STATUTORY RULES.
1905. No. 25.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE " POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901."
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and aver the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the attached Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, namely :—
BURGLAR ALARMS,
should come into immediate operation, and make the Regulations to come into operation forthwith as Provisional Regulations.
Dated this twenty-ninth day of March, One thousand nine hundred and five.
NORTHCOTE,
Governor-General.
SYDNEY SMITH,
By His Excellency's Command.
REGULATIONS RELATING TO BURGLAR ALARMS.
1. Applications for Burglar Alarm connections between any two or more points named by those desiring the service must be made in writing to the Deputy Postmaster-General, from whom all particulars relating to the system can be obtained. The nature of the service required must be stated by the applicant.
2. All lines and apparatus in connection with the Burglar Alarms will be erected and supplied, as well as maintained, by the Postmaster-General, and will be his property.
3. The rates payable (in advance) for the service shall be as follows:—
For each quarter-mile of line or portion thereof up to one mile........ | £1 5s. per annum. |
For each half-mile of line or portion thereof over one mile........... | £1 5s. per annum. |
For each set of apparatus at the place protected :— | |
Type A.......................................... | £1 per annum. |
Type B.......................................... | £1 per annum. |
For each set of apparatus at the protecting point :— | |
Type A.......................................... | £1 per annum. |
Type B.......................................... | £$ per annum. |
The type of apparatus to be used can be selected by the subscriber.
4. The lines and apparatus must be rented for a term of not less than three years.
5. In the event of one of the points to be connected being a Police Station, the written consent of the local police authorities must be obtained and furnished to the Deputy Postmaster-General by the applicant.
6. The Postmaster-General does not guarantee the efficiency of any service supplied or maintained under these regulations, and neither the Postmaster-General nor the Commonwealth shall have any liability in respect of any defect or want of efficiency in the line, apparatus, or service.
By Authority : ROBT S. Brain, Government Printer, Melbourne.
Overview
The Provisional Regulations under the "Post and Telegraph Act 1901," specifically the "Regulations Relating to Burglar Alarms," were enacted in 1905 to address the need for a structured system of burglar alarm services in Australia. This legislative instrument was introduced by the Federal Executive Council with the aim of providing a formalised and regulated framework for the installation, maintenance, and operation of burglar alarms across various points, including police stations, under the authority of the Postmaster-General. The policy objective was to ensure that such services were provided in a manner that maintained the efficiency and reliability of the existing postal and telegraph infrastructure while clearly delineating the responsibilities and liabilities of all parties involved.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 pertain specifically to the provision of burglar alarm services within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations apply to any individual or entity seeking to establish a burglar alarm connection between specified points, necessitating a written application to the Deputy Postmaster-General. The regulations delineate that all lines and apparatus related to the burglar alarm service are to be erected, supplied, and maintained by the Postmaster-General, who retains ownership of these assets. Furthermore, the rates for the service are outlined, with different charges applicable based on the length of the line and the type of apparatus selected by the subscriber. Notably, the lines and apparatus must be rented for a minimum term of three years, and if one of the connection points is a police station, the applicant must obtain written consent from the local police authorities. It is important to highlight that the Postmaster-General does not guarantee the efficiency of the service provided, and neither the Postmaster-General nor the Commonwealth bears any liability for any defects or inefficiencies in the service, lines, or apparatus.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 (C2004L09739) concern the application process for burglar alarm connections (section 1), the responsibility for the erection, supply, and maintenance of the burglar alarm lines and apparatus (section 2), the payment of rates for the service (section 3), the requirement for a minimum rental term of three years (section 4), the necessity of obtaining consent from local police authorities if one of the connection points is a police station (section 5), and the disclaimer of liability for the efficiency of the service provided (section 6).
Under these regulations, parties interested in establishing a burglar alarm system must submit a written application to the Deputy Postmaster-General, detailing the nature of the service required and the specific points to be connected (section 1). The Postmaster-General assumes full responsibility for the construction, supply, and maintenance of the burglar alarm lines and apparatus (section 2). The costs for the service are outlined in the regulations, with rates varying based on the length of the line and the type of apparatus used (section 3). The burglar alarm system must be rented for a minimum term of three years (section 4). If one of the points of connection is a police station, written consent from the local police authorities must be obtained and provided to the Deputy Postmaster-General (section 5). It is important to note that the Postmaster-General and the Commonwealth are not liable for any defects or inefficiencies in the service provided (section 6).
Violation of these regulations may lead to civil or criminal consequences, although the specific penalties are not detailed within the text. The regulations do not explicitly state penalties for breaches, but breaches of postal or telegraph regulations can generally result in fines or other legal repercussions under the broader legislative framework. The maximum penalties would depend on the specific breach and any relevant statutes or subsidiary legislation.