Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 (Amendment)

Overview

The Post and Telegraph Regulations Amendment (No. 2) 1917 (C1917L00153) was enacted to address issues related to the handling of correspondence by postmasters, specifically to ensure that correspondence could not be returned to the sender or delayed without proper authorisation. This legislative instrument was made under the authority of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, by the Governor-General in Council, reflecting the intent to maintain the integrity and security of postal services during a period of significant national and international upheaval. The policy objective of these amendments was to formalise and restrict the conditions under which correspondence could be withdrawn, ensuring that such actions were only permissible with explicit written consent or direction, thereby reinforcing the confidentiality and reliability of postal communications.

Scope and Application

The Post and Telegraph Regulations, 1917, amend the existing Post and Telegraph Regulations from 1913 and are made under the authority of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916. These regulations apply to all postmasters within the Commonwealth of Australia and govern the handling and delivery of correspondence, including letters, packets, and newspapers. Specifically, Regulation 118a dictates that postmasters are prohibited from returning any correspondence to the sender or another party without written consent from the addressee or written direction from the Postmaster-General, with exceptions as outlined in the regulations themselves. The regulations also allow for the withdrawal of correspondence if the sender applies before delivery and if the Postmaster-General deems the reasons for withdrawal to be satisfactory, with a stipulated fee for this service. This regulation underscores the importance of privacy and the control over correspondence within the postal system, while also providing a structured process for correspondence retrieval under certain conditions.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of these Regulations introduce a new provision under Regulation 118a (Withdrawal of Correspondence), which stipulates the conditions under which postmasters can return or delay correspondence. Specifically, Regulation 118a(1) mandates that postmasters cannot return or delay correspondence to the sender or any other person without written consent from the addressee or a written directive from the Postmaster-General. Regulation 118a(2) provides an exception for senders who apply for the withdrawal of their correspondence before delivery; the Postmaster-General may authorise this if the reasons are deemed satisfactory. Regulation 118a(3) stipulates that the sender must pay a fee of one shilling and any associated telegram costs for the withdrawal request. The Regulations impose obligations on postmasters to ensure that correspondence is not returned or delayed without the necessary written consent or direction, as outlined in Regulation 118a. Postmasters must follow these directives strictly and verify the authenticity of any written consent or direction from the addressee or the Postmaster-General. Additionally, postmasters must collect the specified fee and any additional costs for telegrams if a sender requests withdrawal under Regulation 118a. The Regulations do not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil or criminal consequences for breaches. However, non-compliance with the directives outlined in Regulation 118a could potentially result in administrative penalties or other consequences as determined by the Postmaster-General or relevant authorities under the broader legislative framework of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916. The exact nature and severity of such consequences would be determined by the Postmaster-General based on the circumstances of the breach.