Postal Regulations (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1927. No. 144.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1923.

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 1901-1923, to come into operation on and from the thirty-first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven.

Dated this 14th day of December, 1927.

Stonehaven

Governor-General.

By his Excellency’s Command,

W. G. Gibson

Postmaster-General.

POSTAL REGULATIONS.

PART I.—PRELIMINARY.

Short title.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Postal Regulations.

Parts.

2. These Regulations are divided into Parts, as follows:—

Part	I.—	Preliminary.
Part	II.—	First Class Mail Matter.
Part	III.—	Second Class Mail Matter.
Part	IV.—	Third Class Mail Matter.
Part	V.—	Packing.
Part	VI.—	Postage.
Part	VII.—	Delivery and Re-direction of Mail Matter, and Treatment of Undelivered Mail Matter.
Part	VIII.—	Prohibited Articles.
Part	IX.—	Postage Stamps.
Part	X.—	Private Posting Boxes.
Part	XI.—	Private Boxes.
Part	XII.—	Private Mail Bugs.
Part	XIII.—	Registration.
Part	XIV.—	Parcels (Fourth Class Mail Matter).
Part	XV.—	Insurance of Parcels.
Part	XVI.—	Cash on Delivery Post.
Part	XVII.—	Money Orders.
Part	XVIII.—	Postal Notes.
Part	XIX.—	Miscellaneous.

Definitions.

3. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—
“The Act” means the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, as amended from time to time.
“The Rates Act” means the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902-1924, as amended from time to time.

1553.—Price

PART II.—FIRST CLASS MAIL MATTER.

What constitutes first class mail matter.

4. First Class Mail Matter shall consist of letters, letter-cards, and post-cards.

Letters.

5. Any article of convenient shape and size which is eligible for transmission through the post may be accepted for transmission as a letter.

Certain articles transmitted only as letters.

6. Except as is expressly permitted under the conditions relating to the several classes of mail matter, any postal article which bears or contains any communication having the nature of actual or personal correspondence or which is closed against inspection shall be transmitted by post only as a letter.

Post cards.

7. (1) A postcard to be eligible for transmission at the rate prescribed for postcards shall comply with the following conditions:—

(a) It shall be posted without envelope or wrapper;
(b) The name and address of the addressee shall appear on the front
(c) Only the back and the left half of the front shall be used for actual or personal correspondence, and nothing beyond the name and address of the addressee shall appear on the right half of the front;
(d) Any attachment shall consist of paper or other very thin substance and adhere completely to the card and shall not be of such a nature as to alter the character of the postcards. Stamps (other than those in prepayment of postage) liable to be mistaken for postage stamps may be affixed only to the back;
(e) Nothing in the nature of samples of merchandise or similar articles shall be affixed or attached;
(f) It shall be made of cardboard or paper stout enough to be easily handled in the post;
(g) Its dimensions shall be not less than 4 inches long and 2¾ inches wide, and not more than 5½ inches long and 3½ inches wide; and
(h) A reply postcard shall not be closed up in any manner whatsoever.

(2) A postcard not fulfilling the prescribed conditions shall be treated as a letter.

Certain post cards to be enclosed.

8. Cards of the varieties known as “tinseled’’ and “beaded” and cards with “pearling” decorations shall not be transmissible through the post unless enclosed in envelopes.

PART III.—SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER.

What constitutes second class mail matter

9. Second class Mail Matter shall consist of commercial papers; printed papers; patterns, samples and merchandise; books, and catalogues.

Articles closed against inspection, transmission.

10. (1) An article having the character of actual or personal correspondence or bearing or containing anything of such character, or which, is closed against inspection (except as is expressly permitted

under the conditions relating to the several classes of mail matter), shall not be eligible for transmission as Second-class Mail Matter; and any article which is posted contrary to the provisions of this regulation shall be treated as an insufficiently prepaid letter.

(2) If, on receiving an article which has been surcharged as an insufficiently prepaid letter owing to its being closed, against inspection, the addressee opens it in the presence of the postmaster and it is found to contain nothing of the nature of actual or personal correspondence, the surcharge imposed on account of its being closed against inspection may be remitted.

Packages prepaid as letters are to be especially marked

11. The sender of an unregistered postal article in respect of which postage at letter rate is paid shall, if the article is made up in such a manner that it might be mistaken for an article of the second class, endorse the article on the address side with the words “Letter Post” and mark it by drawing lines across the front and back, in colour other than red, in the following manner:—

On the front—

On the back—

Limits of weight and dimensions.

12. The maximum weight of postal articles for transmission at the rates prescribed for commercial papers, printed papers, books, or catalogues shall be 5 lb.; and for patterns, samples, and merchandise, 1 lb. Such articles shall not exceed 2 feet in length, or 1 foot in depth or breadth, or, if in a roll, 2 ft. 6 in. in length, and 4 inches in diameter, or be of inconvenient form.

Enclosures liable to different rates of postage.

13. An article containing enclosures liable to different rates of postage shall be treated as if the whole contents were in the same category as the portion to which the highest rate is applicable, and if the postage has not been fully prepaid at the rate prescribed for such portion, the article shall be surcharged at such rate.

Articles not transmissible as second class mail matter

14. The following articles shall not be accepted for transmission as Second-class Matter, viz., cheques, money orders and postal notes (except in bankers’ packets), unobliterated adhesive postage stamps (except when affixed to an enclosed postcard or envelope), coin, banknotes (other than cancelled notes, bank-note forms, and such notes as are specifically allowed to be sent as commercial papers), bullion, gold, and perishable substances, such, as game, fish, flesh, fruit, and vegetables; notices or information relating to lotteries, schemes of chance (not including art unions), unlawful games, fraudulent, obscene, indecent, or immoral businesses or undertakings, and other matters coming within the provisions of section 57 of the Act;

Commercial papers.

