in printing in printed documents other than proofs.
(f) To erase certain parts of a printed text in order to render them illegible.
(g)To make prominent by means of marks, and to underline words or passages of the text to which it is desired to draw attention.
(h)To insert or correct in manuscript, or by a mechanical process, figures in prices current, tenders for advertisements, stock and share lists, trade circulars and prospectuses, as well as in travellers’ announcements, the traveller’s name and date and place of his intended visit.
(i) To indicate in manuscript in advices of the departure of ships the dates of those departures.

(k)To indicate in cards of invitation and notices of meetings the name of the person invited, the date, the object, and the place of the gathering.
(l) To add a dedication on books, sheets of music, photographs and engravings, Christmas and New Year Cards, as well as to enclose the relative invoice.
(m)In forms of order or subscription for books, newspapers, engravings, pieces of music, to indicate in manuscript the works required or offered, and to erase or underline the whole or part of the printed communications.
(n) To paint fashion plates, maps, &c.
(o) To add in manuscript or by a mechanical process to cuttings from newspapers and periodical publications the title, date, number, and address of the publication from which the article is extracted.

Printed Papers.

31. Printed papers include all wholly printed matter, such as pamphlets, sheets of music (including perforated paper rolls of music for use in playing musical instruments), single visiting cards and address cards, circulars (wholly printed), circulars with reply halves intended to be used as orders for publications, goods, &c., and with or without an impressed postage stamp thereon, proofs of printing, papers impressed with points in relief for the use of the blind, engravings, photographs, and albums containing photographs, pictures, drawings, plains, maps, catalogues (except those wholly set up and printed in Australia), prospectuses, announcements, and notices of various kinds, and similar articles, whether loose or bound; paper patterns, usually sent in or with a journal of fashion, printed in the Commonwealth of Australia from type set up therein, or from stereotyped plates made therefrom, may be considered as part of such journal.

32. The following may also be allowed to pass as printed papers, viz.:—Circulars which are in other respects admissible, but which are printed or lithographed in characters resembling those of the typewriter, or are produced by means of any mechanical process from written or type-written originals, and may be transmitted at the “printed papers” rate of postage, provided they are handed in at the counter of a post office, and at least twenty copies precisely identical are posted at the same time. Each cover must be marked by the sender “20 posted.”

33. All printed matter with additions, corrections, or alterations (in writing, by rubber stamp or any mechanical process) must be sent as commercial papers, but writing in the nature of a letter or personal communication is not permissible, and if any such writing appear on the article, the latter may be charged as an insufficiently prepaid letter.

34. Cards bearing the inscription “Post Card” may be allowed to pass as printed papers if they conform to the Regulations relating to printed papers, and the card bears no other writing than the name and address of the person to whom it is sent, and the name and address of the sender.

Patterns, Samples, and Merchandise.

35. The following and similar articles may be forwarded under this class, viz.:—

Glass.
Merchandise.
Mineral specimens.

Natural history specimens, such as dried or preserved animals or plants, geological specimens, &c., when sent for no commercial purpose.
Liquids, oils, and fatty substances.
Ointments, soft soap, resin.
Dry powders, whether dyes or not.
Paper.
Parchment or vellum.
Patterns.
Live bees, and live but harmless entomological specimens.
Samples.
Seeds.
Wedding cake (securely packed in tin boxes).

36. Patterns and samples may contain the name and commercial style of the sender, the address of the person for whom they are intended, the manufacturer’s or trade mark, numbers, prices, and indications, relative to weight or measurement and dimensions, or to the quantity to be disposed of, or such as are necessary to determine the origin and the nature of the goods.

Books.

37. The following articles shall not be eligible for transmission at the book rate of postage:—

Account books, albums (with or without photographs or pictures), catalogues and all publications issued in book form for the purpose of advertisement, diaries, directories, guide books, journals of fashion, music (bound or loose), pamphlets, pocket books, programmes of competitions, prospectuses, reports of companies and other business concerns or of institutions, &c., stationery of all kinds bound in book form, time-tables, and generally all matter properly coming under the head of “printed papers,” “commercial papers,” or “merchandise.”

Catalogues

38. A printed order form and a printed and addressed envelope may be treated as part of a catalogue if bound or fastened therein.

39. Catalogues posted at the special rate of postage prescribed for catalogues wholly set up and printed in Australia for delivery within the Commonwealth shall bear an imprint showing that they have been wholly set up and printed in Australia, and the name and address of the printer.

Magazines.

40. The term “magazine” includes magazines, reviews, and other similar publications printed and published for sale in numbers at intervals not exceeding three months. Paper patterns usually sent in or with a magazine, as defined by Act No. 24 of 1910, printed in the Commonwealth of Australia from type set up therein, or from stereotyped plates made therefrom, may be considered as part of such magazine. A printed order formand a printed and addressed envelope may be treated as part of a magazine if bound or fastened therein.

Terms and Conditions under which Packets may be transmitted within the Commonwealth.

41. The maximum weight for a packet of commercial papers or printed papers shall be 5 lbs.; and for patterns, samples, and mechandise, 1 lb., except in the case of packets containing bonâ fide samples of wine which

may weigh, inclusive of packing, up to 20 oz. No packet may exceed 2 feet in length, or 1 foot in depth or breadth, or if in a roll 2 ft. 6 in. in length, or be of inconvenient form.

42. A packet containing articles liable to different rates of postage shall be treated as if the whole contents were in the same category, and shall be charged at the highest rate applicable to any portion of its contents.

43. A packet may be sent through the post either without a cover (when it must not be fastened with anything adhesive), or in a cover entirely open at one end or side, or with the flap left unsealed, or fastened with a binder, or tied with string, so as to permit of easy withdrawal of the contents:

Provided that copies of the Police Gazette issued by any of the State Governments within the Commonwealth may be sent through the post at the packet rate of postage in covers indorsed “Police Gazette only” with the ends sufficiently open to admit of postal officials seeing that nothing in the nature of a letter is enclosed:

Provided further that Australian (Commonwealth Government) Notes sent from or to the Commonwealth Treasury or from one bank to another, within the Commonwealth, in packets bearing upon the covering wrappers the words “Australian Notes only,” and Queensland State Treasury Notes sent by bankers to their head offices in Brisbane in packets bearing upon the covering wrappers the words “Queensland Treasury Notes only,” may be sent through the post sealed against inspection.

