Post and Telegraph Regulations (Amendment) (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1921. No. 240.

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REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1916.

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 1901-1916, to come into operation on 1st January, 1922.

Dated this twenty-first day of December, 1921.

FORSTER.

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

GEO. H. WISE,

Postmaster-General.

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Amendment of the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913.

(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348, as amended, to this date.)

1. Sub-regulation (2) of regulation 8 is amended by inserting at the, end thereof the following words and figure:—“but the charge shall not in any case be less than 4d.”

2. Regulation 9 is repealed, and the following regulation is inserted in its stead:—

“Letters.

9. (1) A letter must not be of inconvenient form or dimensions, nor contain any article likely to injure any person or the contents of the mail-bags.

(2) Letters addressed to places beyond the Commonwealth must not exceed five pounds in weight, nor measure more than 18 inches in any direction, or, if they are in the form of a roll, 2 ft. 6 in. in length and 4 inches in diameter.”

3. Regulation 18 is repealed, and the following regulation is inserted in its stead:—

“18. (1) In addition to the stamps for prepayment of postage, illustrations, photographs, stamps of any kind, address labels, or slips to fold back for address purposes, labels and cuttings of any kind, may be attached to a post-card, provided that these articles are not of such a nature as to alter the character of the post-card, that they consist of paper or other very thin substance, and that they adhere completely to the card.

(2) With the exception of address labels or slips, these articles may only be affixed to the back or to the left-hand half of the address side of post-cards.

(3) Joining or affixing to post-cards samples of merchandise or similar articles is prohibited.

(4) Cards of the varieties known as ‘tinselled’ and ‘beaded,’ and cards with ‘pearling’ decorations, will not be permitted to pass through the post unless enclosed in envelopes. (See Regulation No. 16 above).”

4. Regulation 61 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“To the United Kingdom and Foreign Countries.

Commercial Papers.

61. The following papers will be allowed to pass as commercial papers: —All papers and documents, whether writings or drawings, produced wholly or partly by hand, not having the character of actual and personal correspondence, such as open letters and out-of-date post-cards which have already fulfilled their original purpose, papers of legal procedure, deeds of all kinds drawn up by public functionaries, way-bills or bills of lading, invoices, certain documents of insurance companies, copies of or extracts from deeds under private signature written on stamped or unstamped paper, musical 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 note which does not relate directly to the execution of the work.”

5. Regulation 63 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“Printed Papers of Every Kind.

63. (1) Packets of printed papers for transmission to the United Kingdom must 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.

(2) For other countries packets of printed papers must not exceed 18 inches in any direction, or, if they are in the form of a roll, 4 inches in diameter and 2 ft. 6 in. in length.

(3) Such packets must not exceed 5 lbs. in weight, except in the case of packets consisting of literature embossed for the use of the blind, which may weigh up to 6 lbs.

(4) 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 (but in such a manner that other articles cannot slip into their folds), or tied with a string easy to unfasten, but must be made up in such a manner that their contents may be easily withdrawn for examination.

(5) Address cards and all printed matter of the form and substance of an unfolded card may be forwarded without wrapper, envelope, fastening, or fold.”

6. Regulation 64 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“64. The following will be allowed to pass as printed papers:— Newspapers and periodicals, books stitched or bound, pamphlets, sheets

of music, visiting cards, address cards, proofs of printing with or without the relative manuscript, engravings, photographs, and albums containing photographs, pictures, drawings, plans, maps, catalogues, prospectuses, advertisements and notices of various kinds, printed, engraved, lithographed, or mimeographed, and in general all 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 transfers and the typewriter.”

7. Regulation 65 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“65. Cards bearing the heading ‘Post Card’ or its equivalent in any language are allowed to pass at printed papers rate provided that they conform to the regulations relating to printed papers.”

8. Regulation 67 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“67. Stamps or forms of prepayment, obliterated or not, and all printed papers representing a monetary value shall not be allowed to pass as printed papers.”

