Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 (Amendment)

Legislation au C1927L00032 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1927. No. 32.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1923.

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 Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, to come into operation on and from 1st May, 1927.

Dated this eighteenth day of April, 1927.

stonehaven,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

W. G. GIBSON,

Postmaster-General.

 

Amendment of Post and Telegraph Regulations.

(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348, as amended to this date.)

1. Regulation 337 is amended—

(a) By omitting the figures “100” wherever occurring and inserting in their stead the figures “50”;

(b) By omitting the figure “4” in sub-regulation (4) and inserting in its stead the figure “5”.

2. Regulation 342 is omitted and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

342. (1) Telegraphic inquiries of any nature concerning telegrams and the replies thereto shall, subject to the provisions of this regulation, be paid for by the person requesting that such inquiries be made.

(2) The addressee or the sender of a telegram may have the whole or part of it repeated on payment of the cost of the telegram requesting the repetition and of the reply.

Provided that where the addressee of a telegram requests a repetition with the object of having errors or supposed errors in the telegram rectified, and such addressee is known to the postmaster or officer in charge, he may have the whole or part of the telegram repeated upon signing an undertaking to pay the cost of the telegram requesting the repetition and the reply thereto in the event of no error having been made by the telegraph service. Upon demand, the person signing the undertaking shall forthwith pay to the Postmaster-General the charges guaranteed to be paid.

(3) If the repetition shows that an error was made in the transmission of the original telegram any money paid for the repetition shall be refunded.

(4) No refund of any charges paid for the repetition shall be made if in the transmission of the original telegram no error was made, or if the error or errors made were due to a word or words being written by the sender in a doubtful manner.

(5) No refunds shall be made in respect of rectifying telegrams which instead of being exchanged between the telegraph offices as paid service advices are exchanged direct between sender and addressee.

3. Regulation 358 is repealed.

4. Regulation 360 is omitted, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—


360. (1) A telegram may, on the written request of the addresses or his representative be re-directed and re-transmitted from one office to another office within the Commonwealth on the addressee or his representative giving a written undertaking to pay the prescribed charges.

(2) Where notice that re-direction is required has not been given prior to the receipt of the telegram, the charges for retransmission shall be at the usual rates for telegrams from the office re-transmitting the telegram to the new office of destination.

(3) Where notice that re-direction is required has been given prior to the receipt of the telegram, the charges for re-transmission shall be at the usual rates for telegrams from the office retransmitting the telegram to the new office of destination, less threepence.

(4) The charges prescribed for re-transmission must be paid before the telegram in delivered.

5. Regulation 363 is omitted and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

363. (1) If re-transmission is not involved, no extra charge shall be made for re-direction of a telegram from one address to another Where re-transmission is involved Regulation 360 shall apply.

(2) Notices of removal, and instructions, in writing, respecting the delivery of telegrams at hours when the addressee’s place of business is closed shall be registered free of charge.

6. Regulation 388 is omitted, and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

388. (1) The charge for re-direction of a telegram to a new address within the Commonwealth, when re-transmission is involved, shall be—

(a) Where notice that re-direction is required has not been given prior to the receipt of the telegram, at the usual rates for telegrams from the office re-transmitting the telegram to the new office of destination.

(b) Where notice that re-direction is required has been given prior to the receipt of the telegram, at the usual rates for telegrams from the office re-transmitting the telegram to the new office of destination, less threepence.

(2) If re-transmission is not involved no extra charge shall be made for re-direction of a telegram from one address to another in the same metropolitan or town area.

 

 

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by H. J. Green, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

 

Overview

The Post and Telegraph Regulations 1927 were enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, addressing gaps in the previous regulations that needed adjustments to ensure efficient and effective management of postal and telegraph services. These regulations were made by the Governor-General in Council, under the authority granted by the Post and Telegraph Act. The primary objective of these amendments was to refine the operational details of telegraphic services, including adjustments to fees and the procedures for handling inquiries and errors in telegram transmissions, ensuring that the postal and telegraph services could continue to meet the needs of the public with clear and updated guidelines.

Scope and Application

The amended Post and Telegraph Regulations 1927, made under the authority of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, apply to the Commonwealth of Australia, governing the delivery and transmission of telegrams within its jurisdiction. The regulations pertain to the conduct and transactions involving the re-direction and re-transmission of telegrams, as well as the fees associated with these services. Notably, the regulations cover the payment for inquiries about telegrams and the costs for repeating or re-directing telegrams, including scenarios where errors are identified or rectified. The regulations specify the fees based on whether prior notice of re-direction is provided and whether re-transmission is involved, with differential rates applied accordingly. Additionally, the regulations set out conditions for refunds when errors are detected in the original telegram transmission. These amendments and regulations ensure that the costs and procedures for handling telegrams are clearly defined and uniformly applied across the Commonwealth.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of these amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 include modifications to the figures and charges associated with telegram services. Regulation 337 is amended to reduce the figures from "100" to "50" and from "4" to "5" in sub-regulation (4) (paragraph 1). Regulation 342 introduces a new provision that telegraphic inquiries and their replies are to be paid for by the person making the inquiry, with certain conditions for repeat transmission to rectify errors (paragraph 2). It also specifies the circumstances under which refunds may be made for errors in transmission (paragraphs 3 to 5). Regulation 358 is repealed entirely, while Regulation 360 is replaced with a new provision that allows telegrams to be re-directed and re-transmitted within the Commonwealth, subject to payment of prescribed charges (paragraph 1). It also differentiates between charges based on whether notice of re-direction was given before or after the telegram is received (paragraphs 2 and 3) and specifies that charges must be paid before delivery (paragraph 4). Regulation 363 clarifies that no extra charge will be made for re-direction if re-transmission is not involved, though Regulation 360 applies if it is (paragraph 1). It also allows free registration of written notices and instructions for telegram delivery during non-business hours (paragraph 2). Finally, Regulation 388 replaces the old regulation with a new one that specifies the charges for re-direction of a telegram to a new address within the Commonwealth, depending on whether notice of re-direction was given before or after receipt (paragraph 1) and states that no extra charge will be made for re-direction if re-transmission is not involved (paragraph 2). The obligations imposed by these Regulations primarily concern the payment of charges for telegram services. For example, the sender or addressee must pay for telegraphic inquiries and their replies (Regulation 342(2)). If a telegram is to be re-directed and re-transmitted, the addressee or their representative must provide a written request and undertake to pay the prescribed charges (Regulation 360(1)). Additionally, if notice of re-direction is given before the telegram is received, the charges will be less by threepence (Regulation 360(3)). These Regulations also mandate that charges for re-direction of a telegram to a new address within the Commonwealth are to be paid before the telegram is delivered (Regulation 360(4)). Furthermore, any written notices or instructions for telegram delivery during non-business hours are to be registered free of charge (Regulation 363(2)). The Regulations also outline various consequences for breaches of their provisions. For example, if the addressee requests a repetition of a telegram to rectify an error, they must sign an undertaking to pay the charges if no error is found (Regulation 342(2)). Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the addressee being liable for the charges. Additionally, if no error is found in the transmission of the original telegram, no refund of the charges paid for the repetition will be made (Regulation 342(4)). Similarly, no refunds will be made for rectifying telegrams exchanged directly between sender and addressee instead of through the telegraph offices (Regulation 342(5)). These provisions aim to ensure that the costs associated with telegram services are appropriately borne by those who benefit from them, while also providing mechanisms for correcting errors and re-directing messages.

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