44. Glass must be securely packed in boxes of wood, metal, leather, or cardboard in such away as to prevent all danger to the mails or postal officials. Such articles as scissors, knives, razors, forks, steel pens, nails, keys, watch machinery, metal tubing, pieces of metal or ore, must be packed and guarded in so secure a manner as to afford complete protection to the contents of the mails, and to the postal officials. Explosives shall not be transmitted.

45. Liquids, oils, and fatty substances easily liquified must be enclosed in glass bottles hermetically sealed. Each bottle must be placed in a wooden box furnished with sawdust, cotton, or spongy material in sufficient quantity to absorb the liquid in case the bottle should be broken. Finally, the box itself must be enclosed in a case of metal, of wood with a screw top, or of strong and thick leather. Where use is made of perforated wooden blocks of sufficient thickness (at least one-tenth of an inch in the weakest part) to prevent all risk of breakage, packed with a sufficient quantity of absorbent material inside, and provided with a cover, the blocks need not be enclosed in a second case.

46. (1) Pathological specimens addressed to laboratories approved by the Postmaster-General may be accepted for transmission by registered packet post, under the following conditions, viz.:—

On the outside of every such packet there shall be written or printed the words “Specimen for Bacteriological Examination.”

(2) The liquid or substance forwarded for examination must be enclosed in a receptacle hermetically sealed, which receptacle must itself be placed in a strong wooden, leather, or metal case, in such a way that it cannot shift about, and with a sufficient quantity of some absorbent material (such as sawdust or cotton wool) so packed about the receptacle as absolutely to prevent any possible leakage from the packet in the event of damage to the receptacle.

(3) The package must on no account be dropped into a letter-box or be sent by parcel post. Any packet of the kind found in the parcel post, or any packet of the kind, whether registered or not, found in the post, not packed as directed, shall be deemed to be posted in contravention of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912 and dealt with accordingly.

(4) Any person who sends by post pathological specimens otherwise than as provided by these Regulations shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding Fifty pounds.

(5) A packet containing any pathological specimens shall not be accepted for transmission, or, if found in the post, shall not be delivered unless addressed to a laboratory which has been granted a permit by the Postmaster-General to receive specimens for bacteriological examination.

47. Wine, spirits, liqueurs, or other alcoholic beverages shall not be transmitted by post unless—

(a) they consist of bonâ fide samples, .and each sample does not exceed, in the case of wine, 6 ozs., and in the case of spirits, liqueurs, or other alcoholic beverages, 3 ozs. in weight; and
(b)the samples are packed in the manner in which liquids are by these Regulations required to be packed, and so that each package shall not exceed, in the case of wine, an aggregate weight of 20 ozs., and in the case of spirits, liqueurs, or other alcoholic beverages, an aggregate weight of 10 ozs.

48. Ointments, soft soap, resin, and fatty substances which are not easily liquefied must be enclosed in an inner cover (box, bag of linen or parchment, &c.), which must itself be enclosed in a second box of wood, metal, or strong and thick leather. Dry powders, being colouring powders or dyes, must be placed in bags of leather, rubber-dressed linen, or oiled paper of stout substance; and dry powders, not being colouring powders or dyes, must be placed in boxes of metal, wood, or cardboard. These bags or boxes must be themselves enclosed in bags of linen or parchment.

49. Live bees, and live but harmless entomological specimens must be secured in strong, safe, and properly-ventilated boxes or cages of wood or metal; the size of the box or cage not to exceed 12 in. x 6 in. x 4 in.; each box or cage to bear a label securely attached, giving name and address of sender, and particulars of contents. Boxes, &c., posted in violation of these conditions, or containing poisonous or dangerous live specimens, or improperly or insecurely packed shall not be transmitted. Specimens enclosed in cardboard boxes or other fragile material shall not be forwarded.

50. Postal officials may examine the contents of packets, in which case they shall securely refasten same; but, if possible, officials must satisfy themselves as to the contents without withdrawing them: Provided that this regulation shall not apply in the cases of Australian (Commonwealth Government) Notes sent from or to the Commonwealth Treasury, or from one bank to another, within the Commonwealth, in sealed packets bearing upon the covering-wrappers the words “Australian Notes only,” and Queensland State-Treasury Notes sent by bankers to their head offices in Brisbane in sealed packets bearing upon the covering wrappers the words “Queensland Treasury Notes only.”

51. The covers of articles entitled to pass at the rate of postage for printed papers may have printed matter thereon, provided that a clear and conspicuous space be left for the address; they may also bear matter produced by other mechanical processes, provided, in the latter case, that at least 20 copies in identical terms be handed in at the counter of a post office at the same time.

52. Packets which do not comply with the regulations relating to the transmission of packets within the Commonwealth shall be regarded as insufficiently paid letters, and be charged accordingly; but if, in the event of refusal by the addressees they be found, on being opened in the Dead Letter Office, to contain only such enclosures as are entitled to pass at packet rate, and be fully prepaid at such rate, they shall be again forwarded to the addresses without charge. If, on receiving an article surcharged as above, the addressee opens it in the presence of the post-master, and it is found to contain only matter that is entitled to pass at packet rate, the surcharge shall be remitted.

53. Packets containing wedding cake shall not be posted unless the wedding cake is securely packed in tin boxes, and, if any packet containing wedding cake not securely packed in a tin box is posted, the packet shall be deemed to be posted in contravention of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, and dealt with accordingly.

54. Samples of seeds, drugs, and similar articles, which cannot be sent in open packets, may be enclosed in bags or boxes, fastened in such manner as to be easily undone and refastened; or in closed transparent bags. Manufactured articles, such as pills, sensitized photographic paper, &c., with the inner wrapper closed against inspection, may be forwarded at packet rate of postage, provided that such wrapper be that of the manufacturer of the articles.

55. Books may have on the title page complimentary and similar remarks, together with the names and addresses of the senders and of the persons for whom the books are intended, and the date of sending; passages to which it is desired to call attention may be marked with a single stroke. Anything in the nature of an epistolary communication will render the article liable to charge as an insufficiently prepaid letter.

