Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 (Amendment)

Overview

The Post and Telegraph Regulations Amendment (No. 1) 1917 (C1917L00027) was enacted by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916. The objective of these amended regulations was to address a gap in the existing postal services, particularly concerning the transmission of printed circulars that were previously restricted in their format and method of production. The policy objective was to streamline and modernise postal regulations to better accommodate the evolving needs of businesses and individuals in communicating through printed materials. This amendment allowed for circulars produced by typewriters or mechanical processes to be sent at a reduced rate, provided they were posted in a specific manner and quantity, thus facilitating more efficient communication and reducing costs for the senders.

Scope and Application

The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916, specifically Statutory Rules 1917, No. 27, pertain to the modification of existing postal regulations to accommodate the transmission of certain printed materials at reduced postage rates. These Regulations apply to circulars that meet specific criteria, namely those printed or lithographed in characters resembling typewriter text or produced by mechanical means from written or typewritten originals, provided they are handed in at a post office counter and at least twenty identical copies are posted simultaneously. The sender must mark each cover with "20 posted," unless the copies are posted prepaid in cash under Regulation 112. These provisions apply across the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby extending the geographic reach of the Act to all states and territories under federal jurisdiction. This amendment replaces the previous Regulation 32 of the Post and Telegraph Regulations, 1913, and introduces a new set of rules that aim to streamline the transmission of specific printed materials at the "printed papers" rate of postage.

Key Provisions

The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916, specifically the amendment to Regulation 32, outline the conditions under which circulars can be treated as printed papers. Regulation 32 now specifies that circulars printed or lithographed in characters resembling those of a typewriter, or produced by any mechanical process from written or typewritten originals, can be transmitted at the 'printed papers' rate of postage (Regulation 32(1)). To qualify, these circulars must be handed in at a post office counter and at least twenty identical copies must be posted simultaneously (Regulation 32(2)). Each cover must be clearly marked by the sender with "20 posted," unless the quantities are posted prepaid in cash under Regulation 112 (Regulation 32(3)). These Regulations impose several obligations on the parties involved. Senders of circulars must ensure that they meet the criteria set out in Regulation 32, such as the use of specific printing or lithographic methods and the simultaneous posting of identical copies. Furthermore, they must correctly mark the covers as required by Regulation 32(3) unless using prepaid postage. Non-compliance with these conditions could result in the circulars being charged at a higher postal rate. Breaching the conditions outlined in the Regulations could lead to civil or administrative consequences. If circulars do not meet the specified criteria, they may be charged at a higher postal rate, which could result in additional costs for the sender. While the Regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, failure to adhere to postal regulations can have financial implications for the sender. The Regulations focus on ensuring compliance with the defined terms to facilitate efficient postal services and avoid mischarging.