STATUTORY RULES.
1914. No. 17.
_____
PROVISIONAL REGULATION UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1912.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL 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 Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, namely:—
Amendment of Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348.)
should come into immediate operation, and make the amended Regulation to come into operation forthwith as a Provisional Regulation.
Dated this thirteenth day of February, One thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
AGAR WYNNE.
______
Amendment of Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348.)
Regulation 104, under this head, is repealed, and the following Regulation is inserted in its stead:—
104. If the sender of a registered postal article or the sender of a parcel desire inquiry made respecting its disposal, he shall enter, in a form provided for the purpose, both his own name and address, and the name and address of the person to whom the registered postal article or parcel was sent, and he must also, where the inquiry relates to a registered postal article, affix to the form a postage stamp in payment of the fee of 2½d., or, where the inquiry relates to a parcel, affix to the form a postage stamp in payment of the fee of 2d., which postage stamp the postmaster, or other officer, must cancel in the ordinary way. Should any delay in delivery be attributable to the Post Office, the fee shall be refunded. If a fee has been paid for acknowledgment of delivery, no charge for the inquiry shall be made.
_____________________
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.1871.–Price 3d.
Overview
The Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, made in 1914, was enacted to amend the existing Post and Telegraph Regulations of 1913, addressing the need for an efficient system for making inquiries about registered postal articles and parcels. This legislative instrument was introduced by the Governor-General in Council, reflecting the urgency of updating the regulatory framework to better serve the public. The underlying objective of this regulation is to streamline the process for individuals to seek information about their sent items, ensuring that the process is both straightforward and cost-effective, while also providing a mechanism for refunding fees in cases of postal delay. This Provisional Regulation was necessary to provide immediate effect to these changes, highlighting the importance of maintaining a responsive and reliable postal service.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, detailed in Statutory Rules 1914, No. 17, amends the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913 to introduce new procedures for senders of registered postal articles and parcels seeking inquiries about their disposal. This regulation applies to any individual or entity that sends a registered postal article or parcel within the Commonwealth of Australia, requiring them to complete a specific form with their details and those of the recipient. Furthermore, senders must affix a postage stamp of the appropriate fee to the form; 2½d for registered postal articles and 2d for parcels, with the fee being refunded if there is a delay in delivery attributable to the Post Office. Notably, if a fee for acknowledgment of delivery has already been paid, no additional charge for the inquiry will be made. The regulation thus applies nationwide across the Commonwealth, with no stated exclusions or exemptions within its terms. This legislative instrument extends the application of the Post and Telegraph Act by specifying the conditions and fees for inquiries regarding the disposal of registered postal articles and parcels.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the amended Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, concern the process for making inquiries regarding the disposal of registered postal articles or parcels (Reg. 104). This regulation requires the sender to fill out a specific form, providing their own name and address as well as the recipient's name and address. Furthermore, the sender must affix a postage stamp to the form, with the fee being 2½d for registered postal articles and 2d for parcels. The postmaster or another authorised officer must then cancel the stamp. Should there be any delay in delivery that is attributable to the Post Office, the sender is entitled to a refund of the fee. Additionally, if the sender has already paid for acknowledgment of delivery, no extra charge for the inquiry is necessary.
The obligations imposed by this regulation on the parties involved primarily pertain to the sender of the postal item. The sender must ensure that they provide accurate personal and recipient details on the form and affix the appropriate postage stamp. The Post Office, on the other hand, has the obligation to process the inquiry form correctly, cancel the postage stamp in the usual manner, and refund the fee if the delay in delivery is due to the Post Office's fault. Additionally, the Post Office must not charge for the inquiry if the sender has already paid for acknowledgment of delivery.
Breach of these regulations does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance in the provided text. However, given the nature of the regulation, failure to comply with the requirements for making an inquiry might result in administrative consequences, such as the inquiry not being processed or delays in obtaining the desired information. The regulation does not mention any financial penalties or criminal consequences for non-compliance, suggesting that the focus is more on ensuring efficient processing of inquiries rather than punitive measures.