56. All legitimate binding, mounting, or covering of a book or document, or of a portion thereof, is permissible, whether it be loose or attached, as also rollers in case of prints or maps, markers (whether of paper or otherwise in the case of books), or whatever is necessary for the safe transmission of such articles or usually appertains thereto.

57. In any case where a postal official has good grounds for suspecting an infringement of the Regulations relating to the transmission of packets, he may open the packet; and if any irregularity that does not appear to have been an attempt to defraud, has occurred, he must treat the packet as an insufficiently prepaid letter, and charge postage accordingly. Should there be an evident attempt to defraud, or should the contents be such as are not allowed to pass through the post, he must forward the postal article with a report of the circumstance to the Deputy Postmaster-General. Any packet so opened must be securely refastened.

58. Packets containing jewellery or other valuable enclosure must be registered, and bank-notes, coin, bullion, or gold may be sent only at letter rate of postage, and must be registered: Provided that this Regulation shall notapply in the cases of Australian (Commonwealth Government) Notes

sent from or to the Commonwealth Treasury, or from one bank to another, within the Commonwealth, in sealed packets bearing upon the covering wrappers the words “Australian Notes only,” and Queensland State Treasury Notes sent by bankers to their head offices in Brisbane in sealed packets bearing upon the covering wrappers the words “Queensland Treasury Notes only.”

59. In order to secure the return of the packets which cannot be delivered, the name and address of the sender must be printed or written on the cover, thus:—From of

Articles not allowed to be sent by Packet Post.

60. The following articles shall not be sent by packet post, viz.:—Cheques, Money Orders, Postal Notes—except in bankers’ packets—unobliterated adhesive postage stamps, coin, bank-notes, bullion, gold, and perishable substances, such as game, fish, flesh, fruit, vegetables, and any matter or thing likely to injure any person or the contents of the mail-bags; notices or information relating to lotteries, schemes of chance, unlawful games, fraudulent, obscene, indecent or immoral businesses or undertakings, and other matters coming within the provisions of Section 57 of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912; also articles not made up in accordance with the Regulations relating to packets, or bearing orcontaining anything not allowed under such Regulations.

To the United Kingdom and Foreign Countries.

Commercial Papers.

61. Commercial papers comprise all papers or documents written or drawn wholly or partly by hand (except letters or communications in the nature of letters or other papers or documents having the character of an actual and personal correspondence), documents of legal procedure, deeds drawn up by public functionaries, waybills or bills of lading, invoices, the various documents of insurance companies, copies of or extracts from acts under private signature (written on stamped or unstamped paper), music scores, or sheets of music in manuscript, the manuscripts of works or of newspapers forwarded separately, pupils’ exercises in original or with corrections, but without any comment on the work, and other papers of a similar description; also letters and post cards of ancient date which have already fulfilled their original purpose.

62. Packets of commercial papers may not exceed 5 lbs. in weight, and shall be subject, as regards form and conditions of transmission, to the Regulations relating to printed papers.

Printed Papers of Every Kind.

63. Packets of printed papers for transmission to the United Kingdom may not exceed 2 feet in length and 1 foot in width or depth except in the case of those sent in the form of a roll, when the maximum dimensions shall be—for printed and commercial papers, 2 ft. 6 in. in length and 4 inches in diameter, and for samples 12 inches in length by 6 inches in diameter. For other countries packets of printed papers may not exceed 18 inches in length, width, or depth. Such packets may not in any case exceed 5 lbs. in weight. Printed papers may be placed either in wrappers, upon rollers, between boards, in covers open at both sides or at both ends, or in unclosed envelopes, or simply folded in such a manner as not to conceal the nature of the packet, or tied with a string easy to unfasten, but must be made up in such a manner as to admit of the contents being easily

withdrawn for examination. Address cards and all printed matter of the form and substance of an unfolded card may be forwarded without wrapper, envelope, fastening, or fold.

64. The articles which shall be entitled to be sent as printed papers shall be, generally, impressions or copies obtained upon paper, parchment, or cardboard, by means of printing, engraving, lithography, autography, or any other mechanical process easy to recognise, except the copying-press and the typewriter. This description includes the undermentioned articles wholly printed:—Books (stitched or bound), periodical works, pamphlets, sheets of music, visiting cards, address cards, proofs of printing, pictures, drawings, plans, maps, catalogues, prospectuses, announcements, circulars, notices, engravings, photographs.

65. The following articles, though not really printed matter, may also be sent as such, viz.:—Manuscript intended for the press (when sent with the proofs of the same), papers impressed for the use of the blind, albums containing photographs, cardboard drawing models stamped in relief, and cards bearing the inscription “Post Card,” or its equivalent in any language, provided that they conform to the Regulations relating to printed papers.

66. Anything, not being of glass, usually attached, or appurtenant to any of the before-mentioned articles, in the way of binding, mounting, or otherwise, and anything convenient for their safe transmission by post, may also pass at the rate applicable to such articles, provided it is contained in the same packet.

67. Post cards bearing impressed or adhesive postage stamps, postage stamps, whether obliterated or not, and in general all articles constituting the sign of a monetary value, shall not be transmitted as printed papers.

68. The products of the copying press and typewriter shall not be transmitted at the rate for printed papers, nor, as a rule, shall printed papers, the text of which has been modified after printing, either by hand or by means of a mechanical process, so as to constitute a conventional language. But the following exceptions may be allowed:—

(a)Printed papers may be dated in manuscript or by a mechanical process, and the signature of the sender, his trade or profession, and his address, and the name and address of the addressee, may be added.
(b)On printed visiting cards, and also, on Christmas and New Year cards the address or title of the sender, or conventional initials, such as “p.p.c.”, may be written, and also good wishes, congratulations, thanks, condolences, or other formulas of courtesy, expressed in not more than five words.
(c)On printed circulars corrections and insertions may be made in manuscript or by a mechanical process in regard to names of commercial travellers, dates, and places of their intended visits, dates of departure and arrival of ships, as well as the names of the ships, names of persons invited to meetings, and the place, date, and object of the meetings.
(d)Printers’ proofs may be corrected in manuscript; additions which relate to accuracy, form, and printing may be made, and in case of want of space additional sheets may be used; the author’s manuscript may be enclosed; printers’ errors in other printed documents may also be corrected, and figures may also be inserted or corrected in prices current, tenders for advertisements, trade circulars, prospectuses, and stock and share lists.

