STATUTORY RULES.
1914. No. 152.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1913.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENREAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the undermentioned amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, namely—
Post and Telegraph Regulations, 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348),
Regulations 151 and 152,
should come into immediate operation, and make the amended Regulations to come into operation forthwith as provisional Regulations.
Dated this twenty-first day of October, One thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General,
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. G. SPENCE.
Regulations 151 and 152 are repealed, and the following Regulations are inserted in their stead:—
151. (1) Postal articles posted without addresses or bearing illegible addresses, and those which the addressees refuse to receive owing to postage being payable or other cause, must be transmitted without delay to the Dead Letter Office for disposal.
(2) Letters or packets sent to a fixed address other than a post-office, and letters and packets addressed to initials or noms de plume at a post-office, to be called for, not indorsed for return to the senders within a specified time, as provided by Section 46 of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, and which cannot be delivered, shall be returned to the senders, after the expiration of eight days; other letters or packets posted within the Commonwealth for delivery within the Commonwealth shall be retained at the office of destination for one month; if received from a place beyond the Commonwealth, they shall be retained for two months; letters or packets addressed to ships, excepting those addressed to passengers, shall be retained for four months; letters and packets addressed to passengers on board ships shall, if posted in places beyond the Commonwealth, be retained for two months, and if posted within the Commonwealth, be retained for one month. As soon as possible after the expiration of the respective periods the letters or packets must be returned through the Dead Letter Office to the writers, if posted in the State to which addressed, and, if not, to the State or country of origin.
152. Newspapers other than those coming within the provisions of Regulation 151 (1) must be kept at the office of destination for one month waiting delivery, and at the expiration of that period must be forwarded to the General Post Office for disposal according to law; but if the covers or wrappers bear in print the name of the publisher or vendor the newspapers must be returned, if so required, to such publisher or vendor, on payment of postage at the prescribed rate.
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Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.12899.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, enacted in 1914, were introduced to address the urgent need to amend existing postal regulations concerning the handling of undeliverable mail and newspapers. This legislative instrument was established by the Governor-General in Council, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, to ensure these critical amendments could be implemented swiftly. The primary policy objective behind these provisional regulations was to provide a clear and immediate framework for the management of undeliverable postal items, ensuring they are either returned to senders or appropriately disposed of within specified timeframes, thereby maintaining the efficiency and reliability of postal services during a period of significant change.
Scope and Application
The Post and Telegraph Regulations, 1913, amended under the Provisional Regulations by Statutory Rules 1914, No. 152, apply to the management and disposal of postal articles within Australia. These regulations cover postal items that are posted without addresses or bear illegible addresses, as well as those that are refused by the addressees for various reasons. Such items must be transmitted without delay to the Dead Letter Office for appropriate handling. Furthermore, the regulations address the retention periods for undeliverable mail sent within Australia and from overseas, with specific timelines for different categories such as mail addressed to ships or passengers. Newspapers, unless falling under the earlier provision, must be kept for a month at the destination office before being forwarded to the General Post Office for disposal, or returned to the publisher if requested and postage is paid. The provisions apply across the Commonwealth, impacting postal services and the management of undelivered mail. These regulations establish clear procedures for the handling of undeliverable postal items, ensuring systematic disposal or return as stipulated.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of these amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, specifically Regulations 151 and 152, govern the handling of postal articles that cannot be delivered due to various reasons. Regulation 151(1) mandates that postal articles without addresses, with illegible addresses, or those refused by addressees due to unpaid postage or other reasons, must be promptly sent to the Dead Letter Office for processing. Regulation 151(2) outlines the procedure for letters and packets that are undeliverable after a specified period. For example, letters or packets addressed to fixed addresses other than post offices, or to initials or pseudonyms at a post office, must be called for within a certain time, as stipulated in Section 46 of the Act. If these items cannot be delivered and are not claimed, they must be returned to the senders after eight days. Other postal items within the Commonwealth must be held for one month, while items from beyond the Commonwealth must be held for two months. Special provisions apply to letters addressed to ships and their passengers, with different retention periods based on the origin of the mail.
These Regulations impose specific obligations on postal service providers and recipients. Postal service providers are required to handle undeliverable mail in accordance with the stipulated timelines and procedures. For instance, they must ensure that mail without addresses or with illegible addresses is sent to the Dead Letter Office without delay. They must also hold undeliverable letters and packets for specified periods before returning them to the senders or forwarding them to the Dead Letter Office. Additionally, providers must retain newspapers for a month before forwarding them to the General Post Office or returning them to the publishers if requested and postage is paid. Recipients have the responsibility to claim their mail within the specified periods to avoid it being returned to the senders or disposed of.
Breaches of these Regulations may result in administrative actions, though the specific consequences are not detailed in the text. However, given the statutory context, non-compliance could potentially lead to penalties under the broader Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913. Typically, such penalties could include fines or other administrative sanctions, though the exact nature and maximum penalties would be defined within the overarching Act rather than the Regulations themselves.