STATUTORY RULES.
1923. No. 118.
REGULATIONS 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 undermentioned amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twenty-ninth day of August, 1923.
FORSTER,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. G. GIBSON,
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Post and Telegraph Regulations.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348, as amended to this date.)
1. Regulation 326 is amended by omitting the word “three” and inserting in lieu thereof the word “five”.
2. Regulation 327 is repealed and the following regulation is inserted in its stead:—
327. If a telegram is partly in plain language and partly in code or cypher, each code word or cypher group shall be counted as one word for five letters or five figures and be charged for as a word or words in excess of the ordinary charge for the message containing them.
3. Regulation 328 is repealed.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.13595.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1923 No. 118, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, represents a legislative instrument aimed at amending the Post and Telegraph Regulations to address certain deficiencies in the existing framework. Enacted by the Governor-General in Council, this statutory rule seeks to modernise the regulatory environment surrounding postal and telegraph services by adjusting the charging structure and handling of coded telegrams. The policy objective appears to be ensuring a fair and updated system for the charging of telegrams, particularly where coded or cyphered content is involved, thereby reflecting the evolving communication landscape of the time.
Scope and Application
The Post and Telegraph Regulations, as amended by Statutory Rules 1923, No. 118, apply to all individuals, businesses, and entities involved in the sending, receiving, or handling of telegrams within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations pertain specifically to the pricing and charging structure for telegram services provided by the Commonwealth authorities, thereby impacting both the Commonwealth and its citizens. The amendments address the charging criteria for telegrams that contain a mix of plain language and coded or cyphered content, establishing a new standard for calculating the word count and associated costs. This legislative instrument extends its jurisdictional reach across the entire Commonwealth, ensuring uniform application of the new rules and charges. The regulations do not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions; however, they are subject to further modifications or clarifications through subsequent subordinate instruments issued under the authority of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916.
Key Provisions
The Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, as amended, introduce several key changes primarily focusing on the pricing and coding of telegrams. Regulation 326 is altered to increase the count of words in telegrams from three to five, which will affect the charging of telegrams (Regulation 1). This change ensures that the number of words in a telegram is calculated more accurately for billing purposes. Regulation 327, which replaces the repealed Regulation 327, now specifies that if a telegram contains both plain language and coded or ciphered text, each code word or cipher group will be counted as one word for five letters or five figures. This will be charged as an excess over the ordinary charge for the message (Regulation 2). These regulations aim to provide clarity and precision in the billing of telegrams that include both plain and coded language.
The obligations under these regulations primarily concern how telegrams are to be priced and counted for billing. Service providers must now accurately calculate the word count of telegrams, ensuring that any coded or ciphered text is appropriately accounted for in the billing process (Regulation 2). By omitting the previous regulation and replacing it with a more detailed one, the Regulations aim to eliminate any ambiguity in the billing of mixed-language telegrams.
Breach of these regulations may result in civil or administrative consequences, although specific penalties are not detailed within the text. The regulations are designed to provide a clear framework for billing and may be subject to further enforcement actions if not adhered to. Service providers are expected to comply with these regulations to avoid any potential disputes or legal actions regarding the billing of telegrams.