(e)Books, papers, music, photographs, and engravings, may bear a written dedication, and the invoice relating to them may be enclosed.
(f) In forms of order or subscription for books printed on cards, the works required or offered may be indicated in manuscript.
(g)The title, date, number, and address of the publication from which the article is extracted may be added in manuscript or by a mechanical process to cuttings from newspapers and periodical publications.

69. Circulars which are in other respects admissible, but which are printed or lithographed in characters resembling those of the typewriter, or are produced by means of any mechanical process from written or type-written originals, may be transmitted at the printed papers rate of postage, provided they are handed in at the counter of a post office, and at least twenty copies precisely identical are posted at the same time.

Patterns and Samples.

70. Except as provided in Regulations 75 and 76, the pattern and sample post shall be restricted to bonâ fide trade patterns or samples of merchandise. Packets containing goods for sale, or in execution of an order (however small the quantity), or any articles, such as wedding cake or presents, which are not actually patterns or samples, may not be forwarded by pattern and sample post.

71. The maximum dimensions and weight for a packet of patterns and samples shall be as follow:—

(a)To the United Kingdom—2 feet in length by 1 foot in width or depth, 5 lbs. in weight.
(b)To all other places—1 foot in length, 8 inches in width, 4 inches in depth; or when in the form of a roll, 1 foot in length and 6 inches in diameter, 12 ozs. in weight.

72. Patterns and samples must be placed in bags, boxes, or removable envelopes, in such a manner as to admit of easy inspection. They may not bear any writing except the name or the commercial style of the sender, the address of the person for whom they are intended, a manufacturer’s or trade mark, numbers, prices, and indications relative to weight or measurement, and dimensions, or to the quantity to be disposed of, or such as are necessary to determine the origin and the nature of the goods.

73. Liquids, oils, and fatty substances easily liquefied, must be enclosed in glass bottles, hermetically sealed. Each bottle must be placed in a wooden box furnished with sawdust, cotton, or spongy material in sufficient quantity to absorb the liquid in case the bottle be broken, and the box must be enclosed in a case of metal, of wood with a screw top, or of strong and thick leather. If perforated wooden blocks of a reasonable thickness, with a sufficient quantity of absorbent material inside, and provided with a cover, be used, the blocks need not be enclosed in a second case.

74. Fatty substances which are not easily liquefied, such as ointments, soft soap, resin, &c., must be enclosed in an inner cover (box, bag of linen or parchment, &c.), which must itself be placed in a second box of wood, metal, or strong and thick leather. Dry powders, being colouring powders or dyes, must be placed in bags of leather, rubber-dressed linen, or oiled paper of stout substance, and dry powders, not being colouring powders or dyes, must be placed in boxes of metal, wood, or cardboard. These bags or boxes must be themselves enclosed in bags of linen or parchment.

75. Articles of natural history, dried or preserved animals or plants, geological specimens, &c., when sent for no commercial purpose, may be transmitted by pattern and sample post, provided they are packed in accordance with the general regulations concerning samples of merchandise.

76. Pathological specimens addressed to the General Superintendent, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London, and sent by registered medical or veterinary practitioners, or by recognised pathological or related scientific laboratories may, if securely packed in tubes enclosed in wooden cases, be forwarded by sample post.

77. Live bees, and live but harmless entomological specimens, may be transmitted by sample post. All live specimens must be secured in strong, safe, and properly ventilated boxes or cages of wood or metal. The size of the box or cage must not exceed 12 in. x 6 in. x 4 in. Each box or cage must bear a label, securely attached, giving the name and address of sender and particulars of contents.

78. Boxes, &c., posted in violation of these conditions, or containing poisonous or dangerous live specimens, or improperly or insecurely packed, shall not be transmitted. Specimens enclosed in cardboard boxes or other fragile material shall not be forwarded.

General.

79. Packets of printed papers, commercial papers, or patterns and samples, not made up in accordance with the preceding Regulations, shall not be transmitted.

80. In order to secure the return of packets which cannot be delivered, the names and addresses of senders must be printed, or written on the cover thus—

From of

Articles Grouped Together.

81. Printed papers, commercial papers, patterns and samples of merchandise may be forwarded in the same packet under the following conditions:—

(a)That each article taken singly shall not exceed the limits applicable to it as regards size and weight.
(b) That the total weight of any packet shall not exceed 5 lbs.

NEWSPAPERS.

Registration of Newspapers.

82. The proprietor, printer, or publisher of any newspaper, as defined by Section 28 of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, may register it at the General Post Office of any State subject to the following conditions:—

(a) The application for registration must be made in writing.
(b)It must contain a description of the newspaper to be registered, and show at what intervals the same is or is intended to be published.
(c)It must be accompanied by two copies of the newspaper to be registered, and a fee of 5s., and a statutory declaration by the applicant declaring—
(i) that the publication is printed and published within the Commonwealth for sale, and not for free distribution to any great extent;

(ii) that a total of at least 75 per centum of the copies to be issued will be sold to bonâ fide subscribers who have ordered the paper, or be handed or posted to persons for bonâ fide sale.

83. The Deputy Postmaster-General of any State may, when revising the register as provided by Section 29 of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, call upon the proprietor, printer, or publisher of any newspaper appearing therein to furnish evidence by statutory declaration as to the total percentage of copies issued which are sold to bonâ fide subscribers who have ordered the paper, or which are handed or posted to persons for bonâ fide sale, and any other particulars which are, in his opinion, necessary to enable him to determine whether the newspaper should be removed from the register or not.

84. The publishers of registered newspapers shall print on the first page of each copy issued the words “Registered at the General Post Office, for transmission by post as a newspaper.”

85. Any proposed change in the form of a newspaper must be submitted for the consideration of the Deputy Postmaster-General.

General.

86. A newspaper may be sent either with or without a cover, but must be open at both ends, and there shall not be in or upon any such newspaper or the cover thereof any communication, character, figure, letter, or number (other than the words “newspaper only”; or a line drawn through any report, article, or paragraph therein; the printed title of such newspaper, the printed names, occupations, and places of business of the printer, publisher, and vendor thereof, the name, occupation, and address of the person to whom it is sent, and the name of the person who sends the same), nor shall anything other than a supplement be enclosed in, or with, or accompany any such newspaper or cover, otherwise such newspaper shall not be transmitted or delivered:

Provided always that—with the exception of figures indicating the date upon which the subscription will expire, such as “10/12/07,” and figures indicating the number of papers in the package to be transmitted, being allowed to be printed, impressed, or stencilled upon covers of newspapers issued from the publishing office of any newspaper within the Commonwealth—any newspaper bearing on the cover or outside of the fold thereof any printed matter not permitted for newspapers may be transmitted at the rate charged for printed papers.

