Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 (Amendment) (Provisional)

Overview

The Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, enacted in 1915, addresses the issue of uncollected correspondence left at post offices for extended periods, effectively mitigating the administrative burden and storage costs on the postal service. The regulation was introduced as a provisional measure by the Governor-General, acting on advice from the Federal Executive Council, due to its urgency. The overarching policy objective of this regulation is to ensure that correspondence which remains unclaimed for a specific period is either collected by the intended recipient or discarded, while also providing a mechanism for temporary redirection to accommodate bona fide travellers or tourists. This legislative instrument aims to maintain efficiency within the postal system by enforcing clear timelines for the retention and collection of Poste Restante and uncollected mail.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, detailed in Statutory Rules 1915, No. 233, amends the existing Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 by introducing new rules regarding correspondence addressed Poste Restante or to a post office to be called for. This regulation applies to individuals who receive correspondence in this manner, effectively imposing a restriction on the duration for which such correspondence can remain unclaimed at post offices. Specifically, correspondence must not be posted addressed Poste Restante or to a post office to be called for to a person for a period exceeding six months, or twelve months if an application for re-direction has been granted. Any correspondence received beyond these prescribed periods is considered to have been posted in contravention of the Regulations. This regulation applies nationally across the Commonwealth of Australia and is enforced by the relevant post office authorities. However, the Deputy Postmaster-General retains discretion to make special arrangements for bona fide travellers or tourists. The regulation does not specify exclusions or exemptions beyond the outlined provisions for bona fide travellers or tourists.

Key Provisions

The amended Regulation 128 of the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913, as certified by the Governor-General and effective from the first day of December 1915, provides new rules regarding the handling of correspondence addressed Poste Restante or to a post office to be called for. Under the new provisions, correspondence must not be posted addressed Poste Restante or to a post office to be collected, to a person who has had such correspondence addressed to them for six months (Regulation 128(1)). If the correspondence is received after this period, it is considered to have been posted in violation of the Regulations. An addressee may apply to have correspondence re-directed to a single address for an additional six months, but no further re-direction applications will be granted after this period (Regulation 128(2)). The Deputy Postmaster-General may make exceptions for travellers or tourists who satisfy them of their good faith, allowing necessary arrangements to be made in such cases (Regulation 128(3)). The obligations imposed by these provisions require individuals and entities to ensure that correspondence addressed Poste Restante or to a post office to be collected is collected within the stipulated periods. Post offices must adhere to these rules when handling such correspondence, and individuals or entities collecting such correspondence must do so within the prescribed timeframes. The Deputy Postmaster-General has the discretion to make exceptions for bona fide travellers or tourists, but this is subject to their satisfaction of the conditions outlined in Regulation 128(3). Failure to comply with the provisions of Regulation 128 may result in correspondence being deemed to have been posted in contravention of the Regulations. While the statutory rules do not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach, the overarching Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913 provides a framework for enforcement. Under this Act, breaches of regulations may be subject to fines, legal action, or other penalties as determined by the relevant authorities. The maximum penalties for such breaches would be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913 and any associated legislation or regulations.