Telephone Regulations (Cth)
STATUTORY RULES.
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
Dated this nineteenth day of December, One thousand nine hundred and thirteen.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command.
AGAR WYNNE.
TELEPHONE REGULATIONS.
General.
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Telephone Regulations, and are divided into Parts, as follows:—
Part I.—Telephone Exchanges.
Part II.—Public Telephone Trunk Lines.
Part III.—Transmission of Telegrams by Telephone.
Part IV.—Public Telephones.
Part V.—Telephones to Steamships or Wharves.
Part VI.—Telephone Junction and Trunk Lines.
Part VII.—Use of Subscribers’ Telephones by the Public on the Ticket System or on Payment.
Part VIII.—Fire Brigade Lines.
Part IX.—Military Lines.
Part X.—Burglar Alarms.
Part XI.—Time Signals and Weather Forecasts.
Part XII.—Telephone Lines not connected with Exchanges.
Part XIIa.—Automatic Private Branch Telephones.
Part XIII.—Telephone Lines connecting with Trunk Line Switchboards or Telegraph Offices only.
Part XIV.—Telephone Lines in Country Districts not erected, or only partly erected, by the Postmaster-General.
Part XV.—Telephone Lines in Country Districts partly erected by the Postmaster-General, and which connect with Telephone Exchanges.
Part XVI.—Telephone Lines in Country Districts erected at the cost of the users upon poles of the Postmaster-General.
Part XVII.—Erection of Public Telegraph or Telephone Lines under guarantee.
Part XVIII.—Public Telegraph Lines erected by persons desiring such lines, instead of by the Department, under guarantee.
Part XIX.—Miscellaneous.
C.17445.—Price 1s.
PART I.—TELEPHONE EXCHANGES.
2. All applications for telephone services must be made to the Deputy Postmaster-General.
3. (1) Where connexion to a Telephone Exchange is desired, such connexion shall be made to the Exchange nearest the premises referred to in the application, except for departmental convenience; or at the request of the subscriber approved by the Deputy Postmaster-General.
(2) When at the request of the subscriber the connexion is made to an exchange other than the exchange nearest the premises referred to in the application, the charges shall be as follows:—
(
a ) For the line, the charges prescribed by Part XII. of these Regulations;(
b )For the connexion to the Switchboard, the charges prescribed by Regulation 28 for one jack and one shutter;(
c ) For calls, the charges prescribed by Regulation 5;
provided
that where the charges prescribed by paragraphs (
4. The Postmaster-General reserves the right to refuse to comply with any application for connexion with any telephone system, or for the construction of any telephone line or service.
4a. The Postmaster-General reserves the right to disconnect a subscriber’s service from one Exchange and connect it to another should he consider such action desirable.
5.* (1) All telephone lines, instruments, and fittings in connexion with thetelephone system, except where otherwise provided by these Regulations, shall be erected and supplied by the Postmaster-General, the cost being borne by the Government, and no persons, except employés of the Department, provided with proper means of identification, are to be allowed to interfere with or make any additions or alterations to any wires, instruments, or fittings under the Department’s control. In the event of any such interference the subscriber concerned will be liable to have his line disconnected.
(2) The following shall be the charges payable for each of the different classes of service specified:—
Telephone Networks having a population of— | Radius of Network with Main Exchange as Centre. | Minimum Annual Charge. | ||||||||
For an Exclusive Service. | For each Subscriber or Instrument on a Two party Service. | For each Subscriber or Instrument on a Three or more Party Service. | ||||||||
Miles. | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | |
From 1 to 10,000.................. | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
,, 10,001 to 100,000.............. | 10 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
,, 100,001 upwards............... | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
Mileage shall be calculated radially, from the Telephone Exchange with which the line is connected as the centre.
*
The Postmaster-General, by Proclamation in
In all cases where submarine cables or other special arrangements are required in the construction of a line, the charges shall be fixed according to circumstances.
Forthe foregoing charges, the Postmaster-General will provide and maintain all necessary Exchange equipment, subscriber’s line not exceeding 2miles in length radially, and one telephone wall-set per subscriber.
For all effective calls, the subscriber will be charged at the following rates :—
For calls not exceeding 2,000 half-yearly, two calls for One penny.
For calls above 2,000 half-yearly, three calls for One penny.
Fractions of a penny will be charged as One penny.
No charge will be made to the subscriber for calls received by him.
The calls made over each line will be charged for separately.
Calls made on the business of the Postmaster-General by any duty authorized officer will not be charged.
(3) Accounts for calls will be
rendered half-yearly, and must be paid within fourteen days. A statement of
account certified by a responsible officer of the Department as being correct
shall be accepted as
Statements of the number of calls recorded against a subscriber for a month will, upon the subscriber’s request, be furnished at the following charges :—
Statements showing monthly total, 6d. per statement.
Statements showing daily totals for a month, 1s. per statement.
6. Persons who were subscribers immediately before the 1st September, 1910, and have continued to be subscribers after that date, shall not be entitled to a refund of any charges paid in respect of any portion of the period of service subsequent to the said date, on the ground that those charges are in excess of the charges payable under Regulation 5 in respect of such period, but any excess shall be credited to such persons, and an adjustment made at the end of the period of service in respect of which the charges were paid.
7. When the radial length of any line exceeds 2 miles, the following extra mileage charges shall be made:—
For each quarter mile or portion thereof—
Exclusive services, 10s. per annum.
Two-party services, 5s. per annum per subscriber or instrument.
Three or more party services, 2s. 6d. per annum per subscriber or instrument.
8. The rental for party-line
circuits shall be calculated upon the radial distance from the second or
additional subscriber’s premises to the point of connexion with the main
circuit of the first subscriber,
9. (1) Party-line services will be furnished only when Exchanges have been equipped with suitable apparatus.