87. If a newspaper posted at any place within the Commonwealth be found by a postal official to contain writing or any illegal enclosure, it must be forwarded by him with a report of the circumstances to the Deputy Postmaster-General; but any such newspaper posted at a place beyond the Commonwealth shall be sent to the Dead Letter Office.

88. Newspapers, except those forwarded in bulk, addressed to several persons, to be delivered separately at each address, must not be tied up in bundles, and each newspaper must bear the proper postage.

89. Two or more newspapers to the same address may, except in the case of newspapers sent to the United Kingdom by the “all sea” route,” be tied together, but the outside newspaper or wrapper must bear on its face or addressed side the full postage for each paper, and the whole should be tied so that the number of papers can be counted. The limit of weight of newspaper packets addressed to places beyond the Commonwealth, excepting those posted by registered newspaper proprietors or by news vendors to New Zealand, is 5 lbs.

90. Newspapers (not being those forwarded in bulk) made up in packets bearing the same address can be transmitted at printed papers rate of postage, but the weight of any such packet must not exceed 5 lbs.

91. Collected numbers of a newspaper shall not be transmitted through the post as a single newspaper, but postage must be paid on each copy posted.

92. If newspapers be posted wholly unpaid they shall not be forwarded; if insufficiently prepaid they shall be sent to destination charged with double the deficiency.

REGISTRATION.

93. Any letter, letter card, post card, packet, or newspaper, complying with the regulations relating thereto, and bearing the registration fee of 3d. in addition to the correct amount of postage, shall be accepted for registration. No letter, letter card, post card, packet, or newspaper, addressed in pencil or (unless addressed to the care of some person) to initials or a fictitious name, shall be accepted for registration. The reply halves of reply-paid post cards cannot be registered by the original senders of such cards.

94. If it is believed that an unregistered letter or packet, addressed to the United Kingdom or to any other country beyond the Commonwealth, contains an article of value, such letter or packet shall be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office.

95. Unpaid or insufficiently paid registered articles addressed to or received from places beyond the Commonwealth must be forwarded or delivered, as the case may be, without surcharge.

96. (1) When no direction in writing to the contrary has been received, correspondence for a husband may be delivered to his wife, and correspondence for a wife may be delivered to her husband, and correspondence addressed to members of the same family living in the same house may be delivered to any responsible member of the family living in the house (except young children), or to any messenger authorized to receive it.

(2) Except as set forth in sub-regulation (1) of this Regulation, no registered postal article shall be delivered to any person other than—

(a) the addressee in person; or
(b)a person authorized by a written order from the addressee to receive delivery of registered postal articles on his behalf; or
(c)in the case of business establishments, public institutions, hotels, and lodging-houses, the proprietor, or manager, or some person authorized in writing by the proprietor or manager to receive delivery of the correspondence at such places; or
(d) a person to whose care the registered postal article is addressed.

(3) An order under sub-regulation 2 (b)of this Regulation must bear the date on which it was made, and the addressee’s address, and must be witnessed by some person other than the person in whose favour it is made, and must be delivered to the postmaster or other proper officer.

(4) Provided that in all cases where the sender pays the prescribed fee to obtain an acknowledgement of receipt of the article, as provided by Section 38 (2) of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, delivery shall be made only to the addressee. In such cases the sender may indorse the cover of the article with the words “to be delivered to addressee only.”

Acknowledgment of Delivery of Registered Articles.

97. (1) The sender of a registered article may obtain an acknowledgment of its due delivery to the addressee by paying in advance, at the time of registration, a fee of 2½d. in addition to the postage and registration fee.

(2) The sender must enter, in the form provided for the purpose, both his own name and address, and the name and address of the person to whom the article is sent, and he must also affix to the form in payment of the fee a postage stamp of the value of 2½d., which the postmaster or other officer must cancel in the ordinary way. Should an application for this form be made at an office at which there are no forms on hand, the fee of 2½d. should be paid by postage stamps, and a memorandum furnished, giving the name and address of both the sender of the article and the addressee; the proper form will then subsequently be made out by a postal official and forwarded with the article to its destination. The same procedure should be observed when the sender applies for an acknowledgment of delivery of a registered article after the article has been transmitted.

Compensation for loss of Registered Articles.

Registered Articles Posted in the Commonwealth for Delivery Therein

98. Except in cases beyond control (e.g., tempest, shipwreck, earthquake, war, &c.), compensation may be granted for the loss of registered letters, packets, books, and newspapers (but not parcels), under the following Regulations:—

In the event of the loss of any such article, registered by the sender, posted in the Commonwealth for delivery therein, compensation up to but not exceeding £2 may be allowed. In every case it must appear that the loss did not arise wholly, or in part, through the fault of the sender, and that it actually occurred whilst the article was in the post.

99. (1) Evidence in support of a claim in respect of the loss of a: registered article may be given by statutory declaration as follows:—

(a) A statutory declaration made by or on behalf of the claimant setting forth—
(I.) the date when and the place where the article was posted, so far as they can reasonably be ascertained,
(II.) a description of the article and its value, so far as they are known to the claimant, and the fact of the loss, and
(III.) any other particulars required by these Regulations or tending to establish the loss of the article or to verify the claim made.
(b)A statutory declaration made by the addressee, or some person who is acquainted with the fact, that neither the registered article nor any enclosure therein has been received by the addressee.

(2) The Postmaster-General or the Deputy Postmaster-General may, if he thinks fit, require additional evidence of the loss or value of the article.

100. In lieu of granting compensation, the missing article may be replaced by the Postmaster-General, who, in either case, reserves the right to return, or dispose of the article, as he thinks fit, should it subsequently come into his hands.

