STATUTORY RULES.
1921. No. 219.
REGULATION UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1916.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, to come into operation on and from 1st November, 1921.
Dated this twenty-third day of November, 1921.
FORSTER,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
GEO. H. WISE,
Postmaster-General.
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Amendment of the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348, as amended to this date.)
Regulation 276 is amended by omitting the table of rates of commission on money orders and inserting the following table in its stead:—
For orders payable in—
The Commonwealth: 6d. for each £5 or fraction of £5.
Papua, Rabaul (New Guinea), Nauru, Fiji, New Caledonia: 4d. for each £1 or fraction of £1, with minimum of 6d.
For orders payable in or through—
New Zealand: 3d. for each £1 or fraction of £1, with minimum of 6d.
Canada, Ceylon, Dutch East Indies, Egypt, Federated Malay States, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Mauritius, North Borneo, Norway, Solomon Islands, Straits Settlements, Tonga, Union of South Africa, United Kingdom: 6d. for each £1 or fraction of £1, with minimum of 9d.
United States of America (including Hawaii): 9d. for any amount up to £2, and 4d. for each additional £1 or fraction of £1.
Philippine Islands: (a) In the case of amounts not exceeding £1, 7d. for every 2s. or fraction thereof.
(b) In the case of amounts exceeding £1, for each £1, 6s.; and for any odd amount less than £1, 7d. for every 2s. or fraction thereof.
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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.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1921 No. 219, amended under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, was introduced by the Commonwealth of Australia to address discrepancies in the rates of commission on money orders for various territories. Enacted by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, these regulations came into operation on 1st November 1921. The policy objective behind these amendments was to standardise and update the commission rates for international money orders to reflect the changing economic conditions and to ensure efficiency in the postal services provided across different territories. This legislative instrument aimed to address the problem of outdated and inconsistent commission rates that were previously set by the Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913.
Scope and Application
The amended Post and Telegraph Regulations 1913, introduced by Statutory Rules 1921 No. 219 under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, revise the commission rates for money orders payable in various locations, effective from 1st November 1921. This legislation applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and extends its reach to include territories and foreign countries such as Papua, Rabaul (New Guinea), Nauru, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Canada, and others. The application of this regulation impacts the entities and individuals involved in the transmission of money orders within these specified regions, including postal services and financial institutions. The regulation establishes specific rates for each jurisdiction, reflecting the administrative costs associated with processing money orders. The new rates set forth in the amendment aim to adjust the financial burden on the Postmaster-General's Department in accordance with the economic conditions of the time.
Key Provisions
The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, specifically Regulation 276, introduces significant changes to the rates of commission on money orders. The primary alteration involves replacing the existing table of rates with a new one, detailing the commission fees for money orders payable in or through various territories (Regulation 276). For instance, orders payable within the Commonwealth now attract a commission of 6d. for each £5 or fraction thereof. In contrast, orders payable in Papua, Rabaul (New Guinea), Nauru, Fiji, and New Caledonia have a reduced commission of 4d. for each £1 or fraction thereof, with a minimum charge of 6d. Similarly, for orders payable in or through New Zealand, the commission is set at 3d. for each £1 or fraction thereof, also with a minimum charge of 6d. The commission rates for other territories, including Canada, Ceylon, Dutch East Indies, and more, are also adjusted to 6d. for each £1 or fraction thereof, with a minimum charge of 9d.
The Act imposes specific obligations on the parties or entities it governs, particularly in relation to the calculation and collection of commission fees on money orders. Financial institutions and post offices must adhere to the new rates specified in the amended Regulation, ensuring accurate and consistent application of these fees across all transactions. This requirement is crucial for maintaining transparency and fairness in the financial services provided through the postal system. Additionally, the new Regulation mandates that all documentation and communication related to these fees be updated to reflect the changes, ensuring that both service providers and customers are well-informed about the applicable charges.
Breaches of the provisions outlined in the amended Regulation could result in various legal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the text, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with the mandated commission rates could lead to administrative or financial penalties. In the context of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, such breaches may also attract civil or criminal sanctions, depending on the severity and intent of the violation. The maximum penalties, if specified in other sections of the Act or related legislation, could include fines or other corrective measures designed to enforce adherence to the regulatory framework.