(2) When a subscriber to a two-party service is found to originate an average of more than fifteen calls daily for a consecutive period of three months, he may be required to subscribe to an exclusive service.
See also Regulation 14.
A 2
(3)When a subscriber to a three or more party service is found to originate an average of ten or more calls daily, for a consecutive period of three months, he may be required to subscribe to a two-party or an exclusive service.
(4) No conversation over any party line shall exceed six minutes in duration.
(5) Selective and lock-out party line services will be provided only where the complete service of line and instruments is installed and maintained by the Postmaster-General, and where suitable switchboards have been installed.
(6) Code-ringing party line services will be provided on other Exchanges and on lines in country districts erected under Regulations Part XV.
(7) Party line services will be provided only when the subscribers desiring to be connected to the same line are located within a reasonable distance of each other or of the line. The reasonableness will be determined by the officers of the Postmaster-General in each case.
10. (1) Places outside the network of a Telephone Exchange may, subject to this Regulation, be allowed to be connected with any Telephone Exchange within the network.
(2) The total length of line necessary for the connexion must not exceed 25 miles.
(3) The charges shall be as follows:—
(
a ) Where the telephone line connects a place with a Telephone Exchange, and does not extend more than 5 miles beyond the limits of the network of which the Exchange forms part, the charge for the service shall be at the same rate as for a similar length of line in the case of a subscriber within the network.(
b )Where the telephone line connects a place with a Telephone Exchange, and extends more than 5, but not more than 25, miles beyond the limits of the network of which the Exchange forms part, the charge for the service shall be as specified in paragraph (a )for the part of the line which does not extend more than 5miles (measured radially) beyond the limits of the network, and shall be at the rate of 15s. per annum for each additional quarter mile or part of a quarter mile, calculated on the actual length of line, and not on the radial distance.(
c )When party lines are connected under this Regulation, the charges for so much of the actual length of line as extends more than five (5)miles beyond the limits of the network, shall be at the rate prescribed by Regulation 7,plus fifty (50)per centum.
11. (1) Telephone lines must be rented for a period certain of one year at least, or for such longer time as the Deputy Postmaster-General decides, and thereafter the renting shall continue unless and until determined by notice in accordance with this Regulation.
(2) On or at any time after the expiration of the period certain, the renting of the line, or of any extension thereof, may be determined—
(
a )by the subscriber giving to the Deputy Postmaster-General one month’s previous notice in writing of his intention to discontinue the use of the line or extension; or(
b )by the Deputy Postmaster-General giving to the subscriber one month’s previous notice in writing of his intention to discontinue the service.
(3) Rent will be charged only to the expiration of the notice of discontinuance.
(4) The notice to the Deputy Postmaster-General may be waived in the case of the death of the subscriber if—
(
a ) the telephone line is an ordinary telephone line; and(
b )a special agreement for the renting of the line for a fixed term is not in force; and(
c )the notice would involve payment of rent for any period beyond the date to which rent has already been paid.
(5) Nothing in this Regulation shall affect the power of the Postmaster-General or a Deputy Postmaster-General to determine the agreement under any other Regulation.
12. Rent payable in respect of any telephone service shall be charged from the date on which the service is ready for use. Except in cases where spare or idle complete lines already exist from the premises of an intending subscriber to the Exchange, in which case rental for six months in advance may be accepted, the first year’s rent for any such service shall be paid in advance; and thereafter rent shall be paid half-yearly in advance. Provided, however, that in respect of lines or extensions of lines, the cost of the construction of which will exceed the amount payable as rent for the first year, the subscriber may be called upon to pay in advance, or to enter into an agreement, in a form approved by the Deputy Postmaster-General, to pay rental or charges for calls to such an amount as will cover the cost of construction.
13
(2) In this Regulation illegal business means—
(
a )Keeping any common gaming-house, common betting-house, common bawdy-house, or house of disorderly entertainment; or(
b )Keeping, occupying, or using, any house or premises, in contravention of the law of any State relating to gaming or wagering.
14. If any subscriber make default in payment of rent or other charges due by him, and on being requested by notice to pay such rent or charges, fails to pay either of them within fourteen days from the date of the notice, the Deputy Postmaster-General may order that the telephone used by the subscriber shall be disconnected from the Exchange, and may cancel the agreement, and cause the name of the subscriber to be removed from the List, and may order the removal of all wires, instruments, and fittings, without prejudice to his right to recover any rent or other charges due under these Regulations.
15. A fee of 5s., in addition to all other amounts due, shall be paid by any subscriber whose telephone has been disconnected from the Exchange for non-payment of rent or other charges due, before the telephone is again connected with the Exchange. If the instruments or wires have been removed, any application for reconnexion with the Exchange shall be treated as an application for a new line.
16. Medical practitioners connected with Telephone Exchanges, at which a day service only is provided, may have their telephone lines connected during the night with subscribers to the same Exchange in anticipation of an urgent call being made for medical attendance during the time such Exchanges are closed. No additional charge shall be made for such connexions, and no responsibility shall be incurred by the Department in the event of any failure to make the desired connexions.
17. All telephone instruments, batteries, or any apparatus whatever which can be connected with any Telephone Exchange, shall, except where otherwise provided in these Regulations, be supplied at the cost of the Department, and be the exclusive property of the Postmaster-General. Upon the termination of the agreement the Postmaster-General may remove the instruments, batteries, and apparatus, for which purpose, as also to permit of their inspection when considered necessary, his officers shall have free access to the premises of the subscriber. The subscriber shall pay to the Postmaster-General the cost of any damage to instruments, batteries and apparatus beyond fair wear and tear.