101. No compensation shall be given in respect of—

(a) Any article which may not be lawfully sent by post.
(b)Money, unless it be sent by letter post, and then only on the following conditions being complied with:—
(I.) That any coins enclosed in the letter be packed in such a way as to move about as little as possible.
(II.) That the number, amount, bank of issue, and (where necessary) the date of any bank-note enclosed be supplied when required.
(III.) That the amount and number of any postal note enclosed be supplied when required.
(IV.) That particulars sufficient to identify the document be supplied in the case of any bill of exchange, bond, coupon, or other order or authority for the payment of money, or security for money.
(c)Injury or damage alleged to have been sustained in consequence of the loss, damage, or delay of an article.

102. No legal liability to give compensation in respect of the loss of any registered article shall attach to the Postmaster-General, either personally or in his official capacity, and the decision of the Postmaster-General, as to whether compensation shall or shall not be granted, shall in all cases be final.

Registered Articles Received from a Country within the Postal Union.

103. If it is proved to the satisfaction of the Postmaster-General that a letter or packet received from beyond the Commonwealth, duly admitted to registration by the Administration of a country within the Postal Union which has uniform Regulations, has been entirely lost while in his custody, the Postmaster-General undertakes to pay an indemnity of 50 francs (£2), except in cases beyond control (e.g., tempest, shipwreck, earthquake, war, &c.). No compensation, however, is payable except in the case of the loss of the entire letter or packet; and no claim will be admitted if made more than a year after the letter or packet was duly posted.

INQUIRY RESPECTING DELIVERY OF POSTAL ARTICLES.

104. If the sender of a registered postal article desire inquiry made respecting its disposal, he shall, enter in a form provided for the purpose both his own name and address and the name and address of the person to whom the article was sent, and he must also affix to the form a postage stamp in payment of the fee of 2½d., which the postmaster or other officer must cancel in the ordinary way. Should any delay in delivery be attributable to the post office the fee shall be refunded. If a fee has been paid for acknowledgment of delivery no charge for the inquiry shall be made.

105. Any person making a complaint that an unregistered letter or packet containing coin, jewellery, gems, watches, or any other valuable enclosure has not been duly delivered to the person to whom it was addressed, may be required by the postmaster of the post office at which the complaint is made to make a declaration in the form provided.

PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE.

106. Postage stamps must, in all cases (except where otherwise provided in Regulation 219, be placed on the front or address side of postal articles, and upon the right-hand upper corner of that side. Postage stamps placed on the back of any postal article shall not be recognised or cancelled, and the article to which they are so affixed shall be surcharged as insufficiently prepaid.

107. The stamps impressed on stamped envelopes, letter cards, post cards, or newspaper wrappers shall not be used for prepayment of postage on other articles. Duty stamps, mutilated postage stamps, postage due stamps, the stamps impressed on telegram forms, or the postage stamps of any other country are not available in the Commonwealth for prepayment of postage.

108. No postal official is permitted to take money in prepayment of postage (except as specified in these Regulations), when postage stamps are available, or to affix postage stamps to articles posted at any post office.

PAYMENT OF POSTAGE BY THE RECEIVER.

109. The Postmaster-General may, in such cases and upon compliance with such conditions as he thinks fit, allow payment of the postage payable on postal articles by the addressee instead of by the sender.

ELECTORAL PAPERS.

110. (1) Postal articles containing electoral papers may be sent by post free of charge from or to electoral or police officers if—

(a)they contain only electoral papers as defined in this Regulation, and the words “Commonwealth Electoral Papers only, Post Free,” are printed or written on the envelope or wrapper, or upon the papers themselves if they are eligible for transmission without envelopes or wrappers:
Provided that such articles when posted by electoral or police officers to persons who are not electoral or police officers shall also bear the signature and address of the sender, which may be printed or written on the envelope or wrapper, or upon the papers themselves; or
(b)they consist of ballot-papers sent in covers bearing the following indorsements and address printed thereon, namely:—
“O. H. M. S

Electoral Papers Only.

Post Free.

No.
Postal Ballot-Paper,
Not to be opened until scrutiny.
The Returning Officer for the
Commonwealth Electoral
Division of
......................................................... ”

(2) This Regulation shall apply only to the following electoral papers:—

(a)Electoral Papers (including Rolls) provided for by the Commonwealth Electoral Acts and Regulations thereunder,
(b)Commonwealth and joint forms (including Rolls) provided for in any Joint Regulations made in pursuance of an arrangement entered into by the Commonwealth and any State for the preparation, alteration, and revision of Electoral Rolls.
Provided that the forms (including Rolls) are used wholly or partly for Commonwealth purposes.
(c) Referendum Papers provided for by the Referendum (Constitution Alteration) Act 1906-1912 or by Regulations made thereunder.

(g) Paid Service Advices.—Except those asking for repetition or information. Nevertheless, all paid service advices shall be allowed in transit over the telegraph lines.
(h) Urgent Radiotelegrams.—But only in transit over telegraph lines and subject to the application of the International Telegraph Regulations.

453. (1) Semaphore telegrams must be written either in the language of the country in which the semaphore station from which they are to be signalled is situated, or in groups of letters of the international code of signals.

(2) The charge for such telegrams shall be Tenpence (10d.) each, in addition to the ordinary cost of transmission by telegraph. The total charges shall be collected from the sender for telegrams addressed to ships at sea, and from the addressee for telegrams from ships at sea.

Radiotelegrams.

454. Radiotelegrams shall bear, as the first word of the preamble, the service instruction “Radio.”

455. Radiotelegrams shall be written in conformity with the provisions of these Regulations respecting the manner of writing and acceptance of ordinary telegrams. The use of groups of letters taken from the International Code of Signals is permitted, and radiotelegrams drawn up by means of that code shall be forwarded to their destination without being decoded.

456. (1) The charge for a radiotelegram shall include, as the case maybe—

(a)(i) The “coast charge,” which belongs to the coast station;
(ii) the “ship charge,” which belongs to the ship station;
(b)The charge for transmission over the telegraph lines, calculated in accordance with the regulations applicable to ordinary telegrams;
(c) The transit charges of the intermediate coast or ship stations, and the charges appertaining to special services required by the sender.

(2) The coast and ship charges are indicated in the Nomenclature of Radiotelegraph Stations.

457. The total charges for radiotelegrams shall be collected from the sender, except (1) the charges for express delivery; and (2) the charges applicable to inadmissible combinations or alterations of words declared by the office or station of destination; which latter charges are collected from the addressee.

