STATUTORY RULES.
1923. No. 14.
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 undermentioned amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, to come into operation from the dates shown in regulation 2.
Dated this twenty-sixth day of February, 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 276 is amended—
(a) by omitting the figure and letter “4d.” in the item “Papua, Rabaul,” &c., and inserting the figure and letter “3d.” in their stead.
(b) by omitting all the words and figures after the words “United Kingdom” in the item “Canada, Ceylon,” &c., and inserting the following words and figures in their stead:— “United States of America (including Hawaii), 4d. for each £1 or fraction of £1 for the first £6, and 3d. for each additional £1 or fraction of £1, with minimum of 9d.”;
(c) by omitting the item United States of America (including Hawaii); and
(d) by omitting the item “Philippine Islands” and inserting the following item in its stead:—“Philippine Islands, 2d. for each 2s. or fraction of 2s.”
2. The amendments contained in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) above shall be deemed to have come into operation on 1st December, 1922, and the amendment contained in paragraph (d) shall be deemed to have come into operation on 4th December, 1922.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.1881.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1923, No. 14, enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, was introduced to address the need for updated postal rate regulations. This legislative instrument was established by the Governor-General in Council, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The overarching policy objective of this amendment was to reflect changes in international postal rates and the economic conditions of the time, ensuring that the postal system remained efficient and fair. The regulations specifically altered the rates for mail sent to certain destinations, including Papua, Rabaul, and the United States of America, reflecting a decrease in costs for some destinations and adjustments to the structure of rates for others.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules 1923, No. 14, which amend the Post and Telegraph Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1916, applies to the conduct and transactions related to postage and telegraph services within the Commonwealth of Australia. This legislation adjusts the rates for postage to different international destinations, such as Papua, Rabaul, the United States of America, and the Philippine Islands. The specified changes to the postage rates are effective from the dates mentioned in regulation 2, with certain amendments coming into operation on 1 December 1922, and others on 4 December 1922. The regulations govern the postal service industry and affect entities involved in the transmission of mail and telegrams, particularly those dealing with international correspondence. These amendments do not explicitly exclude any persons or entities, but they are primarily concerned with the postal rates for international services, thereby shaping the scope of the Post and Telegraph Act in relation to cross-border communications.
Key Provisions
The principal amendments to the Post and Telegraph Regulations, as detailed in Statutory Rules 1923 No. 14, primarily focus on the rates for postal services to various destinations. Regulation 276 is amended to adjust the postal rates for Papua, Rabaul, and other locations. For instance, the rate for Papua and Rabaul is reduced from 4d to 3d per item (Reg. 276(a)). Additionally, the rate for mail to the United Kingdom is modified to include a more detailed structure for the United States of America (including Hawaii), which now charges 4d for each £1 or fraction of £1 for the first £6, and 3d for each additional £1 or fraction of £1, with a minimum charge of 9d (Reg. 276(b)). The former item for the United States of America is omitted, and a new rate is established for the Philippine Islands, charging 2d for each 2s or fraction of 2s (Reg. 276(c) and (d)).
The obligations imposed by these regulations pertain to the postal service providers and entities responsible for delivering mail to the specified destinations. These entities must adhere to the newly stipulated rates, ensuring that the correct charges are applied to mail destined for Papua, Rabaul, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the Philippine Islands. This involves updating their internal systems and procedures to reflect the amended rates, thereby ensuring compliance with the new regulatory framework.
Failure to comply with these amended postal rates could result in various consequences. While the regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, breaches of postal regulations can lead to financial discrepancies and may be subject to scrutiny by relevant authorities. In the broader context of postal law, non-compliance can attract administrative penalties or legal actions aimed at rectifying the breaches and enforcing adherence to the prescribed rates. The specific penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, as outlined in other relevant postal legislation.