STATUTORY RULES.
1917. No. 199.
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-second day of August, One thousand nine hundred and seventeen.
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 1917, No. 60.)
Regulation 313 is repealed and the following Regulation is inserted in its stead:—
Miscellaneous.
313. Telegrams tendered for transmission must be written in a plain and legible manner, and, when practicable, on the proper form, and the address must contain all information necessary to avoid delay and insure delivery. Addresses consisting only of two words, representing the addressee and the office of destination, shall not be accepted, except in the case of press telegrams and telegrams addressed to “Police,” unless the sender guarantees that the word representing the addressee is a registered code indicator. When a telegram is intended to be delivered to one person in care of another person, the word “care” must be written in the address immediately after the name of the addressee. The signature of the sender need not be transmitted, or a telegram may have an abbreviated signature known to the receiver, but the correct signature of the sender must appear on the back of each telegram as a guarantee of its authenticity, and as subscribing to the conditions under which it is transmitted. In the text of telegrams, amounts, or numbers, must be written in words only; provided that ordinary telegrams on His Majesty’s Service, sent by officers in and belonging to His Majesty’s Navy, may be written in figures only; and, where necessary, figures may be used in the text of telegrams relating to Money Order and Government Savings Bank business, in the text of telegrams from Commonwealth and State Departments generally, and in the text of press telegrams. The use of figures in the addresses of telegrams is also permitted. The sign “&” must always be transmitted as “and.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.10471.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1917, No. 199, is an amended regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, issued by the Governor-General in Council, effective immediately upon issuance. This regulation was introduced to address the need for clarity and efficiency in telegram communication, ensuring that telegrams are written in a plain and legible manner, with necessary information to avoid delays and ensure delivery. The policy objective, as articulated in the amendment, is to standardise the format and content of telegrams, particularly in addressing and the use of figures, to facilitate smooth and accurate transmission of messages. This legislative instrument was enacted by the Governor-General in Council, aiming to streamline communication practices and enhance the reliability of telegram services during the period.
Scope and Application
The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, as set out in Statutory Rules 1917, No. 199, applies to all telegrams tendered for transmission within the Commonwealth of Australia. It establishes the requirements for the legibility and format of telegrams, stipulating that they must be written plainly and legibly, and on the proper form when practicable. The regulation also mandates that addresses should include all necessary information to ensure timely and accurate delivery. Exceptions are made for press telegrams and telegrams addressed to "Police," provided that the addressee's name is a registered code indicator. Furthermore, the regulation specifies that the correct signature of the sender must appear on the back of each telegram to guarantee authenticity and adherence to transmission conditions. This regulation aims to streamline and standardise the process of telegram transmission within Australia, thereby enhancing communication efficiency.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this regulation, particularly Regulation 313, specify the requirements for telegrams tendered for transmission. According to Regulation 313(1), telegrams must be written in a plain and legible manner, and on the proper form when practicable. The address must include all necessary information to avoid delays and ensure delivery, with specific rules regarding brevity and clarity. For instance, addresses consisting of only two words—representing the addressee and the office of destination—are not acceptable unless the sender guarantees the word representing the addressee is a registered code indicator. Regulation 313(2) further dictates that when a telegram is intended for one person in the care of another, the word "care" must be included in the address immediately after the name of the addressee. The signature of the sender does not need to be transmitted with the telegram, but it must appear on the back of each telegram to guarantee authenticity and adherence to transmission conditions.
The obligations imposed by Regulation 313 require telegrams to adhere strictly to these guidelines. This includes ensuring that the telegram's text is clear and legible, with addresses that provide all necessary information. Additionally, telegrams must be formatted correctly, with the word "and" always transmitted as "and" and figures used appropriately. The requirement for the sender's signature to appear on the back of each telegram serves as a guarantee of the message's authenticity and adherence to transmission conditions. These obligations ensure that telegrams are processed efficiently and accurately.
Regulation 313 also specifies consequences for non-compliance. If telegrams do not meet the requirements outlined in Regulation 313, they may be rejected or delayed, causing inconvenience or potential loss of information. While the regulation does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, the rejection or delay of telegrams due to failure to adhere to the specified guidelines can result in significant consequences for the sender and the intended recipient. This underscores the importance of following the outlined requirements to avoid such repercussions.