18. The establishment of any Telephone Exchange shall be subject to the approval of the Postmaster-General, and before any Telephone Exchange is established, the following conditions shall be complied with:—
(
a )In the case of a Suburban or Branch Exchange in an existing telephone network, not less than fifteen subscribers shall agree to be connected to the new Exchange. Provided that this condition may be waived in the interests of the Department in cases where the Postmaster-General considers it necessary.Isolated Country Exchanges will be opened without any restriction as to the number of subscribers.
(
b )The new Exchange shall not, unless for the Department’s convenience, be established within 3 miles of an existing Exchange.(
c ) The subscribers to the new Exchange shall pay one year’s rental in advance, and enter into an agreement in approved form to pay rental in advance as prescribed by Regulation 12 for two further years, making three years in all.Provided, however, that in respect of lines, or extensions of lines, the cost of the construction of which will exceed the amount payable as rent for three years, the subscriber may be called upon to pay in advance, or to enter into an agreement, in a form approved by the Deputy Postmaster-General, to pay rental or charges for calls to such an amount as will cover the cost of construction.
19. (1) When the revenue from subscribers’ lines and services connected to any Exchange is less than at the rate of £150 per annum, attendance at that Exchange shall be given only during the hours the Post Office at which the Exchange is situated is usually open for the transaction of public business. When the revenue is at the rate of £150 or over, continuous attendance shall be provided.
(2) In calculating the revenue for the purposes of this Regulation, rentals for all subscribers’ lines and apparatus connected to the Exchange in question, and charges for all local calls, shall be included, but revenue from any trunk line connected with the Exchange shall not be included.
20. (1) Except where otherwise provided in these Regulations, telephone exchange lines, for which lines the charges in force on the 31st January, 1907, continue to be paid, must be used only by the subscriber, his family, or employés, and exclusively on his affairs. Any breach of this regulation, or of any of these regulations, shall render the subscriber liable to have his telephone disconnected, without prejudice to the right of the Postmaster General, to recover the rent and or other charges payable to the end of the term agreed upon; or the Postmaster-General may comply the subscriber to pay the rates prescribed by these Regulations. Provided, however, that in case of emergency, a subscriber may permit the use of his line by the subscriber for another line connected with the same exchange. The use of any subscriber’s line may, with his consent, be granted to a non-subscriber to summon medical aid in urgent cases, to give notice of fire, or to call the police. In the case of hotels and lodging, houses, the telephones may be used by any person residing on the premises, but not by casual callers.
(2) Any subscriber to a telephone
line connected with an Exchange for the use of which line charges in accordance
with Regulation 5are paid may grant
the use of the line to a non-subscriber, but the subscriber shall pay the
charges made by the Department for such use by the non-subscriber, and may
charge the non-subscriber an amount not exceeding one penny, but shall not,
without the authority of the Postmaster-General, make any further charge, nor
receive any further payment or valuable consideration from any person for the
use of the line.* Provided that subscribers for telephone services connecting
with places situated beyond the limits of the network of the Exchange to which
the service is connected, shall not grant the use of the service to any other
person except in cases of emergency, unless with the consent of, and upon terms
approved by, the Postmaster General
21. (1) Should a subscriber’s telephone be removed at the subscriber’s request to another address or position within the same telephone network, or should the subscriber require any alterations to be made, he shall pay the
* See Section 129
actual
cost of labour entailed in making alterations to the line (unless the rental is
increased),
(2) In cases where subscribers request the removal of instruments to other premises the Postmaster-General may, should he think fit, demand payment in advance of the estimated cost of removal, and the subscriber shall, upon such demand, forthwith pay the amount.
(3) In the event of a subscriber removing from or giving up possession of the premises upon which the telephone is situated, without paying in advance the cost of removing the instruments or making other arrangements approved by the Postmaster-General for the removal or discontinuance of the service, the Postmaster-General may disconnect the telephone and remove any instruments and fittings belonging to him, and notwithstanding such disconnexion and removal, may recover from the subscriber the rent and any charges payable to the end of the term agreed upon or which are due under the Regulations.
(4) Subscribers who desire to have their lines removed, or the position of their telephones altered, should give notice as follows:—
(
a ) For removal of line, fourteen clear days;(
b )For altering the position of the telephone or apparatus in the building, three clear days.
21 a. (1) A subscriber who is leaving or has left premises having a telephone service shall, before leaving the premises, give notice to the Deputy Postmaster-General of the date on which he expects to leave, or shall within one week after leaving the premises, give notice to the Deputy Postmaster-General of the date on which he left. A subscriber who fails to comply with the provision of this sub-regulation shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding Ten pounds.
(2) A person who has entered into the occupation of any premises having a telephone service shall not be entitled to make use of the service, or to suffer any other person to do so until he has obtained a transfer of the service, and if such person makes use of the service, or suffers any other person to do so before obtaining a transfer of the service, he shall be deemed to have assumed the service, and (without prejudice to any liability of the subscriber or any right or power of the Department) shall be liable for all amounts owing in respect of the service at the time he entered into occupation of the premises as well as amounts which become payable in respect of any use of the telephone after that time.
22. (1) No telephone messages shall contain unbecoming expressions, or language of an obscene or offensive nature, or of a character calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, nor shall any telephone service be mischievously used for the purpose of irritating any person. Any violation of this Regulation shall render the subscriber liable to have the telephone disconnected, and any instruments and fittings belonging to the Postmaster-General removed, without prejudice to the right of the Postmaster-General to recover the rent and or other charges payable to the end of the term agreed upon.
(2) Any violation of this Regulation by the user of any public telephone shall render the user liable to a penalty not exceeding Five pounds.