9. Regulation 68 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“68. Printed papers which bear any marks whatever capable of constituting a conventional language or, save the exceptions specifically authorized by this regulation, those of which the text has been modified after printing, shall not be allowed to pass at printed papers rate, but the following exceptions will be allowed:—

(a) to indicate by hand or by a mechanical process, outside or inside the packet, the name, position, the profession, and the address of the sender and of the addressee, as well as the date of despatch, the sender’s signature, telephone number, telegraph address and code, and postal cheque or banking account;

(b)to add in manuscript, on printed visiting cards and also on Christmas and New Year cards the address of the sender, his title, as well as good wishes, congratulations, thanks, condolences, or other formulas of courtesy, expressed in five words at most or by means of conventional initials (p.f., &c.);

(c) to enclose the ‘copy’ with corrected proofs, and to make in those proofs alterations and additions concerned with corrections, form, and printing. In case of want of space these additions may be made on separate sheets;

(d)to correct also errors in printing in printed documents other than proofs;

(e) to strike out certain parts of a printed text;

(f) to make prominent by marking, and to underline, words or passages of the text to which it is desired to draw attention;

(g)to insert or correct in manuscript or by a mechanical process figures in prices current, tenders for advertisements, stock and share lists, market quotations, trade circulars and

prospectuses, as well as the traveller’s name, the date time, and place of his intended visit, and the address at which he is staying, in travellers’ announcements;

(h) to indicate in manuscript, in advices of the departures and arrivals of ships, the date and time of those departures and arrivals, as well as the names of the ships and the ports of departure and arrival;

(i) to add a written dedication consisting simply of an expression of regard on books, pamphlets, newspapers, photographs, engravings, sheets of music, and in general on all literary or artistic productions, printed, engraved, lithographed, or mimeographed, as well as to enclose the relative invoice;

(j) to colour fashion plates, maps, &c.;

(k)to add, in manuscript or by a mechanical process, to cuttings from newspapers and periodicals, the title, date, number, and address of the publication from which the article is extracted;

(l) in forms of order or subscription for publications, books, newspapers, engravings, pieces of music, to indicate in manuscript the works required or offered, and to strike out or underline the whole or part of the printed communications.”

10. Regulation 70 is amended by omitting the words “goods for sale” and inserting in their stead the words “any article having a saleable value”.

11. Regulation 71 is amended by substituting “1 lb.” for “12 ozs.” in sub-paragraph (b) thereof.

12. Regulation 72 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

72. (1) Except as provided by sub-regulations (2) and (3) of this regulation, patterns and samples must be placed in bags, boxes, or removable envelopes, in such a manner as to admit of easy inspection.

(2) Packing shall not be obligatory in the case of articles consisting of one piece, such as pieces of wood, metal, &c, which it is not the custom of the trade to pack: provided that, if necessary, the address and the postage stamps appear on a label.

(3) Articles of any kind which would be spoilt if packed as prescribed by sub-regulation (1) of this regulation may in exceptional cases be admitted in a cover hermetically sealed, in which case the sender or the addressee may be required to assist in checking the contents.

(4) It shall be permissible to indicate by hand or by a mechanical process, outside or inside the packet, the name, position, profession, and address of the sender and of the addressee, as well as the date of despatch, the sender’s signature, telephone number, telegraphic address and code, postal cheque or banking account, 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.”

13. The following regulation is inserted after regulation 72:—

“72a. Articles of glass must be securely packed in boxes of metal, wood, or strong corrugated cardboard, in such a way as to prevent all danger to correspondence and to postal officials.”

14. Regulation 73 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“73. (1) Liquids, oils, and substances which easily liquefy must be enclosed in glass bottles hermetically sealed, and each bottle must be placed in a special box of wood or of strong corrugated cardboard containing sawdust, cotton, or spongy material in sufficient quantity to absorb the liquid in the event of the bottle being broken.

(2) The box itself, if it is of wood, must be enclosed in a second case of metal, of wood with a screw top, of strong corrugated cardboard, or of stout, thick leather.

