STATUTORY RULES.
1916. No. 157.
REGULATION UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1916.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the undermentioned amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twenty-sixth day of July, One thousand nine hundred and sixteen.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
WILLIAM WEBSTER,
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348, as amended by Statutory Rules 1915, No. 241.)
Sub-regulation (1) of Regulation 378 is repealed, and the following sub-regulation is inserted in its stead:—
Transaction of business after usual Office Hours.
378 (1) Arrangements may be made to keep any official or semi-official office open for the transmission or receipt of telegrams 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 fee of Two shillings and Sixpence for the first hour, or portion thereof, and One shilling and Sixpence 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 telegrams transmitted must be paid for at the usual rates:
Provided that the proprietor of a newspaper shall not be called upon to pay any fee for keeping a telegraph office open on any Sunday, or public holiday, in cases where the telegraphic business of such newspaper on that day amounts to One pound Ton shillings in value, and where the opening of only one office is required. If the opening of more than one office is required, the fees prescribed by this Regulation shall be paid in respect of each additional office.
Printed and Published for the government of the commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.9356.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1916, No. 157, enacted under the authority of the Governor-General in Council, amend the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913. This legislative instrument addresses the need for flexible operational hours for official and semi-official offices in handling telegrams beyond the usual business hours. The regulation introduces new fees for extended operation hours and provides an exemption for newspaper proprietors under specific conditions. The objective is to facilitate urgent communications while ensuring the financial implications for extended service hours are clearly defined.
This amendment was made to refine the operational procedures of telegraph offices under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, enhancing the capacity for time-sensitive communications during non-standard hours, whilst also considering the financial burden on stakeholders. The regulation was issued by the Commonwealth of Australia and is intended to provide a clear framework for extended operations of telegraph offices, balancing the needs of communication with fiscal responsibility.
Scope and Application
The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916 applies to any official or semi-official office that wishes to transmit or receive telegrams outside of the usual business hours. This is applicable to all offices across the Commonwealth of Australia and is regulated by the Postmaster-General. The Regulation sets out the fee structure for keeping an office open after hours, with Two shillings and Sixpence for the first hour, and One shilling and Sixpence for every subsequent hour. It also provides an exemption for newspaper proprietors from paying fees if their telegraphic business on a Sunday or public holiday amounts to One pound Ten shillings in value and only one office is required to be kept open. The Regulation is applicable to all official and semi-official offices across the Commonwealth of Australia, and it can be amended through subordinate instruments as necessary.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of this amended regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916 are outlined in Regulation 378, which deals with the arrangements for keeping offices open for telegram transmission or receipt beyond usual office hours. Specifically, sub-regulation (1) states that any official or semi-official office can be kept open for such purposes, provided that notice is given to the officer in charge at least one hour before the ordinary closing time and a fee is paid (Section 378(1)). The fee is set at Two shillings and Sixpence for the first hour or part thereof, and One shilling and Sixpence for each additional hour or part thereof. If more than one office is kept open, these fees must be paid for each office.
The obligations imposed by this regulation primarily concern the timely notification and payment of fees for extended office hours. Offices wishing to remain open beyond the usual hours must provide at least one hour's notice to the officer in charge and must pay the stipulated fees for each hour the office remains open (Section 378(1)). This regulation also includes a special provision for newspaper proprietors, who are exempt from paying fees if the telegraphic business on a Sunday or public holiday amounts to One pound Ten shillings in value, and only one office needs to be kept open (Section 378(1), provided).
Offences and penalties for non-compliance with this regulation are not explicitly detailed within the text provided, but the regulation’s framework implies that failure to provide notice or pay the requisite fees could result in legal consequences. The regulation does not specify particular penalties, but it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance might lead to administrative actions or fines under the broader authority of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916. Given the context and the nature of such regulatory provisions, any breach could potentially incur administrative penalties or other sanctions as determined by the relevant authorities.