23. (1) One entry for every telephone connecting directly or indirectly with the Exchange will be inserted once free of charge in each issue of the Telephone List, but, except as provided by Regulation 24, an annual fee of 5s.,payable in advance in conjunction with other charges, shall be charged for each additional name inserted at the request of a subscriber. More than six names shall not be inserted at the request of any one person. However, before any such additional name can be inserted in the List, evidence must be produced to the satisfaction of the Deputy Postmaster-General that the applicant is acting as agent for the person or firm whose name he desires to be so inserted, and in no case shall any person other than such applicant, or his employés, be allowed to use the telephone on behalf of such person or firm.
(2) The entry in the alphabetical portion of the Telephone List shall contain no advertising matter, but only such statement of name, occupation, and address, as is in the opinion of the Deputy Postmaster-General necessary to enable the subscriber to be identified and called. Provided, however, that additional matter, as, for instance, a statement showing which of various departments of any business are accessible over any telephone line, may, subject to approval by the Deputy Postmaster-General, be inserted on payment in advance of an annual fee of Five shillings per line or part thereof.
(3) On payment in advance of an annual fee of 5s., a subscriber may have a brief notice inserted after his name in the Telephone List, indicating that in the event of non-attendance at his telephone some other subscriber will take the message intended for him.
(4) No responsibility shall be undertaken, nor shall any claim for compensation arise or be entertained, on account of any error in or omission from the Telephone List.
24. (1) Persons occupying offices in the same building, or occupying the same private residence, may jointly subscribe under the one Exchange number, on payment (in addition to rental as for one person at the respective rates prescribed by these Regulations) of £1per annum for each additional subscriber. The fee of £1per annum covers the insertion of the additional subscriber’s name in the Telephone List. If an additional subscriber should require discontinuance of this service, it shall be necessary for him to give three months’ notice to that effect.
(2) Visitors who are residing in premises where there is a telephone connected to an exchange may have their names inserted in the Telephone List on payment of a fee of Five Shillings per quarter. Payment for calls, which is not included in the above-mentioned fee, must be arranged between the subscriber and the visitor.
(3) The original subscriber shall pay to the Postmaster-General all charges in connexion with the line, but may charge to the second subscriber any agreed proportion of such charges.
(4) If additional instruments are required the subscribers shall pay the rates prescribed for party lines*; extra instruments ; or Extension Lines‡; whichever may be applicable.
25. If persons not occupying the same building desire to subscribe jointly for the use of the same line, they may do so upon payment of rental at the rates specified in Regulation 5 for party lines.
* See Regulation 5 See Regulation 28 See Regulation 27 and Part XII
.
26. The Postmaster-General reserves the right to determine the cases wherein the use of party lines provided for in the last preceding Regulation shall be permitted.
27. (1) Lines of the same subscriber connecting any Exchange line with extra telephones or bells by switches or other means (usually known as “Extension lines”) and which extend beyond the building or premises to which the Exchange line connects, shall be charged separately, and at the rates shown in Part XII. of these Regulations.
(2) Where the Exchange line is metallic circuit, any Extension line connecting therewith must also be metallic circuit, except in cases where single-wire extensions can be used without detriment to the service, in which latter case the subscriber shall pay the fee prescribed in Regulation 28for such translators and or other apparatus as may be necessary to enable the connexion, to be made.
(3) Extension lines within the building or upon the premises to which the Exchange line from which they are extended connects, will be provided by the Postmaster-General upon the subscriber agreeing to pay the actual cost of labour and material used in installing the wires.
(4) Extension lines may also be provided to connect an Exchange line with extra telephones or bells required for use by a person who is not the subscriber for that line.
(5) Except where otherwise provided in this Regulation, instruments, used on Extension lines shall be provided and maintained by the Postmaster-General at the rates specified in Regulation 28. Such instruments may be used for conversations between other Extension instruments without extra charge, provided that the connexion is not effected through the Department’s Exchange.
(6) Extension services constructed and maintained by the users entirely on their own premises or land, may be connected with the Exchange system, subject to the services being constructed and maintained in every way to the satisfaction of the Deputy Postmaster-General, but the Postmaster-General will accept no responsibility for any defect arising on any part of such extension services, or caused through their connexion with the Exchange system. The approval of the Deputy Postmaster-General shall in all cases be obtained before any such extension service is connected with the Exchange system. The provisions of this sub-regulation shall, however, apply only to country district lines erected under the provisions of Parts XIV. or XV. of these Regulations, unless otherwise allowed by the Postmaster-General.
(7) The Postmaster General especially reserves the right to refuse to provide any extension from a line connecting with one Exchange when the additional point to be connected by the Extension line is within the area served by another Exchange.
(8) Extension lines will not be provided in connexion with party line services.
28
£ | s. | d. | |
| |||
| 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 19 | 0 |
| 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 0 | 17 | 0 |
s. | d. | ||
| 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 0 | 11 | 0 |
| |||
0 | 5 | 0 | |
| |||
0 | 5 | 0 | |
| |||
0 | 6 | 0 | |
| 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 0 | 10 | 0 |
| |||
| 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 0 | 17 | 6 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 0 | 7 | 6 |
| 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 0 | 10 | 0 |
| |||
0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 0 | 17 | 6 |
| 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 0 | 2 | 0 |
| |||
| 0 | 2 | 6 |
£ | ||||
12/214 |
| 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 0 | 5 | 0 | |
13/128 |
| 0 | 3 | 0 |
Special appliances, such as plug attachments for portable table telephones, and specified patterns of instruments as per agreement.
