POST AND TELEGRAPH RATES.
No. 66 of 1956.
An Act to amend the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1951.
[Assented to 28th September, 1956.]
BE it enacted by the Queen’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 1956.
(2.) The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1951 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 1902–1956.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the first day of October, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-six.
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.......................... | Fourpence for the first ounce or part of an ounce, and Twopence half-penny for each additional ounce or part of an ounce |
Post Cards................................... | Fourpence each |
Second Class Mail Matter— | |
(a) Commercial papers, patterns, samples and merchandise, as prescribed | Threepence half-penny for the first two ounces or part of two ounces, and Twopence 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 | Threepence half-penny for the first four ounces or part of four ounces, and Twopence 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 | Twopence half-penny for the first six ounces or part of six ounces, and Twopence for each additional 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 | Twopence per twelve ounces or part of twelve ounces. |
Second Schedule, Part I.
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 twelve words | Two shillings and ninepence | Three shillings |
For each additional word............ | Threepence.......... | Threepence |
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 1901–1950, to be transmitted before other telegrams.
The rates specified in this Part are exclusive of porterage charges.
Second Schedule, Part III.
5. The Second Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by omitting Part III. and inserting in its stead the following Part:—
Part III.—Broadcasting and Television Telegrams, as Prescribed.
Telegrams, accepted for transmission subject to the prescribed conditions—the same rates as are specified in Part II. of this Schedule.
Second Schedule, Part VI.
6. The Second Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by omitting Part VI.
Overview
The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1956 was enacted to amend the existing Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1951. This legislative update aimed to revise the rates for postal services and telegraph transmissions, reflecting changes in economic conditions and service demands since the original enactment. Enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Act sought to address the problem of outdated postal and telegraph rates, ensuring they aligned with contemporary postal service costs and usage patterns. The policy objective of this amendment was to provide a more accurate and equitable pricing structure for postal services and telegrams, facilitating efficient communication and postal service operations across the country.
Scope and Application
The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1956 applies to the rates for postal and telegraph services provided across the Commonwealth of Australia. It amends the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1951, which sets the rates for various mail services and telegrams. The Act specifies the costs associated with different types of mail, such as letters, postcards, and various classes of mail matter, as well as the rates for ordinary and urgent telegrams. The rates outlined in the Act apply to all entities and persons utilising postal and telegraph services within Australia, encompassing both commercial and personal communications. The geographic reach of this Act is national, applying uniformly across the entire Commonwealth. The Act does not explicitly mention any exclusions or exemptions, implying that the prescribed rates apply universally unless otherwise specified in subordinate instruments or amendments. Any further specifications or modifications to the rates and conditions of service may be detailed in subordinate legislation, thereby extending or restricting the application of this Act as necessary.
Key Provisions
The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1956 amends the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1951, introducing new postal and telegraph rates that came into effect on 1 October 1956. The Act revises the rates for various types of mail and telegrams. For instance, letters and letter cards are now charged at fourpence for the first ounce and two and a half pence for each additional ounce (Section 3, First Schedule). Post cards are uniformly charged at fourpence each. Second-class mail, which includes commercial papers, patterns, samples, and merchandise, is charged at three and a half pence for the first two ounces and two pence for each additional two ounces (Section 3, First Schedule). Printed matter such as circulars and catalogues is charged at three and a half pence for the first four ounces and two pence for each additional four ounces.
Entities and individuals utilizing postal services are required to adhere to these newly established rates. They must ensure that their mail is correctly classified and appropriately charged according to weight and type. For telegrams, ordinary telegrams are charged at two shillings and nine pence between offices not more than fifteen miles apart and three shillings between offices more than fifteen miles apart, with additional charges for each word over twelve (Section 4, Second Schedule). Urgent telegrams and those on the public service, which must be transmitted before other telegrams, are charged double the ordinary rates (Section 4, Second Schedule). Broadcasters and television services are subject to the same rates as ordinary telegrams but under prescribed conditions (Section 5, Second Schedule).
Failure to comply with the specified rates or to correctly classify and charge mail and telegrams can result in legal consequences. The Act does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, but it implies that adherence to the set rates is mandatory. Breaches of these provisions could potentially lead to fines or other administrative actions as stipulated by related legislation or postal regulations. The precise penalties would depend on the specific context and any additional applicable laws.