(3) If perforated wooden blocks are used, having a thickness of at least one-tenth of an inch in the thinnest part, and fitted with a lid, it will not be necessary to enclose the block in a second case.

(4) Samples of liquids and fatty substances, and those enclosed in linen or paper envelopes of little strength, must have a label, preferably of parchment, attached, bearing the address of the addressee, the postage stamps and impression of the date stamps. The address must be repeated on the article itself.”

15. Regulation 74 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“74. (1) 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.

(2) Dyes, such as aniline, &c, will not be admitted unless enclosed in stout metal boxes, placed inside wooden covers, with sawdust between the two covers.

(3) Dry powders, not being colouring powders or dyes, must be placed in boxes of metal, wood, or cardboard, and these bags or boxes must be themselves enclosed in bags of linen or parchment.”

16. Regulation 75 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“75. Printer’s blocks, keys sent singly, fresh-cut flowers, articles of natural history (dried or preserved animals and plants, geological specimens, &c), tubes of serum, and pathological objects rendered harmless bytheir mode of preparation and packing may be transmitted at sample rate.

(2) Except in the case of tubes of serum sent in the general interest by laboratories or institutions officially recognised, these articles must not be sent for a commercial purpose, and they must be packed in accordance with the regulations concerning samples of merchandise.”

17. Regulation 81 is amended (a)by adding at the end of paragraph (b) thereof the words—

“Except in the case of printed papers intended for the blind,” and (b)by inserting at the end thereof the following paragraph:—

(c) That the minimum charge shall be 3d. to places within the British Empire, New Hebrides, Banks and Torres Islands and 4d. to other places, if the packet contains commercial papers, and 11/2d. to places within the British Empire, New Hebrides, Banks and Torres Islands, and 3d. to other places if it consists of printed matter and samples.

18. Regulation 93 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“Registration.

93. (1) 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.

(2) No letter, letter-card, post-card, packet, or newspaper, addressed in pencil (except copying-ink pencil), or to initials shall be accepted for registration provided that registered articles for delivery within the Commonwealth may be addressed to initials or fictitious names if addressed to the care of some person.

(3) The reply halves of reply-paid post-cards cannot be registered by the original senders of such cards.”

19. Regulation 95 is amended by omitting all the words after “Commonwealth,” and inserting in their stead the words “will be treated like unregistered articles so far as the deficiency is concerned,”

20. Regulation 97 is amended—

(a)by inserting the following sub-heading at the beginning thereof:—

“Registered Articles Posted in the Commonwealth for Delivery therein,” and

(b)by substituting “3d.” for “2½d.” (wherever occurring).

21. The following regulation is inserted after regulation 97:—

“Registered Articles Posted in the Commonwealth for Delivery in Places beyond the Commonwealth.

97a. The conditions governing acknowledgment of delivery of registered articles posted in the Commonwealth for delivery therein shall also apply in the case of registered articles for delivery in places beyond the Commonwealth, except that the fee shall be 3d. when the acknowledgment of delivery is applied for at the time of posting, and 6d. when the acknowledgment of delivery is applied for subsequently to the time of posting, and, in the latter case, the postage stamps representing the fee must be affixed to a special form and not to the acknowledgment of delivery form.”

22. Regulation 103 is repealed, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

“Registered, Articles Received from a Country within the Postal Union.

103. (1) 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 will pay to the sender an indemnity of 50 francs (£2), except in cases beyond control (e.g., tempest, shipwreck, earthquake, war, &c).

(2) No compensation shall be paid under this regulation 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.

(3) No compensation shall be paid for the loss of registered articles the contents of which are prohibited by the Universal Postal Convention of 1920 from transmission by post.”

23. Regulations 104, 223, and 272a are amended by substituting “3d.” for “2½d.” (wherever occurring).

24. The following regulation is inserted after Regulation 128:—

“128a. (1) Postal articles addressed ‘Poste Restante’must bear the name of the addressee.

(2) The use of initials, figures, Christian names without surnames, fictitious names, or conventional marks of any kind will not be admitted for such postal articles.”

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