29. (1) Subscribers to Telephone Exchanges worked by magneto instruments, or persons renting magneto telephones from the Department, can, on application to the Deputy Postmaster-General in writing, be supplied with a control key, of a Yale key pattern, which it is necessary to insert into its receptacle before any person can produce a ring by turning the handle of the telephone. This will prevent unauthorised use of the telephone. It does not, when withdrawn, prevent the user from being called, nor does it interfere with speaking. Subscribers to Telephone Exchanges worked on the common battery system can also be supplied with similar control keys, which it is necessary to insert into the receptacle before originating a conversation or answering a call. An installation fee of 5s. is charged for supplying the first key, and 2s. 6d. each for duplicates. The number of keys which will be supplied for use in connexion with any telephone will be limited to five
(2) When a subscriber ceases to rent a telephone instrument for which control keys are provided, he must return the keys to the Deputy Postmaster-General. For each key which upon demand by the Deputy Postmaster-General is not returned a charge of 2s. 6d. shall be made. Loss of any control key should be promptly notified to the Deputy Postmaster-General.
30. (1) Institutions which are maintained for charitable purposes, and which are supported wholly or partly by public subscriptions, shall be charged for lines and any extra instruments half the rates specified in these Regulations.
(2) Calls made over such lines connecting with exchanges shall be charged half the rates specified in Regulation 5.
31. No subscriber shall be allowed to use any junction line joining two Exchanges for more than five minutes at one time. Any person exceeding this limit may be disconnected if there be other applicants waiting to use the line. Subscribers shall be connected, as far as possible in order of application.
32. (1) In cases where lines have been constructed, prior to the commencement of these Regulations, under what is termed the “ purchase system,” the lines, as well as the instruments, &c., connected therewith shall remain the property of the persons who paid for them; they shall be subject to the maintenance fees hitherto charged, so long as the owners of the lines remain in their present premises; but
(
a ) Should an owner desire any additions or alterations to the line within his premises, he shall be required to pay the actual cost of the additions or alterations, but no addition or alteration shall be made unless he give an undertaking, in writing, to surrender his line when called upon to do so, at a valuation made by an officer of the Department on the basis of its then present value.(
b )Should an owner remove from his premises, services shall only be given at the new address under the terms of these Regulations, and the old line and apparatus may be taken over at a valuation to be made by an officer of the Department.
(2) These lines shall otherwise be subject to these Regulations, and in no case will any line constructed under the “purchase system” be transferred from the owner to any other person.
(3) Maintenance fees must be paid yearly, in advance, dating from the 1st January in each year.
PART II.—PUBLIC TELEPHONE TRUNK LINES.
33. A telephone line connecting any two offices of the Department, at neither or only one of which a Telephone Exchange has been opened, or a telephone line joining any two offices of the Department, but not available for direct connexion with the subscribers’ lines at either or both ends, may be used for conversations by the subscribers or by the general public, subject to the following conditions, and on payment of the fees set forth hereunder, provided that such use shall not interfere with the ordinary work of the Department:—
(1) When the person to be spoken to can be called by telephone, or in other cases where it is not necessary to send a messenger for the person to be spoken to, the fee payable shall be the same as is specified for conversations on telephone trunk lines.
(2) When it is necessary to send a messenger for the person to be spoken to, the following charges shall be made in addition to the charge specified in the last preceding clause:—
(
a )For a messenger sent to call to the telephone any person who resides within the usual radius of free delivery of telegrams, 3d.(
b )For a messenger sent to call to the telephone any person who resides beyond the radius of free delivery of telegrams, in addition to the fee of 3d., the usual porterage fees charged for the delivery of telegrams shall be made.
At offices where messengers are not
provided by the Department the services specified in sub-sections (
PART III.—TRANSMISSION OF TELEGRAMS BY TELEPHONE.
34. Subscribers to Telephone Exchanges may transmit by telephone to any Telegraph Office which is connected with a Telephone Exchange messages intended to be further transmitted, or, where practicable, delivered from the Telegraph Office to the respective destinations of such messages as telegrams; provided they pay the usual cost of such telegrams in addition to the rates for transmission through the telephone. Where subscribers’ premises are situated beyond two miles radially from the nearest Telegraph Office, the service provided for in this Regulation will be given free, but for subscribers situated within two miles radially from the nearest Telegraph Office the service will be charged for as provided in Regulation 37.
35. Subscribers may also, at their option, and on giving written notice to that effect, have telegrams addressed to them forwarded by telephone from the Telegraph Office of destination to their Telephone address, provided that the Telegraph Office and the subscribers are connected to the
same Telephone Exchange or network, and copies of such telegrams will, at the same time, be posted for delivery to their address, stamped on the face, “Transmitted by Telephone.”
36. Where subscribers are resident beyond one mile radially from the Chief District Telegraph Office, the service provided for in Regulation 35 will be given free, but for subscribers situated within one mile radially from the Chief District Telegraph Office, the service will be charged for as provided in Regulation 37, if performed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.; during other hours the service will be provided free.
37 (1) For the transmission of telegrams by telephone as provided by Regulations 34 and 35 where those services are not given free, any subscriber may elect either to pay an annual fee of £3 3s. or to pay for each individual telegram transmitted.
(2) The charges for transmitting telegrams through the telephone when the annual fee of £3 3s. has not been paid shall be—
For each telegram sent or received................................................. 3d.
38. The payment of the fee of £3 3s. required by Regulation 37 will cover the transmission of telegrams in both directions, as provided for in Regulations 34 and 35. In cases where extraordinary services are required, such as for the telephoning of press telegrams to news agencies, newspapers, &c., a special charge, by arrangement to be approved by the Postmaster-General, shall be made.
39. Where requests are made for telegrams to be transmitted by telephone over trunk lines, for the use of which fees as per Regulations 33 and 52 are chargeable, these fees must be paid in addition to the above charges.
40. In addition to the rates specified herein the cost of the telegram must be paid at the usual rates for telegrams, but the use of the telephone for sending or receiving telegrams will not be counted or charged as a call.
