STATUTORY RULES.
1919. No. 291.
REGULATIONS 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 Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twentieth day of December, 1919.
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 to this date.)
1. Regulation 49 is amended—
(a) by inserting the figure “(1)” after “49” and
(b) by inserting the following sub-regulation at the end thereof:—
“(2) On payment of a fee of sixpence for each box, in addition to postage, the sender may have boxes containing bees placed in separate mail bags containing no postal articles other than bees. In cases where such special treatment is required the box must be indorsed ‘Separate bag’”.
2. Regulation 229 is amended—
(a) by inserting the figure “(1)” after “229”, and
(b) by inserting the following sub-regulation at the end thereof:—
“(2) On payment of a fee of sixpence for each box, in addition to postage, the sender may, in the case of boxes addressed to places within the Commonwealth, have boxes containing bees placed in separate mail bags containing no postal articles other than bees. In cases where such special treatment is required the box must be indorsed ‘Separate bag’”.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1919, No. 291, titled "Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916," was enacted to address the need for special handling and transportation of live bees via the postal service. This legislative instrument was made by the Governor-General in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and came into effect immediately. The underlying act, the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916, aimed to regulate the postal service to ensure efficient and effective communication across Australia. The policy objective of these amendments is to provide a special service for the transportation of bees, ensuring they are handled with care by being placed in separate mail bags containing no other postal articles. This was to prevent any potential harm to the bees and other mail items.
Scope and Application
The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1916 apply to the transmission of bees via the postal system within the Commonwealth of Australia. The amendments, effective immediately, modify the Post and Telegraph Regulations, 1913, to include provisions for the separate transportation of boxes containing bees. Specifically, Regulation 49(2) allows for the placement of such boxes in separate mail bags, provided that a fee of sixpence is paid for each box, in addition to the regular postage. Regulation 229(2) extends this provision to boxes addressed to places within the Commonwealth, again requiring the payment of an additional sixpence fee and the endorsement of the box with 'Separate bag' to indicate the need for this special treatment. These amendments do not explicitly exclude any categories of senders or receivers but implicitly apply to all individuals and entities sending bees through the postal service within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that the bees are handled in a manner that meets specific requirements.
Key Provisions
The amended Post and Telegraph Regulations, 1919, introduce specific provisions regarding the mailing of boxes containing bees. Regulation 49(2) permits the sender to have boxes of bees placed in separate mail bags, provided they pay a fee of sixpence for each box, in addition to the regular postage. This regulation is applicable to both interstate and overseas mail. Similarly, Regulation 229(2) allows for the same arrangement for boxes addressed to places within the Commonwealth, with the same fee structure and additional requirement of indorsing the box with 'Separate bag' if such special treatment is requested.
These regulations impose certain obligations on the parties involved. Senders who wish to use the special bee-mailing service must pay the additional fee of sixpence per box and ensure that the box is properly indorsed if special treatment is required. The Postmaster-General's Department, on the other hand, must adhere to these regulations by providing the requested separate mail bags for boxes containing bees and ensuring they are correctly handled and transported.
There are no explicit offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches of these regulations mentioned in the statutory rules. However, non-compliance with the stipulated payment of fees or failure to properly indorse the boxes could potentially result in the consignment not receiving the special treatment requested, thereby leading to possible delays or complications in the delivery of the bees.