15. Articles eligible for transmission at the rate of postage prescribed for Commercial Papers shall consist of commercial or business papers and such like documents which are of a formal character, but which are not eligible for transmission at Printed Papers rate of postage and are not of the character of actual or personal correspondence.

Printed papers

16. An article to be eligible for transmission at the rate of postage prescribed for Printed Papers shall be wholly printed, and shall not bear any additions in writing or by other means except the name, business or occupation, and address of the sender and bona fide corrections of printers’ errors, provided that in the case of circulars the addition of the name, business or occupation of the sender shall be permitted only on the cover of the article. Except in the case of circulars, printed papers shall not be in the form of actual or personal correspondence.

Patterns, samples, and merchandise.

17. Articles to be eligible for transmission at the rate of postage prescribed for Patterns, Samples, and Merchandise shall be prepared for posting in the manner stipulated in the conditions governing the transmission of Second-class Mail Matter, and shall not bear or contain any communication of the character of actual or personal correspondence.

Books.

18. A publication which is not in book form nor of the character specified in the conditions governing the transmission of books, or is published for the purpose of advertisement, shall not be eligible for transmission as a book.

What constitutes book form.

19. In order to be in book form a publication shall consist of printed or printed and illustrated pages fastened together by stitching or stapling, and bound in covers of paper, cardboard, cloth, leather, or other material.

Advertisements in books.

20. A book may contain on the cover or on pages of the book advertisements relating to the book itself or to books written by the same author or published by the same publisher. In addition, other advertisements may appear on the permanent cover, but not on any of the pages of the book.

Books on which special rate of postage applicable.

21. The rate of postage for books printed in Australia shall not apply to a book not written by an Australian author nor registered by the Postmaster-General for transmission through the post as a book: Provided that the condition as to registration shall not apply to a book printed prior to 1st July, 1922.

Catalogues.

22. A catalogue is a publication containing printed or printed and illustrated lists of articles for sale, with or without prices, and letterpress concerning the articles mentioned in the publication, the business of the firm issuing the catalogue, and information relating to matters such as shopping, by post and the sending of remittances.

Catalogues to bear imprint.

23. A catalogue to be eligible for transmission under the conditions applicable to Catalogues shall bear an imprint showing that it has been wholly set up and printed in Australia and the name and address of the printer, and the cover or wrapper in which it is enclosed shall be endorsed “Catalogue, wholly set up and printed in Australia.”

PART IV.—THIRD CLASS MAIL MATTER.

What constitutes third class mail matter.

24. Third class Mail Matter shall consist of newspapers registered by the Postmaster-General for transmission as such, and magazines.

Newspapers &c., not to bear any communications

25. Newspapers and magazines shall not bear or contain any communication of the character of actual or personal correspondence nor bear any addition by hand or otherwise which is not expressly permitted under the conditions governing the transmission of Third-class Mail Matter.

Evidence of compliance with Rates Act may be required.

26. Persons who post registered newspapers at the rate of postage provided for aggregate weight may be called upon to satisfy the Department that the conditions prescribed by the Rates Act to secure that rate are complied with. For this purpose they may be required to produce, without notice, any documentary evidence which the postmaster or other departmental officer considers necessary.

Supplements to newspapers.

27. A supplement to a newspaper shall not exceed in size or weight the newspaper with which it is issued.

Registration of newspapers.

28. (1) The proprietor, printer, or publisher of any newspaper, as defined by section 28 of the Act, may have it registered at the General Post Office of any State, subject to the conditions set out in this regulation.

(2) The application for registration shall be made in writing, and shall contain a description of the newspaper to be registered, and show at what intervals the newspaper is published.

(3) Three copies of the latest issue of the newspaper and one copy of each of the two last preceding issues shall be forwarded with the application, together with a fee of Five shillings.

(4) The following statutory declarations shall be forwarded with the application:—

(a) 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 at least 75 per centum of the copies issued are sold to bona fide purchasers or to bona fide subscribers who have ordered the paper; and
(iii) whether or not any previous application has been made for registration of the publication under the same or any other title; and
(b) Two statutory declarations by independent persons the trade (such as publishers or newsagents) who are not in any way interested in the proprietorship or printing of, and are not subscribers to, the publication, declaring—
(i) that the declarant personally knows and recognizes the publication as a newspaper in the generally accepted sense;
(ii) that to the best of his knowledge and belief the publication is known and recognized by purchasers thereof as a newspaper in the generally accepted sense;
(iii) that, the publication is not, to the best of his knowledge and belief, recognized as a magazine, review, or other similar publication; and
(iv) that he is neither the proprietor nor the printer of, nor a subscriber to, the said publication, and is not in any way interested in the proprietorship or printing thereof.

Information as to copies sold, &c., to be supplied.

29. The deputy Postmaster-General of any State may, when revising the register, as provided by section 20 of the Act, 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 bona fide purchasers or to bona fide subscribers who have ordered the paper, 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.

Notice of registration to be printed on first page.

30. The publisher of a registered newspaper 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.”

Alternation to be notified.

31. The publisher, printer, or proprietor of a registered newspaper shall notify the Deputy Postmaster-General of any proposed change in the form, title, frequency of issue, or proprietorship of such newspaper, and a copy of the first issue of the newspaper under the changed form, title, frequency of issue; or proprietorship, shall be immediately furnished to the Deputy Postmaster-General.

Bulk postings of newspapers with addresses elsewhere on wrappers.

32. Bulk postings of newspapers, the addresses of which appear elsewhere than on the wrappers, shall be accepted only if the wrappers are of brown paper and the newspapers are arranged in such order as maybe previously specified by the Department.

Permissible endorsements on newspapers.

33. (1) No communications, figures, letters, or marks of any kind which are not part of the newspaper itself, or of the address, shall be permitted on a newspaper or the wrapper except the following, which shall be placed in a position where they will not be likely to impede treatment of the article by postal officials:—

On the newspaper.

