STATUTORY RULES.
1956. No. 84.
REGULATION UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1950.*
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950.
Dated this twentieth day of November, 1956.
W. J. Slim
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Postal and Telegraphic Services (General) Regulations.†
After regulation 6 of the Postal and Telegraphic Services (General) Regulations the following regulation is inserted:—
Collection, &c., of postal articles by motor vehicle.
“6a. Notwithstanding the provisions of a law of a State or Territory of the Commonwealth, an officer or servant of the Department may, for the purpose—
(a) of collecting postal articles from a post office or from a letter pillar or a box erected for the reception of postal articles; or
(b) of delivering postal articles to a post office,
stop, and leave standing, upon any public street, public road or other public place any motor vehicle used by him for the purpose of the carriage of postal articles.”.
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 1956.
† Statutory Rules 1933, No. 88, as amended by Statutory Rules 1934, No. 136; 1938, No. 62; 1940, Nos. 101 and 156; 1951 No. 24; and 1955, No. 57.
Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1956 No. 84 represents a regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, enacted to address logistical challenges in the collection and delivery of postal articles across Australia. This regulation was issued by the Governor-General, W. J. Slim, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government and came into effect on 20 November 1956. The enactment of this regulation aims to streamline the operations of postal services by allowing officers or servants of the Department to stop and leave standing motor vehicles used for the carriage of postal articles on public streets, roads, or places, irrespective of state or territory laws that might otherwise restrict such actions. The underlying policy objective is to ensure efficient and uninterrupted postal services by providing necessary flexibility to postal officers in their duties.
Scope and Application
The regulation made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 specifies amendments to the Postal and Telegraphic Services (General) Regulations, allowing officers or servants of the Department to stop and leave standing motor vehicles used for the carriage of postal articles on public streets or roads for the purpose of collecting or delivering postal items. This applies to any officer or servant of the Department who is engaged in the collection or delivery of postal articles, and it explicitly overrides any conflicting state or territory laws. This regulation is part of a broader framework that governs postal and telegraphic services across the Commonwealth of Australia, providing a uniform approach to the handling and transportation of postal items by government postal services. The regulation extends the authority of the Commonwealth in postal services, ensuring that the federal postal system can operate consistently and effectively despite differing state and territory regulations.
Key Provisions
The regulation (section 6a) allows officers or servants of the Department to stop and leave standing any motor vehicle used for the carriage of postal articles on any public street, public road, or other public place. This is for the purpose of collecting postal articles from post offices, letter pillars, or boxes, or delivering postal articles to a post office. This provision operates despite any conflicting state or territory laws, emphasising its supremacy under federal regulation.
This Act imposes specific duties on officers and servants of the Department, allowing them to perform their postal tasks efficiently and without unnecessary legal hindrance. They must adhere to the outlined procedures for stopping and leaving their vehicles in public areas for postal operations. The regulation ensures these activities are carried out within the scope of their employment and in accordance with federal postal service standards.
Failure to comply with the provisions set forth in this regulation could result in legal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, breaches of federal postal regulations can typically lead to administrative actions, fines, or other enforcement measures under the broader framework of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950. It is essential for officers and servants to follow these guidelines to avoid any potential repercussions.