41. The transcription of telegrams telephoned by subscribers shall, so far as the Department is concerned, become the original telegrams, but the Department shall not assume, nor be subject to, any liability by reason, or on account of any failure, delay, or mistake, in or about the transmission, receipt, or delivery of any telegram under this arrangement from whatever cause the same may arise.
42. Persons wishing to avail themselves of the above-mentioned arrangement must deposit with the Department a sum sufficient to cover the estimated cost of the telegrams for one month, such deposit to be renewed monthly, or more frequently, if necessary.
43 The precaution of asking the officer who receives a telegram by telephone to repeat it through the telephone after transcribing it, and before transmitting it by wire to destination, must always be adopted. It must then be accepted by the sender as correct.
44. The free transmission by telephone of telegrams addressed to subscribers will be effected only where re-direction of such telegrams is unnecessary. Telegrams addressed to the place of business of any subscriber, and transmitted by telephone to his residence, will be charged for as provided by Regulation 37.
45. Subscribers who are entitled to the transmission of telegrams by telephone, whether free or by payment of the fee prescribed by Regulation 37, may use their surname, together with the Telephone Exchange; name, and number, as an abbreviated telegraphic address. For example—
Smith, Telephone Central 1254, Sydney; or Brown, Telephone Central 567, Brisbane, would be accepted as sufficient addresses.
The responsibility for giving the correct Telephone Exchange address name, and number rests with the sender of the telegram.
46. Telegrams advising the movements of shipping may be sent from the various coast stations connected by telegraph in any State, and telephoned to any subscribers on application and on payment of the ordinary telegram rates.
PART IV.—PUBLIC TELEPHONES.
47. (1) The fee for the use of a public telephone shall be uniformly one penny for a conversation of three minutes, or part of three minutes, whether the call be made by a subscriber or a non-subscriber.
(2) This fee covers only the conversation from the public telephone to any subscriber connected with the network of the Exchange to which that public telephone is connected. The network includes the main and branch Exchanges, but does not include trunk lines.
(3) If a person speak from one public telephone to a person at a second public telephone the fee for the use of each telephone must be paid.
(4) When a public telephone is used for the purpose of conversing over a trunk line, the fee for the use of the trunk line only is to be charged.
(5) The fee prescribed in this Regulation shall be paid for the use of any public telephone situated within 10 miles radially from the Central Telephone Exchange in the case of telephone networks of cities or towns having a population of more than 10,000 resident within 10 miles radially from the Central Telephone Exchange, or situated within 5 miles in the case of other networks or Exchanges.
(6) For the use of public telephones beyond these distances respectively the Trunk Line charges specified in Regulation 52 shall be paid.
(7) Public telephones will not be opened unless the estimated revenue to be derived annually is equal to the following amounts respectively :—
From a public telephone within two miles radially from the Telephone Exchange to which it is connected :—
In telephone networks having a population of—
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For each half mile or portion thereof by which the public telephone is beyond 2 miles radially from the Exchange to which it is connected, an additional sum of 10s. Provided, however, that where the estimated revenue is less than the required amount, public telephones will be opened upon a guarantee being given by the persons concerned to pay annually to the Postmaster-General the difference between the actual revenue and the required revenue.
(8) A public telephone will be provided at a cab rank, where required, on the understanding that if a minimum revenue of £5 per annum be not derived from the use of the telephone, the instrument will be removed. Any cab proprietor or driver using the cab rank so connected shall be entitled to use the telephone upon payment of the prescribed fee for each call he makes; and no preference, whether for inward or outward messages, shall be given to any cab proprietor or driver using that cab rank. This Regulation shall not apply to any telephone at a cab rank the annual fee for which is paid by a municipal council.
(9) Revenue or estimated revenue in this regulation means the revenue to be retained by the Department after payment of allowances (if any) to be made to the owner or occupier of the premises finding accommodation for the telephone, or after payment of the cost, or estimated cost (if any) of providing light for the public telephone.
48. (1) A person (other than an officer of the Department acting in course of his duty) shall not use any public telephone without having first paid the prescribed fee for the use of the telephone.
(2) Any person who uses, or attempts to obtain the use of, any public telephone contrary to this Regulation shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding Five pounds.
PART V.—TELEPHONES TO STEAM-SHIPS OR WHARVES.
49. (1) Telephones to Steam-ships or Wharves will be provided upon the terms shown in Part I. of these Regulations, and subject to the following conditions:—
(
(
(
(
(2) Public Telephones will be provided on wharves on the terms shown in Part IV. of these Regulations.
PART VI.—TELEPHONE JUNCTION AND TRUNK LINES.
50. (1) Junction lines are those lines which join one Telephone Exchange with another, and which junction lines do not extend beyond ten (10) miles radially from the Central Telephone Exchange in the case of telephone networks of cities or towns having a population of more than 10,000 resident within ten (10) miles radially from the Central Telephone Exchange, nor five (5) miles in the case of other networks or Exchanges.
(2) Where the said radial distance from a Central Telephone Exchange includes part of a town or municipality, but does not include the principal post-office of the town or municipality, but the distance of that post office from the Central Telephone Exchange from which the said radial distance is measured does not exceed the said radial distance by more than half-a-mile, the line connecting a Telephone Exchange located at the post-office with the Central Telephone Exchange shall be considered to be a junction line.
(3) Those lines may be used by subscribers without extra charge, but no subscriber shall be allowed to use any junction line for more than five minutes at one time. Any person exceeding this limit may be disconnected if there be other applicants waiting to use the line. Subscribers shall be connected, as far as possible, in order of application.