Marks or signs (but not words) intended only to call attention to any portion or portions of the content;

On the wrapper.

The words “Newspaper only”;
The title, frequency of publication and price of the newspaper, and a reference to its registration for transmission by post as a newspaper;
The names, occupations, and places of business of the printer, publisher, and vendor;
The name of the sender preceded by the word “From”;
Rates of postage;

and in the case only of newspapers posted by the proprietors thereof, or issued from the publishing office, the following:—

The words “If not delivered, please return to Head Office,…………” (address of publishing office);
Figures indicating the date on which the subscription will expire, such as “31.12.27.”;
Figures indicating the number of papers in the package to be transmitted.

(2) When posted without a wrapper no endorsement in addition to the address is permitted on the outside of the newspaper, except the words “Newspaper only” and the name of the sender preceded by the word “From”.

PART V.—PACKING.

Packing of postal article.

34. To be eligible for transmission by post, an article shall be packed in such manner as the Postmaster considers necessary to prevent—

(a) damage to the article arising from the handling and pressure it may receive, and from climatic and other conditions to which it may be subjected, in the course of transmission; and
(b) injury to any person; and
(c) damage to other postal articles.

Compensation payable by sender in certain event.

35. The sender of a postal article which contains a liquid or a semi-liquid substance, or any substance likely to damage other postal articles while in transit through the post, shall, in the event of the liquid or substance escaping and damaging other postal articles, be liable to pay to the Postmaster-General such reasonable compensation as he requires.

Irregular posting of bacteriological or pathological specimens—Penalty.

36. Any person who sends by post, bacteriological or pathological specimens otherwise than in accordance with the conditions governing the transmission of these articles shall be guilty of an offence. Penalty: Fifty pounds.

Bees, separate bags for boxes containing.

37. On payment of a fee of Sixpence for each box, in addition to postage, the sender may have boxes containing bees for delivery within the Commonwealth placed in separate mail bags containing no postal articles other than the bees. In cases where such special treatment is required the box shall be endorsed “Separate bag”.

PART VI.—POSTAGE.

Certain stamps not valid.

38. Impressed stamps cut from stamped envelopes, letter-cards, postcards, or wrappers, or duty stamps, mutilated postage stamps, postage-due stamps, or the postage stamps of any country other than the Commonwealth, shall not be accepted as valid for the prepayment, or part prepayment, of postage.

Newspaper wrapper.

39. The stamped wrappers (bearing the words “Newspaper only”) sold by the Department may not be used for the wrapping of articles other than newspapers registered in the Commonwealth for transmission at the rate of postage prescribed for newspapers, and any article other than a newspaper so registered posted in any such wrapper shall, whether the words “Newspaper only” have been obliterated or not, be treated as an article upon which the postage is wholly unpaid.

Postage stamps—position in which to be affixed.

40. Postage stamps shall, except in the case of parcels and articles with tie-on labels, be placed on the front or address side of the postal articles and in the right-hand upper corner of that side.

Postage not payable in cash except in certain cases.

41. Except as hereinafter provided, a postal official shall not take cash in prepayment of postage when postage stamps are available, or affix postage stamps to any article posted at any post office:

Provided that if a postmaster has not sufficient stamps on hand he may receive the amount of postage and fees in cash, in which case he shall acknowledge its receipt by endorsement on the address side of the article.

Prepayment in cash.

42.—(1) The postage on large quantities of registered or unregistered articles (other than parcels) for transmission within the Commonwealth, or to the United Kingdom, New Zealand, or Fiji, may be prepaid in cash.

(2) The amount of postage and registration fee (if any) on such postal articles posted at one time shall not be less than One pound.

(3) The articles shall be posted at a General Post Office or at any office at which the acceptance of postal articles under this regulation is permitted.

(4) Postmasters, other than those at the offices referred to in the last preceding sub-regulation, shall not receive cash in prepayment of postage under this regulation unless the authority of the Deputy Postmaster-General has first been obtained.

(5) The postal articles shall be handed in at the post office between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., but if handed in after 3 p.m. they shall be subject to detention if their despatch interferes with the despatch of other postal matter.

(6) Articles of the same weight shall be tied in bundles of ten or any multiple thereof up to 100 with the addresses in the same direction; but this requirement may be waived in cases where the article are posted arranged in groups to facilitate sorting or despatch by mail.

(7) This regulation shall not apply to—

(a) registered newspapers posted by proprietors or publishers thereof or newsvendors, who may post such newspapers at hours other than those prescribed, and may post at one time a quantity of newspapers on which the amount of postage payable is less than One pound;
(b) mail matter posted by authorized users of franking machines under the regulations relating to franking machines.

(8) Sub-regulation (2) of this regulation shall not apply to any Commonwealth or State Government Department which posts on an average postal articles bearing postage to the total amount of not less than One pound per day.

Franking machines

43. In regulations 43 to 60 (both inclusive) of these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

“Franking machine” means a machine for making impressions indicating the value of the postage prepaid on postal articles or for postmarking postal articles;
“Meter” means a meter which is or may be attached to or connected with a franking machine for the purpose of registering the number of impressions made by the machine, or the value of the postage represented by impressions made by the machine;
“Person” includes a firm and company;
“User” means a person to whom a licence is granted under these Regulations to use a franking machine;
“Authorized officer” means an officer of the Postmaster-General’s Department authorized by the Postmaster-General.

Postmaster-General may authorize selling or letting on hire.

44. Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, the Postmaster-General may authorize any person to sell, let on hire, or use a franking machine.

Types to be approved.

45. The franking machines which may be used in pursuance of Regulations—

(a) shall be of such types as the Postmaster-General approves in writing; and
(b) shall have attached to or connected with them meters for the purpose of registering the number of impressions made by the machines, or the value of the postage represented by impressions made by the machine.

Application for approval to type.

46. (1) Application for the approval of the Postmaster-General to any type of franking machine shall be made in writing.

