Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1914, No. 122, enacted by the Governor-General in Council under the authority of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, addresses the regulation of prohibited items for packet post to ensure the safety and security of mail delivery and adherence to postal regulations. This legislative instrument amends the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913, specifically repealing Regulation 60 and inserting a new regulation to outline which articles are not permitted to be sent by packet post. This includes cheques, money orders, postal notes, adhesive postage stamps, coin, bank-notes, bullion, gold, perishable substances, and materials that could potentially harm individuals or mail contents. Additionally, it prohibits the transmission of notices or information relating to lotteries, schemes of chance, unlawful games, and fraudulent or obscene matters. The regulation aims to maintain the integrity and security of the postal service while allowing for the continued transmission of art union tickets, a notable exception in the new regulation.

Scope and Application

The Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913, specifically Regulation 60 as amended by the Statutory Rules 1914, No. 122, outline the articles that are prohibited from being sent via packet post. This regulation applies to a broad range of items, including cheques, money orders, postal notes, unobliterated adhesive postage stamps, coin, bank-notes, bullion, gold, and perishable substances such as game, fish, flesh, fruit, and vegetables. Additionally, it prohibits the transmission of any matter or thing likely to injure any person or the contents of mail-bags, notices or information relating to lotteries, schemes of chance, unlawful games, or fraudulent, obscene, indecent, or immoral businesses or undertakings. This regulation is intended to ensure the safety and integrity of the mail system and to prevent the spread of harmful or illegal content. The prohibition extends to any articles not made up in accordance with the Regulations relating to packets, or bearing or containing anything not allowed under such Regulations. However, it is noteworthy that art union tickets are specifically exempted from these restrictions. The regulation applies on a national level within the Commonwealth of Australia, governing the conduct and transactions related to the postal service across the entire country.

Key Provisions

The Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913, as amended by Statutory Rules 1914, No. 122, introduce specific provisions regarding the types of items that are not permitted to be sent via packet post. Regulation 60, in particular, lists a range of prohibited articles. These include cheques, money orders, postal notes (unless in bankers' packets), unobliterated adhesive postage stamps, coin, banknotes, bullion, gold, and perishable substances such as game, fish, flesh, fruit, vegetables, and any matter or thing that could cause injury to people or damage mail contents (Regulation 60). Additionally, the regulation bans notices or information relating to lotteries, schemes of chance, unlawful games, and fraudulent, obscene, indecent, or immoral businesses (Regulation 60). It also prohibits the transmission of items not complying with packet regulations or containing unauthorised materials. However, an exception is made for the transmission of art union tickets. Under these regulations, entities and individuals sending items via packet post must ensure compliance with the outlined restrictions. This means they must verify that their consignments do not include any of the prohibited items listed in Regulation 60. This includes avoiding the transmission of financial instruments, perishable goods, and items that might be harmful or illegal. Additionally, any items sent must adhere strictly to the packet regulations, ensuring they are appropriately made up and do not contain any unauthorised content. Breaching the provisions of Regulation 60 can lead to significant consequences. While the regulations themselves do not explicitly state penalties, breaches of similar provisions in the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913 can result in fines or other legal actions. The Act may impose penalties for sending prohibited items, which could involve substantial fines and potential legal repercussions for non-compliance. The exact penalties would depend on the specific breach and the applicable sections of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913.