51. (1) Lines joining two separate towns, or lines joining Exchanges other than those specified in the last preceding Regulation, are classed as trunk lines, and their use shall be charged for as provided hereunder the charges being calculated upon the actual length of trunk line used:—
—— | Between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. | Between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. | ||||||||||||
First three minutes. | Every additional three minutes. | First three minutes. | Every additional three minutes. | |||||||||||
| 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||
Exceeding 15 but not exceeding 20 miles................ | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||
,, | 20 | ,, | ,, | 25 | ,, | ................ | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
„ | 25 | ,, | ,, | 35 | ,, | ................ | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
,, | 35 | ,, | ,, | 50 | ,, | ................ | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
,, | 50 | ,, | ,, | 75 | ,, | ................ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
„ | 75 | ,, | ,, | 100 | ,, | ................ | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
,, | 100 | ,, | ,, | 150 | ,, | ................ | 1 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
,, | 150 | ,, | ,, | 200 | ,, | ................ | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
„ | 200 | ,, | ,, | 250 | ,, | ................ | 2 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
„ | 250 | ,, | ,, | 300 | ,, | ................ | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
,, | 300 | ,, | ,, | 350 | ,, | ................ | 3 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 5 |
„ | 350 | ,, | ,, | 400 | ,, | ................ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
The charges for the use of the telephone trunk line between Sydney and Melbourne shall be:—
For conversations between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.—5s. per 3 minutes or part of 3 minutes.
For conversations after 7 p. m. and before 8 a.m.—2s. 6d. per 3 minutes or part of 3 minutes.
For Press conversations when the line is not otherwise engaged—2s. 6d. per 3 minutes or part of 3 minutes.
(2) No conversation to exceed 6 minutes if any other person is waiting to converse.
(3) When a public telephone is used for the purpose of conversing over a trunk line, the fee for the use of the trunk line only is to be charged.
(4) Where two towns are connected by telephone trunk lines, and are not more than one mile beyond the mileage fixed by this Regulation for the various rates, the additional distance is not to be taken into consideration, and conversations between those places are to be charged for as if they were within the limit.
52. (1) Subscribers to Telephone Exchanges may use the trunk lines, when required, by paying the trunk line fees prescribed by Regulation 51. Trunk line calls made by any subscriber shall be recorded and included inthe subscriber’s half-yearly account for calls, prescribed by Regulation 5 (3) provided that the total fees for such trunk line calls do not exceed Ten shillings in any half-yearly accounting period. If the subscriber’s estimated requirements in respect of trunk line calls for any half-yearly accounting period exceed Ten shillings, a sum of money equal to the-subscriber’s estimated requirements for one month, but not less than Five-shillings, shall be deposited by the subscriber in advance. Accounts concerning the expenditure of money so deposited shall be rendered monthly, reimbursements must be made promptly, and, when notification has been made that an advance has been exhausted, no connexion will be made until the advance has been renewed.
(2) No person to be allowed the use of the trunk line for more than sixminutes consecutively, if other applicants are waiting to use it; but if the line be disengaged an extension of time will be granted on payment of the additional fee for every three minutes or portion thereof.
(3) In cases where the line is engaged, applications will be registered, and connexions will be made in the order of priority of application.
(4) Applications for conversations over any trunk line will be receiver at any time during the day on which the conversations are desired, but the calls shall take their turn as though made at the time at which the conversation is desired.
53. (1) The charges prescribed by this part of these Regulations only shall be made for calls over trunk lines.
(2) Calls over trunk lines or from public telephones will be considered effective, and the time will be calculated from the moment that the number called has answered.
(3) The Department cannot guarantee the attendance of any particular person desired at the number asked for, but all reasonable efforts will be made to obtain the attendance of a particular person at the number asked for if the calling subscriber makes the request at the time he asks for the use of the trunk line.
(4) If any person desires that a Messenger shall be sent to call any non-subscriber or other person to speak over any Trunk line, the service will be performed on payment of the following charges in addition to any other charges for the use of the Trunk line :—
(
a )For a Messenger sent to call to the telephone any person who resides within the usual radius of free delivery of telegrams. 3d.(
b )For a Messenger sent to call to the telephone any person who resides beyond the radius of free delivery of telegrams, in addition to the fee of 3d., the usual porterage fees charged for the delivery of telegrams shall be made.
At offices where Messengers are not
provided by the Department, the services specified in sub-sections (
Press Rates.
54. (1) When Telephone Trunk Lines are used for conversations in the nature of press telegrams, as defined in the Telegraph Regulations under the head of “Telegrams within the Commonwealth—Press Telegrams,” the charge for such use during any hour the Trunk Line is open for public business shall be as follows :—
Distance. | Rates for five minutes’ conversation. | ||
| 0 | 4 | |
| 0 | 6 | |
| 0 | 9 | |
| 1 | 1 | |
| 1 | 5 | |
| 1 | 9 | |
| 2 | 1 | |
Provided that conversations paid for at full rates shall in all cases take precedence over those paid for at press rates; that is, no conversation to be paid for at press rates shall be allowed to commence, or having commenced, shall be allowed to extend beyond the period then current, if any person is waiting to use the lines on payment of full rates.
(2) Where two towns are connected by telephone trunk lines, and are not more than one mile beyond the mileage fixed by this Regulation for the various rates, the additional distance is not to be taken into consideration, and conversations between those places are to be charged for as if they were within the limit.
PART VII.—USE OF SUBSCRIBERS’ TELEPHONES BY THE PUBLIC.
55. Any subscriber to a Telephone Exchange who pays the rates prescribed by Regulation 5 may place his telephone at the service of the public. Provided that subscribers for telephone services connecting with places situated beyond the limits of the network of the Exchange to which the service is connected, shall not grant the use of the service to any other person except in cases of emergency, unless with the consent of, and upon terms approved by, the Postmaster-General.
56. (1) The subscribers may provide and exhibit a plain and legible notice in a prominent position on his premises indicating that the telephone is available for public use: Provided that, except as provided by sub-clause (2) of this Regulation, no notice or sign intimating that a telephone is available for public use shall be exhibited on or about the premises of any hotel, public house, or place licensed for the sale of intoxicating beverages.