(2) The applicant shall—

(a) submit for inspection by the Postmaster-General the franking machine in respect of which approval is sought; and
(b) give an undertaking in the form required by the Postmaster-General that he will only sell or let on hire franking machines of the type approved by the Post master-General, and that he will sell or let on hire such machines only in accordance with these Regulations and the conditions set out in the undertaking; and
(c) give security by bond with two sureties, or alternatively with on approved guarantee company as surety, to the satisfaction of the Postmaster-General, in regard to the faithful observance of the provisions of these Regulations and the terms of the undertaking referred to in the last preceding paragraph.

Application to sell or let on hire

47. Application for the authority of the Postmaster-General to sell or let on hire any franking machines shall be made in writing and shall—

(a) state the name, address, and occupation of the person to whom it is proposed to sell or hire the machine; and
(b) contain a description of the meters and dies to be used in connexion with the machine.

Dies.

48. Any die, which may be used in franking machines for making impressions indicating the value of the postage prepaid on postal articles or for postmarking postal articles, shall be of a design approved by the Postmaster-General and shall include in its design such identification number or markings as may be required by the Postmaster-General.

Meters to be set before delivery

49. No person shall deliver to a user or an agent of the user any franking machine or meter unless and until an authorized officer has set the meter, if it is non-detachable, at zero or, if it is detachable, at a figure representing the amount prepaid by the user and has sealed the machine or meter.

Impressions to be paid for before meter set.

50. No meter shall be set for the purpose of registering the number or value of impressions made by a franking machine unless and until the user has paid to the Postmaster-General the amount representing the number of impressions for which it is to be set, or when permitted so to do by the Postmaster-General has lodged with, the Postmaster-General a specified amount in prepayment of postage.

Withdrawal of machine for repair.

51. (1) No person to whom a franking machine or meter is delivered by the user for the purpose of repair or any other purpose shall accept it unless and until the meter has been read by an authorized officer.

(2) The person to whom a franking machine or meter is delivered by the user shall not return it to the user unless and until the Postmaster-General so authorizes.

(3) Sub-regulations (1) and (2) of this regulation shall not apply to an authorized officer to whom the meter is delivered for the purpose of resetting and resealing.

Application for authority to use.

52. (1) An application for authority to use a franking machine and meters shall be made in writing, and shall contain a description of the dies and meters required in connexion with the use of the machine.

(2) Upon an application under this regulation being accepted the applicant shall give security by bond with two sureties or alternatively with an approved guarantee company as surety to the satisfaction of the Postmaster-General, that he will make good to the Postmaster-General any loss to the revenue of the Commonwealth arising from the improper use of any franking machine or meter used by him or the failure of any such machine or meter to properly record the number or value of impressions made by the machine.

Licence to use.

53. (1) Where the Postmaster-General accepts an application for authority to use a franking machine and meters, he may, upon security being given by the applicant in accordance with the last preceding regulation, grant to the applicant a licence to use the machine subject to these Regulations and to such conditions as the Postmaster-General thinks fit.

(2) A licence granted under this regulation may be signed by the Postmaster-General or by an officer authorized by the Postmaster-General to sign such licences on his behalf.

Revocation of licence.

54. (1) The Postmaster-General may—

(a) forthwith revoke any licence if—
(i) the licensee commits any breach of these Regulations or of the conditions of the licence;
(ii) the franking machine in respect of which the licence is granted proves to be mechanically unsatisfactory; or
(iii) the franking machine is improperly used.

(2) The Postmaster-General may determine the licence, after giving the licensee fourteen days’ notice of his intention to do so, if, in the opinion of the Postmaster-General, any alteration of the conditions governing the use of franking machines or any other circumstance renders the determination necessary.

Refunds

55. The Postmaster-General or an officer authorized in that behalf may, upon application in writing by the user, make a refund of the amount representing impressions made in error by any franking machine (less a deduction of five per centum of the face value of the impression), upon the surrender of the envelopes, covers, wrappers, or labels on which the impressions are made, provided the impressions are legible and the entire envelopes, covers, wrappers, or labels are produced and surrendered within three months after the date of impressing.

Franking machine impressions to indicate postage and postmark.

56. Subject to these Regulations a franking machine may be used for making impressions indicating the value of the postage prepaid on all postal articles (except parcels) posted in the Commonwealth for delivery within or beyond the Commonwealth and for postmarking postal articles upon which the value of the postage is impressed by the machine.

Articles impressed by franking machine irregularly posted.

57. Any postal article impressed by a franking machine and posted in contravention of the conditions specified in the licence shall be deemed to be a postal article on which the postage is unpaid and shall be surcharged accordingly.

Penalty for breach of conditions of licence.

58. Any person who commits a breach of any condition of a licence granted under these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence. Penalty: Fifty pounds.

Penalty for breach of Regulations

59. Any person who commits any breach of regulation 40 or regulation 51 of these Regulations, or

(a) uses a franking machine to which a meter set and sealed by an authorized officer is not attached or connected; or
(b) uses a meter for registering the number or value of impressions made by a franking machine which is not set and sealed by an authorized officer—

shall be guilty of an offence. Penalty: Fifty pounds.

Notice

60. Any notice to the user under these Regulations or under any licence granted in pursuance of these Regulations shall be sufficiently given if notified to the user in a letter or writing left at or sent by post addressed to the address specified in the licence or the user’s last-known place of abode or usual place of abode or business.

Payment of postage by addressee.

61. (1) 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.

(2) A charge equal to 20 per cent of the amount of postage shall be paid by the addressee to cover the extra services of accounting and collection.

Electoral papers.

62. (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 endorsements 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 1906-1926 or by regulations made thereunder.

