Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 (Amendment)

Overview

The Post and Telegraph Regulations 1916, as part of Statutory Rules 1916, No. 91, were enacted to amend the existing Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 in response to the needs arising from the First World War. Specifically, these regulations were introduced to address the logistical challenges of conducting the War Census of 1915. The enactment body responsible for this regulation is the Governor-General in Council, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The policy objective behind these amendments was to facilitate the efficient and cost-effective transmission of census-related documents by exempting them from postal charges when sent to designated officials involved in the census process. This measure aimed to streamline the collection of vital statistical data for the war effort by ensuring that census materials could be transported without financial barriers.

Scope and Application

The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1913 applies to postal articles containing papers provided for by the War Census Acts 1915. This includes specific conduct involving the transmission of these articles, which must be sent by or addressed to the Commonwealth Statistician in Melbourne or to the Chairman of any Local Recruiting Committee. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, as it pertains to the entire Commonwealth of Australia. Notably, the amended Regulation specifies that the envelopes containing these articles must bear the words "War Census" on the outside to qualify for the exemption from postage charges. The regulation replaces Regulation 110a and does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions beyond the specified conditions for free postage. The regulation comes into operation immediately upon issuance, and its application can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1913, as issued in Statutory Rules 1916, No. 91, primarily introduces a new Regulation 110a, which replaces the existing Regulation 110a. This new regulation pertains specifically to the free postage of certain postal articles. Regulation 110a (1) allows for the free postage of items containing papers as specified under the War Census Acts 1915. This applies if the items are sent by or addressed to the Commonwealth Statistician in Melbourne, or to the Chairman of any Local Recruiting Committee. The regulation (2) also specifies that the envelopes containing these items must have the words "War Census" clearly written on the outside to qualify for the free postage. The Act imposes clear obligations on the parties involved. Firstly, it requires that the postal articles in question must be related to the War Census Acts 1915. Secondly, the envelopes must bear the specific wording "War Census" on the outside to be eligible for free postage. Additionally, the sender or recipient must be either the Commonwealth Statistician in Melbourne or the Chairman of any Local Recruiting Committee. Failure to comply with these requirements will mean that the items will not be eligible for the free postage provision. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or consequences outlined in the Regulation for breaches of these provisions. However, the Regulation does state that the items will not be sent free of charge if the required conditions are not met. This means that any non-compliance will result in the standard postage fees applying to these items, rather than the intended free postage. This regulatory approach ensures compliance by making non-compliance financially disadvantageous without the need for additional legal penalties.