(2)The subscriber may also exhibit on a coin receptacle placed near to the telephone a notice requesting the public using the instrument to place be coin in the receptacle provided by him for the purpose.
57. A charge of one penny for each conversation of three minutes, or part of three minutes, may be made by the subscriber for all calls within the network, and the money may be retained by him. The charges for each such call will be made by the Department against the subscriber at the rates prescribed by Regulation 5.
58. (1) Charges for conversations over trunk lines from any subscriber’s telephone available for use by the public shall be collected from the user by the subscriber, and be paid to the Department by the subscriber without any deduction.
(2) The subscriber may also charge the user the fee prescribed by Regulation 57.
(3) The subscriber shall pay to the Department all charges, including trunk line charges, payable to it in respect of all calls made over the telephone whether he has collected those charges or not.*
PART VIII—FIRE BRIGADE LINES.
59. Ordinary Exchange rates, less 25 per centum, shall be charged for rented Fire Brigade lines, and any additional instruments used thereon, which are connected with Exchanges for ordinary conversations. The Fire Brigades shall be allowed to use their own instruments if of a type approved by the Deputy Postmaster-General. Instruments provided by-Fire Brigades under this Regulation shall be maintained by and at the expense of the Fire Brigades.
60. (1) In the case of Fire Brigade lines, an annual rental shall be charged at the rate of 25s. per mile or part thereof, on the aggregate total length of the lines rented.
(2)In this Regulation Fire Brigade lines include only the following lines:—
(
a )Lines which connect the Fire Brigade Station with an Exchange and which are used for fire alarm purposes only;(
b )Lines which connect any one Fire Brigade Station with any other Fire Brigade Station under the same management or with the residence of any officer of the Fire Brigade, and which are used for Fire Brigade purposes only; and(
c )Lines which connect a Fire Brigade Station with any fire alarm point where an instrument is available to the public to transmit fire alarms to the Fire Brigade Station.
61. Where the cost of construction of Fire Brigade lines has been paid for by the Fire Brigades, existing arrangements may continue as regards those lines, if so desired by the Fire Brigades, and the maintenance fee shall be 15s. per annum per mile of circuit (exclusive of instruments), or portion thereof. New lines must be rented, in accordance with Part VIII. of these Regulations.
62. The instruments for non-exchange Fire Brigade lines may be supplied either by the Fire Brigade, at their own cost, or by the Postmaster-General, at the cost of the Fire Brigades, as may be agreed on.
63. Rented Fire Brigade lines shall be subject to the general provision of Part I. of these Regulations, where they do not conflict with Part VIII.
(7) The necessary instruments will be provided by the Department.
C.17445. B
PART XIX.—MISCELLANEOUS.
Temporary Telephonic Communication.
113. In cases where temporary telephonic communication is required at rifle-ranges, cricket matches, races, or other public gatherings, such communication will be provided by the Postmaster-General under the following conditions:—The cost of connecting and dismantling the telephone service to be paid for by the associations or persons requiring the same, which cost shall include only labour, perishable material, and any special line construction, but shall not include the cost of instruments.
In addition to which the following charges shall be payable :—
(
a )If the telephones are used without Exchange service, 10s. per month or portion thereof up to six months, for each set of telephones used.(
b )If the telephones are connected with any public Telephone Exchange, the rates prescribed by Part IV. or Part VI. of these Regulations.
Provided,
however, that the charge mentioned in (
Transaction of Business after Usual Office Hours.
114. (1) Arrangements may be made to keep any official or semi-official Office open for the transmission of telephone messages after the ordinary business hours, upon notice being given to the Officer in Charge at least one hour before the ordinary time of closing, and upon payment of a deposit of 2s.6d. for the first hour or portion thereof, and 1s. 6d. for every subsequent hour or portion thereof, during which it is desired the office shall be kept open. If more than one office is so kept open, these fees shall be payable in respect of each office. All telephone messages transmitted must be paid for at the usual rates.
(2) In cases of a specially urgent nature where it is not possible to give the notice stipulated in the preceding paragraph, telephone messages may be transmitted after the ordinary business hours, provided the attention of the officer in charge of the office with which it is desired to transact business can be obtained. The charges for this service will be the same as indicated in paragraph (1).
(3) Only the person who pays for keeping an office open after the ordinary business hours is entitled to transact business during such special attendance. Should any other person desire to transact business at such times, he may do so on payment of the above-mentioned charges
(4) Similar arrangements may be made at allowance post-offices in cases where the postmasters are willing to give the necessary attendance, on payment of a fee not exceeding 1s. for each thirty minutes or portion thereof during which it is desired that the office shall be kept open, in addition to the ordinary departmental charges for the transmission of telephone messages.
General.
115. Amendments may from time to time be made to the Regulations, and amendments so made may be made applicable to the services established before the commencement of those amendments, as well as to services established after the commencement of those amendments.
116. On being given a telephone service subscribers shall, in all cases, be deemed to have agreed to be bound by the several provisions of the Regulations in force from time to time.
117. (1) In any case where it is desired or proposed to open a Telephone Exchange, full particulars should be furnished to the Deputy Postmaster-General as to—
(
a ) The number of persons who propose to join the Exchange.(
b ) The points to be connected, with radial distance from the post-office.(
c )Information respecting any portion of the lines which can be erected by the applicants in conformity with the Regulations.(
d ) Any further information required by the Deputy Postmaster-General.
(2) Upon receipt of the required information, the Postmaster-General will determine whether the Exchange is to be opened, and, if so, under what conditions and rates.
Repeal.
118.Except so far as the
contrary intention appears in these Regulations, all previous Regulations
relating to telephonic and other like services made under the
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
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