(3) This regulation shall not be deemed to exempt from postage any of the following articles:—

(a) Joint and other forms not provided for in the Commonwealth Electoral Acts and Regulations; or in the joint, regulations, which are used in connexion with the Electoral Acts of the Commonwealth and those of a State or States; and.
(b) Forms (including rolls) provided for in the joint regulations which are used solely for State purposes.

(4) The privilege of free postage shall not apply to registers of voters, interleaved for correction, addressed to electoral registrars, or to packages of obsolete electoral material, such as obsolete forms and similar matter.

(5) The sender of articles which, under this Regulation, are entitled to transmission by post free of charge, shall pay the prescribed registration fee on all such articles when sent by registered post.

Braille and Moon articles

63. Braille and Moon postal articles posted in the Commonwealth for delivery therein may be sent by post free of charge if—

(a) they contain only Braille and Moon articles, or either of them, and are posted in envelopes or wrappers open at one end or side or otherwise made up so as to admit of the contents being easily withdrawn for examination; and
(b) the words “Braille (or Moon, or Braille and Moon) articles only,” together with the signature and address of the sender, are printed or written on the outside of the envelope or wrapper.

Late fee

64. (1) The late fee on all registered postal articles except parcels, posted in the Commonwealth for any destination, shall be One penny each. The late fee system does not apply to parcels.

(2) The late fee on all registered articles, for any destination, registered between one hour and half-an-hour prior to the time of closing ordinary mails, which close after 9 a.m. and before 6 p.m., shall be Twopence for each article.

Unpaid or insufficiently prepaid postal articles.

65. (1) If a Deputy Postmaster-General has reason to believe that any person posts wholly unpaid or insufficiently prepaid postal articles, he may give notice in writing calling upon that person to desist and advising him of the consequences of non-compliance with the notice.

(2) If a person who has received a notice in pursuance of the last preceding sub-regulation knowingly and without reasonable excuse posts any wholly unpaid or insufficiently prepaid postal article, he shall be guilty of an offence. Penalty: Five pounds.

(3) For the purposes of this Regulation—

(a) Wholly unpaid or unsufficiently prepaid postal articles mean a postal article in respect of which no postage or insufficient postage has been paid; and
(b) The person from whom the postal article purports to have come shall be deemed to be the sender of the article.

(4) Wholly unpaid postal articles, except newspapers, and postal articles bearing postage at a rate lower than that prescribed for the class to which they belong by reason of their nature or the nature of any enclosure or endorsement they contain or bear, posted in the Commonwealth for delivery therein or transmission to Papua, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, New Guinea (formerly German New Guinea), and Nauru, shall, except in the cases where the Postmaster-General has allowed payment of the postage payable to be made by the addressee instead of by the sender, or where there is an evident attempt to defraud, be surcharged double the deficiency and transmitted to the office of destination. Wholly unpaid newspapers shall be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office.

(5) The postage on all postal articles other than letters, letter-cards, and single postcards posted in Australia for places beyond the Commonwealth other than the places mentioned in sub-regulation (4) of this Regulation shall be fully prepaid. If the postage be not fully prepaid, the article shall be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office.

(6) The amount of the surcharge to be made on wholly unpaid or insufficiently prepaid letters, letter-cards, and single postcards transmitted to places beyond the Commonwealth shall be double the deficiency in postage, and such surcharge shall be indicated in francs and centimes calculated as follows:—

(a) In the case of articles addressed to places in the British Empire, New Hebrides, Banks and Torres Islands, 1d. ＝ 10 centimes; and
(b) In the case of articles addressed to other places beyond the Commonwealth, by application of such formula as is approved by the Postmaster-General.

(7) The amount to be collected on postal articles surcharged in French currency received from places beyond the Commonwealth shall be calculated as follows.—

(a) In the case of articles from places within the British Empire, New Hebrides, Banks and Torres Islands, at the rate of 10 centimes＝1d.; and
(b) In the case of articles from other places beyond the Commonwealth, by application of such formula as is approved by the Postmaster-General.

PART VII.—DELIVERY AND REDIRECTION OF MAIL MATTER AND TREATMENT OF UNDELIVERED MAIL MATTER.

Delivery of postal articles.

66. An unregistered postal article, other than a parcel, shall be delivered to the addressee or, in the absence of instructions in writing to the contrary; to any responsible member of the addressee’s household, or upon production of a power of attorney, to the person named therein, or to a person authorized in writing by the addressee to receive it:

Provided—

(a) that in the case of a postal article, delivered by postman, delivery shall be made by depositing the article in a suitable receptacle or letter-box provided at the address for the purpose;
(b) that a postal article addressed to a person at an institution, hotel, club, lodging-house, or any house at which lodgers are received, or to the care of a firm, company, or other body, shall be delivered to the manager or proprietor thereof or to his representative;
(c) that a postal article addressed to one person in care of another shall, in the absence of written instructions to the contrary from the addressee, be delivered to either of the persons named who calls for it or at the address of the person in whose care it is directed; or
(d) that in the case of a postal article addressed to a person, firm, company, institution, or other body renting a private box at a post office or directed to a private box, the depositing of the article in the private box shall be deemed delivery to the addressee.

Postal articles addressed to minors.

67. (1) Where directions in writing have been given to a postmaster by the parent or guardian of a minor having custody of the minor, the postmaster may deliver or cause to be delivered all postal articles addressed to the minor in accordance with the directions so given.

(2) In the absence of any such directions, postal articles addressed to minors shall be delivered in the same manner as other postal articles.

(3) Notwithstanding any directions having been received under this Regulation, the Postmaster-General may direct that postal articles addressed to a minor shall be delivered to such minor.

(4) In this Regulation “minor” means a person under the age of eighteen years.

Delivery at post office.

68. (1) The privilege of having correspondence delivered at a post office shall be restricted to—

(a) visitors and tourists;
(b) private box holders;
(c) persons who do not reside within the area of a delivery by postman; and
(d) others who, in the opinion of the postmaster, cannot for good and sufficient reasons conveniently receive the correspondence by postman or through a private box.