458. When a radiotelegram originating on a ship and addressed to a place on land transits through one or two ship stations, the charge shall include, in addition to the charges of the ship of origin, of the coast station, and of the telegraph lines, the ship charge of each of the ships taking part in the transmission.

459. The sender of a radiotelegram originating on land and addressed to a ship may require that his radiotelegram be transmitted through the intermediary of one or two ship stations; he shall lodge for this purpose the amount of the radiotelegraphic and telegraphic charges, and, in addition, as a deposit, a sum to be fixed by the office of origin to cover payment to the intermediate ship stations of the transit charges fixed in the preceding paragraph. He must further pay, as he may choose, either the charge for a telegram of five words, or the cost of postage of a letter to be sent by the coast station to the office of origin giving the information necessary for the liquidation of the sum deposited. The radiotelegram shall then be accepted at the risk of the sender; it shall bear before the address the paid supplementary instruction “X telegraphic re-transmissions” or “X postal re-transmissions”—“X” representing the number of re-transmissions required by the sender—accordingly as the sender desires, that the information necessary for the liquidation of the deposit be furnished by telegram or by letter.

460. The charge for radiotelegrams originating on a ship, addressed to another ship, and sent through the intermediary of one or two intermediate coast stations shall include:—

(a)The ship charges of both ships, the charge of the coast station or the two coast stations, as the case may be, and when necessary, the telegraph charge appertaining to the transit between the two coast stations;
(b)The coast and ship charges due to the stations of transit shall be the same as those fixed for such stations when the latter are stations of origin or destination. In no case shall they be collected more than once.

(2) For all the intermediate coast stations, the charge to be collected for the transit service shall be the highest of the coast charges appertaining to direct exchange with the two ships in question.

461. The counting of the words of the office of origin shall be final in the case of radiotelegrams addressed to ships, and that of the ship station of origin shall be final in the case of radiotelegrams originating on ships, both for the purpose of transmission and for that of international accounts. Nevertheless, when the radiotelegram is worded wholly or partly either in one of the languages of the country of destination, in the case of radiotelegrams originating on ships, or in one of the languages of the country of destination, in the case of radiotelegrams originating on board ships, or in one of the languages of the country to which the ship belongs, in the case of radiotelegrams addressed to ships, and when the radiotelegrams contain combinations or alterations of words contrary to the usage of that language, the office or ship station of destination, as the case may be, shall have the right to recover from the addressee the amount of the charge not collected. In the case of refusal to pay the radiotelegram may be withheld.

462. (1) Radiotelegrams may be transmitted by a coast station to a ship, or by a ship to another ship, with the object of being forwarded by post, the posting to take place from a port of call of the receiving ship.

(2) Such radiotelegrams do not necessitate any radiotelegraphic retransmission. The address of such radiotelegrams must, be drawn up as follows:—

(a)Paid instruction “post,” followed by the name of the port where the radiotelegram is to be posted.
(b) Full name and address of the addressee.
(c) Name of the ship station which is to effect the posting.
(d) When necessary, the name of the coast station.
Example.—Poste Buenosaires Martinez 14 Calle Prat Valparaiso Avon Lizard.

(3) The charge shall include, in addition to the radiotelegraph and telegraph charges, a sum of 25 centimes for the postage of the radiotelegram.

Telegrams beyond the Commonwealth—continued.

463. If the transmission of a radiotelegram is effected partly upon the telegraph lines or through the radiotelegraph stations belonging to a non-contracting Government, such radiotelegram may be sent forward, subject to the condition that the Administrations to which those lines or stations belong shall at least have declared that they are willing to apply, as occasion arises, the provisions of the Radiotelegraphic Convention and Regulations, which are indispensable in order that radiotelegrams may be regularly forwarded, and that accounting may be assured.

464. The provisions of the International Telegraph Regulations shall apply, by analogy, to radiotelegraphic correspondence, in so far as they are not contrary to the provisions of the Radiotelegraph Regulations.

465. The provisions of these Regulations which relate to collection of charges, and the indication of the route to be followed in connexion with telegrams, apply also to radiotelegrams.

466. For the purpose of applying the provisions of the telegraph regulations, coast stations shall be regarded as offices of transit, except when the Radiotelegraph Regulations stipulate expressly that those stations are to be considered as offices of origin or destination.

467. The originals of radiotelegrams as well as the documents relating thereto retained by the Administrations, shall be kept with all necessary precautions in respect of secrecy for at least fifteen months, counting from the month following that in which the radiotelegrams were lodged.

468. The provisions of the Regulations relating to refunds in connexion with ordinary international telegrams shall also apply to radiotelegrams (account being taken of the restrictions laid down in Articles XXXVIII. and XXXIX. of the Radiotelegraph Regulations) and subject to the following conditions:—

(a)The time occupied in radiotelegraphic transmission, and also the time during which the radiotelegrams remain at the coast station in the case of radiotelegrams addressed to ships, or in the ship station in the case of radiotelegrams originating on ships, shall not be counted in the period of delay giving rise to refunds and reimbursements.
(b)If the coast station informs the office of origin that a radiotelegram cannot be transmitted to the ship to which it is addressed, the Administration of the country of origin shall immediately initiate the refund to the sender of the coast and ship charges in respect of such radiotelegram.
(c)When the acknowledgment of receipt of a radiotelegram has not reached the station which transmitted the radiotelegram, the charge shall not be refunded until it has been proved that the radiotelegram is one which gives occasion for refund.

Press Telegrams.

469. Telegrams admitted as press telegrams are those the text of which contains only news relative to politics, commerce, &c., intended for publication in newspapers. Such telegrams must be addressed to newspapers, periodical publications, or news agencies, and solely to the name of the newspaper, publication, or agency, and not to the name of a person connected in any capacity whatever with the management of the newspaper, publication, or agency. The use of abbreviated and registered code addresses is permitted.

470. Press telegrams must be written in the French language or in one of the languages of the country of origin or of destination authorized for international telegraphic correspondence in plain language, or in the language in which the receiving newspaper is printed, provided that this language is admitted for international telegraphic correspondence.

471. Press telegrams must not contain any passage, advertisement, or communication having the character of private correspondence, nor any advertisement or communication the insertion of which is made in consideration of payment. Stock Exchange and market quotations, with or without explanatory texts, are allowed, but the sender shall, if required, furnish proof that groups of figures appearing in a telegram really represent Exchange quotations.

