POST AND TELEGRAPH RATES.
No. 28 of 1950.
An Act to amend the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1949.
[Assented to 28th November, 1950.]
BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—
Short title and citation.
1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1950.
(2.) The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1949 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.
(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1950.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and fifty.
First Schedule.
3. The First Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by omitting Part II. and inserting in its stead the following Part:—
“Part II.
Letters and Letter Cards........................ | Threepence for the first ounce or part of an ounce, and twopence halfpenny for each additional ounce or part of an ounce |
Post Cards................................. Second Class Mail Matter— | Twopence half-penny each |
(a) Commercial papers, patterns, samples and merchandise, as prescribed | Twopence for the first two ounces or part of two ounces, and one penny half-penny for each additional two ounces or part of two ounces |
(b) Printed matter (including printed papers, circulars and catalogues, and books, periodicals and newspapers not registered at a General Post Office), as prescribed | Twopence for the first four ounces or part of four ounces, and one penny half-penny for each additional four ounces or part of four ounces |
Third Class Mail Matter (comprising books registered at a General Post Office and periodicals and newspapers registered at a General Post Office posted otherwise than as specified in Part I. of this Schedule), as prescribed | One penny half-penny per six ounces or part of six ounces |
Hansard, that is, reports of Parliamentary debates printed and published by the authority of the Commonwealth or of a State | One penny half-penny per twelve ounces or part of twelve ounces”. |
Second Schedule.
4. The Second Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by omitting Part I. and inserting in its stead the following Part:—
“Part I.—Ordinary Telegrams.
— | Between offices which are not more than fifteen miles apart. | Between offices which are more than fifteen miles apart. |
Including address and signature— | | |
Not exceeding fourteen words | One shilling and ninepence | Two shillings |
Each additional word......... | One penny half-penny..... | One penny half-penny |
Double the foregoing rates shall be charged for the transmission of—
(a) urgent telegrams; and
(b) telegrams on the public service when required, under section ninety-five of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1949, to be transmitted before other telegrams.
The rates specified in this Part are exclusive of porterage charges.”.
Overview
The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1950, enacted by the Parliament of Australia on 28 November 1950, was designed to amend the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1949. This legislation aimed to update and revise the rates for postal and telegraphic services in response to changing economic conditions and technological advancements. The Act sought to provide clearer and more structured guidelines for the pricing of postal and telegraphic services, ensuring that they remained fair and accessible to the public while reflecting the operational costs of the postal and telegraph services. The revised rates outlined in the Act, as detailed in the First and Second Schedules, were intended to streamline the postal and telegraphic services and ensure they met the needs of the evolving Australian society during the post-World War II period.
Scope and Application
The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1950 applies to the rates for postal and telegraphic services across the Commonwealth of Australia, as amendments to the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1949. This Act sets forth the rates for various categories of mail and telegrams, including letters, postcards, and different classes of mail matter, as well as the rates for ordinary and urgent telegrams. The rates specified under this Act are exclusive of any porterage charges. The Act applies to all individuals and entities utilising postal and telegraphic services within Australia. It does not explicitly mention any exclusions or exemptions but implies that the rates apply universally to all eligible services unless otherwise specified by subordinate instruments or regulations. The amendments made by this Act take effect from the first day of December 1950 and continue to be in force unless further altered by subsequent legislation.
Key Provisions
The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1950 primarily serves to amend the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1949 by introducing new rates for various postal and telegraph services. Section 1 of the Act establishes its short title and citation, while Section 2 specifies that the Act comes into operation on the first day of December, 1950. The First Schedule (Section 3) revises the postal rates, detailing new charges for letters, postcards, commercial papers, printed matter, books, periodicals, and Hansard. For instance, letters now cost threepence for the first ounce and twopence halfpenny for each additional ounce, while postcards are set at twopence halfpenny each. The Second Schedule (Section 4) updates the rates for telegrams, distinguishing between ordinary telegrams and those that are urgent or on the public service, with additional charges specified for each category.
The Act imposes obligations on postal and telegraph service providers to adhere to the new rates outlined in the schedules. Service providers must ensure that all postal and telegraphic communications are charged according to the newly specified rates, and must accurately bill customers accordingly. Additionally, the Act requires that any changes to the rates be communicated effectively to the public and relevant stakeholders to avoid confusion or disputes over charges.
Failure to comply with the new rates set forth in the Act may result in legal consequences. Although the Act does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, breaches of postal and telegraph regulations typically result in civil or criminal penalties under related Acts, such as the Crimes Act 1914. For instance, providing postal services at incorrect rates could be seen as fraudulent activity, potentially leading to fines or imprisonment under the general fraud provisions. Similarly, failure to charge the correct telegraph rates could also lead to criminal charges under relevant sections of the Crimes Act. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances of the breach and any applicable laws at the time.