(2) The persons referred to in the last preceding sub-regulation other than private box holders or persons who reside beyond the limits of a delivery by postman shall not, except as provided in the next succeeding sub-regulation, be entitled for a longer period than six months to have correspondence delivered at a post office or addressed to a post office to be called for.

(3) Where an addressee has for a period of six months had his correspondence addressed to a post office to be called for he may, upon making application to that effect, have his correspondence redirected to one address for a further period of six months; but upon the expiration of such further period a further application for redirection shall not be granted; and the correspondence shall be deemed to be insufficiently addressed and shall be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office.

(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulations (2) and (3) of this regulation, in cases where any visitor or tourist satisfies the Deputy Postmaster-General as to his bona fides, the Deputy Postmaster-General may make such arrangements as will meet the necessities of the particular case.

Fictitious, &c., addresses not permissible.

69. Correspondence addressed to a post office to be called for shall bear the name of the addressee. The use of initials, figures, Christian names, fictitious or assumed names, or conventional marks of any kind instead of the name of the addressee is not permissible, and correspondence so addressed shall be deemed to be insufficiently addressed and shall be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office.

Postal articles addressed to deceased persons.

70. Postal articles addressed to deceased persons may, on production of the probate or letters of administration, be delivered to the executors or administrators of the deceased persons’ estate, but until such production the Deputy Postmaster-General may cause such postal articles to be delivered to some near relative of the deceased person:

Provided that registered postal articles addressed to a deceased person and in connexion with which the sender has paid the fee for an acknowledgment of receipt shall be returned to the sender.

Postal articles “In Dispute.”

71. (1) When any member of a firm or partnership or of a dissolved firm or partnership gives notice to the postmaster not to deliver to any person other than himself any postal article addressed to the firm or partnership the postmaster (unless he is satisfied as to who is entitled to delivery) may refuse to deliver all such postal articles until an agreement is arrived at between the persons interested as to delivery.

(2) In default, of any such agreement, the postmaster shall mark the postal articles “In Dispute”, and shall send them to the Dead Letter Office unless they bear requests for their return if not delivered within a certain time, in which case they shall, at the expiration of the time named on the postal article, be returned to the sender.

(3) A postal article shall not be sent to the Dead Letter Office in accordance with this regulation until the expiration of thirty days from the date of the receipt of the above-mentioned notice.

Postal articles addressed “The Householder.”

72. (1) Postal articles other than newspapers may be addressed “The Householder” or any similar address at any place where there is a delivery by postman.

(2) On arrival at the office of destination, one of such postal articles shall (so far as the number posted will permit) be delivered by postman at each house within the limits of delivery.

(3) Such postal articles shall be posted in bulk and all articles for the same towns shall be tied by the sender in separate bundle. The postage may, subject to regulation 42, be prepaid in cash.

Delivery of postal articles in transit.

73. In cases where sufficient reason is shown and where the concession can be granted without undue interference with the public business, postal articles in transit, when lying at a post office awaiting despatch, may be delivered at that office to the person, authorized to receive them upon personal or written application, if the delivering officer is satisfied as to the identity of the applicant.

Re-directions.

74. (1) A charge shall not be made for the redirection of prepaid postal articles (other than parcels) when redirected by a postal official, or by an agent of the addressee after delivery, if the postage originally paid would have been sufficient if the postal article had originally been addressed to its new destination, provided that, in the case of articles redirected by an agent of the addressee, the articles are reposted not later than the day (Sunday and public holidays not being counted) after being left at the original address, and do not appear to have been opened or tampered with.

(2) If the postage originally prepaid on the redirected article is not sufficient for its transmission from the place of origin to the new destination, the deficient postage shall be collected on delivery at the new destination.

(3) If the articles redirected by agents of addressees are not reposted within the prescribed period, or if it appears that such articles have been opened or tampered with, they shall be chargeable as freshly posted unpaid article.

Re-directed registered articles.

75. (1) Registered articles redirected by an agent of the addresses shall be handed in at the counter of a post office for re-registration and shall not be posted in a letter receiver.

(2) Additional postage or registration fee shall not be charged upon such articles if they are presented for re-registration not later than the day (Sunday and public holidays not being counted) after being left at the original address; but if presented after that time they shall be treated as freshly posted, and fresh postage and registration fees shall be payable in respect of them.

(3) If any registered article when redirected, instead of being given back to the post office to be dealt with as registered, is dropped into a letter-box as an ordinary article (the word “registered” not having been erased, or having been erased in pencil only) it becomes liable on delivery to a surcharge of a single rate of postage and single registration fee.

Applications for re-direction

76. (1) An application for redirection shall be signed by the person to whom the correspondence is addressed, and shall state the places from which correspondence is expected:

Provided that an order from the head of a household shall be accepted for the redirection of the correspondence of all the members of such household unless separate instructions are given by other members.

(2) Unless renewed, redirection orders shall be acted on for a term of six months only.

Redirection not undertaken in certain cases.

77. Notwithstanding anything contained in these Regulations, the Postmaster-General will not undertake to intercept and redirect a postal article at any office other than that to which it is addressed, or to intercept and redirect a postal article addressed to the care of a private box holder, or of a private mail bag holder, or to an institution, hotel, club, lodging-house, or such like place, or to a residential flat, comprising one of a group, the correspondence for the occupants of which is delivered by postman into a common letter-box or to a common agent.

Inquiries

78. (1) Inquiries concerning the alleged non-delivery of any postal article may be undertaken provided:

(a) sufficient time has elapsed to enable the postal article to reach its destination in the ordinary course of post; and
(b) the person desiring the inquiry to be made furnishes reasonable evidence that the article was posted and has not yet been delivered.

(2) The person requesting that the inquiry be made shall enter the form provided for the purpose the particulars required in connexion with the article.

