Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 (Amendment) (Provisional)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1915, No. 181, amended the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 to address the need for urgent adjustments to the rates of commission for money orders and to facilitate the issuance of military pay allotments. Enacted by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, these provisional regulations were intended to streamline and expedite the financial processes associated with money orders, particularly in the context of military pay. The policy objective was to ensure efficient and timely disbursement of military pay while also updating the commission rates to reflect the economic conditions of the time.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913 apply to the Commonwealth of Australia, extending its jurisdictional reach to encompass the entire nation. These regulations particularly concern the rates of commission chargeable for the issuance of money orders, except for those explicitly defined in Regulations 298a and 298b. The regulations detail specific commission rates for various monetary sums and destinations, including Papua, New Zealand, Fiji, the United Kingdom, other British possessions, and foreign countries. Notably, the regulations provide a defined commission rate for money orders issued by District Paymasters of the Defence Department for military pay allotments, stipulating a flat rate of Twopence halfpenny, regardless of the amount. Furthermore, the Defence Department is mandated to cover postage costs for these money orders when sent to the payees, though no postage is required for the advices sent to the paying officers. This legislation underscores the specific financial obligations and procedures associated with the issuance and handling of money orders within the Australian postal system.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of the Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, as detailed in Statutory Rules 1915, No. 181, involve significant amendments to the rates of commission for the issue of money orders. Regulation 276 is repealed and replaced with a new set of commission rates for different territories and sum categories. The rates are specified for sums payable in The Commonwealth, Papua, New Zealand and Fiji, and the United Kingdom, other British Possessions, and Foreign Countries. The new commission rates apply to various sums, ranging from not exceeding £2 to exceeding £17 but not exceeding £20. Additionally, Regulation 298a is inserted, allowing the Defence Department to issue money orders for military pay allotments with a fixed commission of Twopence halfpenny per order, with the Defence Department also responsible for paying any applicable postage on these orders. These regulations impose specific obligations on the parties involved. Firstly, the Post Office must adhere to the newly established commission rates for money orders, ensuring accurate and consistent application of these rates across different territories and sum categories. The Defence Department is mandated to issue money orders for military pay allotments, paying the specified commission rate and the postage when sending these orders to the payees, while no postage is required for the relative advices sent to the paying officers. The Department must also ensure that these obligations are fulfilled without deviation from the stipulated guidelines. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in various civil or criminal consequences. While the specific offences, penalties, and maximum penalties are not explicitly stated in the provided text, it is reasonable to infer that breaches of these regulations could lead to financial penalties, administrative sanctions, or other legal repercussions as dictated by the overarching Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913. The precise nature and extent of these penalties would depend on the specific nature of the breach and the applicable laws at the time.