Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Regulations (Amendment) (Provisional) (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1904. No. 33.

REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ERECTION OF PUBLIC TELEGRAPH OR TELEPHONE LINES UNDER GUARANTEE.

1. Any person may apply in writing to the Postmaster-General for the construction of a telegraph or telephone line under these Regulations.

2. Each application will be dealt with on its merits, but no application will be granted unless the Postmaster-General is satisfied that the line applied for is required in the public interest.

3. No application shall be granted for the construction of a line not likely to yield a minimum revenue within a period of eight years after the construction of the line, unless the Postmaster-General is satisfied that there are special circumstances rendering its construction desirable.

4. If the line is not likely to yield, annually, an amount sufficient to provide—

(a)For the cost of operating the line ; and

(b)Ten per centum on the cost of constructing the line and supplying the instruments (to cover maintenance, renewals, &c.)

(which amount is referred to in these Regulations as a minimum revenue), the applicants shall, for the purpose of guaranteeing the receipt of that amount, comply with the following conditions, namely :—

(a)The applicants shall deposit with the Postmaster-General a sum of money sufficient to pay the estimated cost of operating the line for two years, together with a sum equal to not less than Ten pounds per centum per annum for two years on the estimated cost of constructing the line and supplying instruments.

(b) The applicants shall enter into a joint and several bond, in a sum to be fixed by the Postmaster-General, conditioned to make good any sum by which the receipts from the line in any year during a period of seven years after the completion of the line fall short of a minimum revenue.

5. The sum deposited with the Postmaster-General shall be placed to his credit in a Savings Bank, and such sum and any interest thereon shall be available for the purpose of making good in any year any amount by which the yearly receipts from the line fall short of a minimum revenue, and the sums required for that purpose may be withdrawn from the bank and paid to the Consolidated Revenue Fund at such times as the Postmaster-General thinks proper.

6. The bond shall be in a form approved by the Postmaster-General, and payments under it shall be made within one month after demand by the Postmaster-General; but no such demand shall be made so long as the sum deposited, or any balance thereof, is sufficient to make good the amount required.

C.6251.— Price 3d.

7. After the expiration of seven years from the completion of the line, the bond may be renewed or a new bond executed for such further period as the Postmaster-General directs, and if the bond id not so renewed or a new bond executed, the Postmaster-General may, unless he is satisfied that the line will yield a minimum revenue, remove it and the instruments.

8. Any balance of the sum deposited or interest thereon may after the expiration of seven years from the completion of the line, be returned to the applicants.

9. The line and instruments shall remain the property of the Postmaster-General.

10. These Regulations shall take effect forthwith.

By Authority: Robt. S. Brain, Government Printer, Melbourne