(3) Where the inquiry relates to a registered postal article or parcel addressed to or posted in a place beyond the Commonwealth, the person requesting that the inquiry be made shall affix to the form referred to in sub-regulation (2) of this regulation, a postage stamp in payment of a fee of 3d. If it is found that delay in delivery is attributable to the Department, the inquiry fee shall be refunded:

Provided that if the inquiry relate to a registered postal article or parcel upon which a fee has been paid for acknowledgment of delivery, an inquiry fee shall not be chargeable under this regulation.

Undelivered mail matter—treatment of.

79. First and Second- class Mail Matter with endorsements on the cover “If not delivered within (seven or more) days return to——(here the name and address of the person, or his private letter-box number, to whom or to which the article is to be returned should be stated)” shall, if undelivered at the expiration of the time specified in the endorsement, be returned by the postmaster at the office of destination to the sender.

Period of detention of undelivered mail matter.

80. (1) Except as provided in the last preceding regulation, postal articles posted without address or bearing illegible addresses and postal articles which the addressees refuse to receive owing to postage payable or other cause, shall be transmitted without delay to the Dead Letter Office for disposal.

(2) Undelivered postal articles, except parcels and the postal articles referred to in the last preceding regulation and the last preceding sub-regulation, shall—

(a) if posted within the Commonwealth for delivery therein be retained at the office of destination as follows: —
(i) if addressed to a fixed address other than a post office—eight days;
(ii) if addressed to a postal town without fixed particular or post office address—one month;
(iii) if addressed to a post office to be called for—one month; and
(iv) if addressed to a person on board ship—one month; and
(b) if received from a place outside the Commonwealth, be retained at the office of destination for two months.

(3) As soon as possible after the expiration of the prescribed period, undelivered postal articles other than newspapers and parcels and articles which bear a request for return to the sender within a specified period shall, if posted within the Commonwealth, be returned to the sender through the Dead Letter Office. If not posted within the Commonwealth, such postal articles shall be dealt with in accordance with the arrangements in force with the proper authorities in the country in which they were posted.

(4) Undelivered newspapers, wherever posted, shall not be returned to the senders, but shall be disposed of as prescribed by the Act:

Provided that newspapers which bear on the covers or wrappers in print the name of the publisher or vendor shall, if so required, be returned to the publisher or vendor on payment of postage at the prescribed rate.

Undelivered correspondence addressed care of consuls.

81. Postal articles addressed to the care of consuls and which are returned by them to the local post office shall be treated in the manner prescribed for undelivered correspondence and sent to the Dead Letter Office. Any charges which have been paid by consuls on such correspondence shall be refunded.

Express delivery.

82. (1) Delivery of postal articles in advance of the ordinary delivery may, upon payment of the prescribed fee, be obtained in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations. Such special delivery service shall be hereinafter referred to as “Express Delivery.”

(2) Post Offices from which express delivery is effected shall be hereinafter referred to as “Express Delivery Offices.”

(3) Express delivery of postal articles may be obtained—

(a) by messenger all the way;
(b) by messenger immediately upon arrival of the mail at the post office of destination—at the request of the sender;
(c) by messenger immediately upon arrival of the mail at the post office of destination—at the request of the addressee; or
(d) from travelling post office vans at railway stations.

Express delivery restricted to certain articles, &c.

83. Express delivery shall—

(a) be restricted to postal articles of the First and Second Classes not exceeding eight ounces in weight;
(b) be effected only from post offices at which telegraph messengers are employed and from travelling post office vans at railway stations where the trains to which such vans are attached are scheduled to stop;
(c) be limited to two miles from a General Post Office and one and one-half miles from a suburban or country post office;
(d) be made only during the hours the office is open to the public for transaction of telegraph business and messengers are on duty:
Provided that express delivery shall not be effected on Sundays or holidays; and
(c) be effected by messengers on foot or otherwise at the discretion of the Postmaster-General. If the sender or addressee desires a cab or other special conveyance to be used, the actual fare shall be paid in addition to the express delivery fee and postage.

Marking of express delivery articles.

84. A postal article the express delivery of which is desired by the sender shall be boldly and legibly marked on the address side by the sender with the words “Express Delivery,” or words indicating that express delivery is required.

Fee—Method of payment.

85. On a postal article the express delivery of which is desired by the sender, the express delivery fee and the postage shall be prepaid by means of postage stamps affixed to the article.

Express delivery by messenger all the way.

86. The fee for the service referred to in paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (3) of regulation 82, and the special conditions applicable to such service, shall be:—

Fee: For the first mile or part of a mile from the office of delivery to the address—4d. per article in addition to postage.
For each additional half-mile or part of a half-mile—2d. per article in addition to postage.
Conditions: the article shall be handed in at the counter of an express delivery office:
Provided that during such time as the office is closed, the article may be posted at the office in the ordinary manner, and any article so posted shall be delivered the following morning.

“Reply” service.

87. The sender of an express delivery article to be delivered by means of the service referred to in paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (3) of regulation 82 may arrange for the messenger to wait for and deliver a reply as directed. The fees payable for such additional service and the special conditions applicable thereto shall be as follow:—

Fee: If the reply is to be delivered to an address on the messenger’s homeward route—3d. in addition to postage.

If the reply is to be delivered to an address not on the messenger’s homeward route—the fee prescribed by the last preceding regulation.

Conditions:

(a) The sender shall endorse on the front of the cover of the article, in addition to the words “Express Delivery,” the words “Await Reply” in prominent characters, and affix to the article postage stamps in payment of the fee and postage on the reply, in addition to the fee and postage on the article itself;
(b) The messenger shall wait not longer than ten minutes for the reply; and
(c) The reply shall be delivered after the messenger has delivered all the express delivery articles entrusted to him when setting out from the express delivery office.

Postal article for express delivery may be handed to telegraph messenger.