472. Telegrams not complying with the foregoing conditions shall be charged full ordinary rates, as also shall press telegrams of which use is made for some other purpose than that of insertion in the columns of the newspaper to which they are addressed, viz.:—

(a)Telegrams which are not published by the receiving newspaper (failing a satisfactory explanation), or which the latter has communicated before publication either to private individuals or to establishments, such as clubs, cafés, hotels, exchanges, &c.
(b)Telegrams which the receiving newspaper shall have sold, distributed, or communicated, before publishing them itself, to other newspapers for publication in their columns.
(c)Telegrams addressed to agencies which are not published in a newspaper (failing a satisfactory explanation), or which are communicated to third persons before being published in the press.

473. Press telegrams may bear only one supplementary instruction, that relating to multiple address telegrams. The charge to be collected for the copies to be made by the office of destination shall be the same as for Ordinary private telegrams (see Regulation No. 436).

474. Press telegrams may be transmitted from or to New Zealand, Fiji, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, Canada, Cape Colony, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Rhodesia (northern and southern), Ceylon, China, Hongkong, Shanghai, Amoy, Foochow, India, Burmah, Japan, Miquelon, St. Pierre, Newfoundland, Straits Settlements, Singapore, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Such telegrams must be written in English when addressed to British or American stations, and in French when addressed to French stations. Their transmission may be deferred, suspended, or interrupted for the transmission of Government or private telelgrams.

475. Press telegrams shall be accepted only from the authorized correspondents of newspapers.

476. Regarding anything not provided for in the foregoing Regulations relating to press telegrams, such telegrams are subject to the provisions relating to telegrams generally, and also of any special agreements concluded between Telegraph Administrations.

Certified Copies of Telegrams.

477. The sender and receiver of a telegram or their authorized representatives, may, on proof of identity and on furnishing full particulars of the telegram, obtain a certified copy of the telegram as handed in, or as delivered at destination, on payment of a fee of 5d. for every 100 words or portion of 100 words. As all telegrams are destroyed periodically, certified copies of telegrams more than two years old cannot be supplied.

Refunds.

478. (1) Reimbursement of the following charges, to those who have paid them, shall take place if a claim be made, or in the event of a complaint against the service:—

(a) All charges erroneously collected in excess.
(b)The full charge paid for every telegram which has failed to reach its destination through the fault of the telegraph service.
(c)The full charge paid for every telegram stopped in transmission owing to interruption of a route, and for that reason cancelled by the sender.
(d)The full charge paid for every telegram which, owing to the fault of the telegraph service, is received later than it would have been delivered by post, or has not been delivered to the addressee until after a delay of 24 hours in the case of a New Zealand telegram, and in the case of an international telegram, 72 hours if a private telegram, or 36 hours, if a Government or urgent telegram.
(e)The full charge paid for every collated telegram in secret language, and for every telegram in plain language which has manifestly been unable to fulfil its object in consequence of errors made in its transmission, unless the errors have been rectified by paid service advice.
(f) The supplementary charge for special services not rendered, as well as the charge for the corresponding supplementary instruction.
(g)The amounts deposited for the repetition of a passage supposed to be incorrect, if the repetition does not agree with the first transmission, with the reservation, however, that when some words have been correctly and some incorrectly transmitted in the original telegram, the charge for the words relating exclusively to words correctly transmitted originally shall not be refunded, unless the mistakes made rendered unintelligible the words which had not been mutilated.
(h)The full charge paid for every other telegraphic or postal paid service advice, the sending of which has been necessitated by an error in the telegraph service.

(i) The full amount deposited for a reply when the addressee has not been able to make use of the voucher, or has refused it, and when such voucher remains in the hands of, or within three months from the date of issue has been returned to, the office from which it was issued.
(j) The charge in respect of the telegraph section not traversed by the telegram when, owing to interruption of a telegraph route, the telegram has been forwarded to its destination by postal or other means. The expense of replacing the original telegraph route by any other means of transport, shall, however, be deducted from the amount to be refunded.
(k)The full charges for every telegram with prepaid reply which has manifestly been unable to fulfil its object owing to a service irregularity which warrants the return of the charges for the reply; also the full charge for every prepaid reply which has manifestly been unable to fulfil its objects owing to a service irregularity which warrants the return of the charges for the original telegram.
(l) The charge, when it amounts to 10d. or more, for the word or words omitted in the transmission of a telegram, unless the error has been corrected by paid service advice.
(m)The difference between the amount of a reply voucher, and the charge for a reply telegram of less value prepaid by means of said voucher.
(n)The charge for every telegram stopped on the ground that it is considered dangerous to the security of the State, or contrary to the laws of the country, to public order, or decency, or owing to the suspension of the telegraph service.
(o) The proportion of charge due on every cancelled telegram.

(2) In the cases provided for in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e),(i), and (j), the refund only applies to the actual telegrams lost, cancelled, delayed, or mutilated, including any supplementary charges not used, and not to telegrams necessitated or rendered useless by such non-delivery, delay, or mutilation.

479. In case of a partial refund on account of a multiple telegram, the total charge received shall be divided by the number of copies, and the quotient shall represent the charge appertaining to each copy, the telegram itself counting as one copy.

480. When errors of the telegraph service have been corrected by paid service advices within periods fixed by the application of paragraph (d)of this regulation reimbursement shall only apply to the charges for such service advices. No refund shall be made in respect of telegrams to which such advices relate.

481. No refund shall be made for rectifying telegrams which, instead of being exchanged between telegraph offices as paid service advices, have been exchanged direct between sender and addressee.

482. Every claim for refund must be made under penalty of rejection within five months from the date of deposit of the telegram.

483. Every claim must be made to the original sending administration, and be accompanied by documentary evidence, i.e. a written statement from the terminal office or the addressee, if the telegram has been delayed or not been delivered; or the copy delivered to the addressee, if the question is one of alteration or omission.

484. The claim may, however, be presented by the addressee to the office of destination, which shall decide whether it will deal with it, or whether it must be forwarded to the sending administration.

485. The right to refund lapses after a period of six months from the date of the letter by which the sender is informed that a refund has been granted.

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.