88. The addressee of a telegram may hand to the delivering messenger a postal article for express delivery by means of the service referred to in paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (3) of regulation 82, but in such case the article shall be taken by the messenger to the post office to which he is attached, and the fee to be paid for express delivery shall be calculated as from the residence of the sender by way of the post office to the residence of the addressee.

Express delivery after transmission by post.

89. The fee for the service referred to in paragraph(b)of sub-regulation (3) of regulation 82 shall be 4d. per article in addition to postage.

Express delivery at request of addressee.

90. The fee payable for the service referred to in paragraph (c) of sub-regulation (3) of regulation 82, and the special conditions applicable to such service, shall be as follow:—

Fee: For each mile or part of a mile from the office of delivery to the address, 4d. for one article, and ½d. for each additional article delivered at the same time.
Conditions:
(a) The addressee shall make written application for the service to the officer in charge of the post office from which the addressee’s postal articles are ordinarily delivered, and such application shall reach the office at least one hour before the time of delivery by postman commences:
Provided that where a regular express delivery is required, one application to that effect shall be sufficient.
(b) The aggregate weight of the articles shall not exceed 4 lb.
(c) The express delivery fee on at least one article shall, except where a regular service is desired, be prepaid in postage stamps affixed to the application, and any additional fee shall be paid to the messenger on delivery. In the case of a regular service, all fees shall be paid to the messenger on delivery.
(d) If no postal articles for the address given are received, a messenger shall, except where a regular service has been applied for, be sent to inform the applicant to that effect, and the express fee shall be retained as payment for this service.

Express delivery from travelling post offices.

91. The fee for the service referred to in paragraph (d) of sub-regulation (3) of regulation 82 shall be 4d., in addition to postage

and late fee, and the special conditions applicable thereto shall be as follow:—

(a) The article shall be handed in at a travelling post office; and
(b) The sender shall arrange for the addressee or his agent to receive delivery of the article at the travelling post office van. If this be not done, the article shall be sent to the local post office, and delivery made in the usual, manner.

PART VIII.—PROHIBITED ARTICLES.

Articles prohibited from transmission.

92. Articles mentioned in the Act us being prohibited from transmission through the post, articles in “cut-out” envelopes, entirely transparent envelopes, or envelopes having a transparent panel which does not comply with the conditions laid down, or any postal article the importation, transmission or delivery of which is prohibited under the laws of the Commonwealth, or of the country to which such article is addressed, shall not be transmitted to the addressee by post in any form.

93. Omitted.

PART IX.—POSTAGE STAMPS.

Impressing stamps on letter cards, post cards, &c.

94. (1) Postage stamps shall be impressed under the following conditions on letter cards, post cards, envelopes, or wrappers supplied by the public upon written application being made to the Deputy Postmaster-General or to the postmaster at an official office, accompanied by a specimen card, envelope, or wrapper of approved colour:—

(a) Letter Cards—
Not less than 500 cards of one size, and in suitable sheets, shall be accepted at any one time for stamp impression.
(b) Post Cards—
(i) The cards shall not exceed 5½ inches in length and 3½ inches in breadth, nor be less than 4 inches in length and 2¾ inches in breadth, and shall consist of cardboard or paper stout enough to be easily handled in the post.
(ii) Not less than 500 cards of one size, and in suitable sheets, shall be accepted at any one time for stamp impression.
(c) Envelopes, Envelopes combined with Sheets of Note-paper, Wrappers, or Circulars with reply halves intended to be used as Orders for Publications, Goods, &c.—
(i) Not less than 500 envelopes, wrappers, or circulars of one size shall be accepted at any one time for stamp impression.
(ii) Paper which is too thin to bear the impression of the die and envelopes which exceed 9 inches in length and 4 inches in width, or 8 inches in length and 5 inches in width, shall not be accepted for stamp impression.
(iii) The paper for wrappers shall be in sheets and not cut in slips.
(iv) Envelopes or wrappers provided by the Postmaster-General’s Department may be substituted for any which may be spoiled in the operation of stamp impression.

(2) The charges, payable in advance, shall be—

(a) Letter Cards, Envelopes, Envelopes combined with Sheets of Note-paper, Wrappers, or Circulars with reply halves—
The value of the postage stamps, and 2s. 3d. per thousand or portion of a thousand of each value impressed.
(b) Post Cards—
The value of the postage stamps.

Sale of post-marked stamps.

95. (1) Postage stamps issued in the Commonwealth, lightly post-marked, may be purchased at their full face value.

(2) Sets of obliterated current and obsolete postage stamps issued in the Commonwealth may be purchased at a charge of One pound per set. The stamps of the face value of from ½d. to 5s. inclusive will be cancelled with the date stamp, and those exceeding 5s. in face value will be cancelled by having the word “Specimen” embossed upon them.

Re-purchase of stamps, &c.

96. (1) Postage stamps valid in the Commonwealth which are not perforated, and are in good order and condition, may, if tendered in strips of at least two, be repurchased from the public, at the General Post Office of any State of the Commonwealth, at their face value, less a discount of 2s. in the £1, or according to the following scale, viz.:- For stamps not exceeding in value 1s. 8d., twopence; exceeding in value 1s. 8d., but not exceeding 3s. 4d., fourpence, exceeding in value 3s. 4d., but not exceeding 5s., sixpence; and so on at the rate of Twopence for every 1s. 8d. or portion of 1s. 8d.:

(a) Plaintiff or defendant.

Schedule.

Full Particulars of Documents Required.

Date.

(2) If there be no objection on the part of the Department to comply with the application, a notice to that effect shall be forwarded to the person making the application, who shall thereupon pay to the Deputy Postmaster-General—

(a) a fee of One guinea;
(b) a sum sufficient to meet any expenses necessary for the officer searching for or producing the document.

Repeal.

257. Regulations 1 to 308 (both inclusive) of the Post and Telegraph Regulations (Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348, as amended to the date of the commencement of thisregulation) are repealed.

By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.