STATUTORY RULES.
1929. No. 103.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1923.
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 1901-1923, to come into operation on and from 1st January, 1929.
Dated this thirteenth day of September, 1929.
STONEHAVEN
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. G. GIBSON
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Postal Regulations.
(Statutory Rules 1927, No.144, as amended to this date.)
1. Regulation 116 is omitted and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—
116.—(1) The Postmaster-General shall make available to each person who rents a private box two keys of such box, for which keys the sum of five shillings shall be payable.
(2) Additional keys shall be made available upon such person paying to the Postmaster-General the sum of one shilling and sixpence in respect of each additional key.
(3) All keys for private boxes shall be obtained from and remain the property of the Postmaster-General.
(4) If a key of a private box be lost, the tenant of such box shall at once report the loss and return the remaining keys to the officer in charge of the post office at which the box is provided. A new lock, for which a charge of Five shillings shall be made, will be fitted in the box, and two keys of such lock made available.
(5) Upon the tenancy of a private box being discontinued the person who rented such box shall return to the Postmaster-General all keys thereof issued to him, and if such keys are so returned within fourteen days from the day on which the tenancy terminated the sum of five shillings paid by the lessee under the provisions of sub-regulation (1) of this regulation or under regulations previously in force shall be refunded to him, but no refund shall be made of the amount charged for additional keys supplied under the provisions of sub-regulation (2) of this regulation. If the keys are not so returned the person who rented the box shall be liable to be charged the rental fee for the box until the keys are returned.
2. Sub-regulation (2) of Regulation 119 is omitted and the, following sub-regulation inserted in its stead:—
(2) Upon the transfer of the of a private box under the provisions of sub-regulation (1) of this regulation the right to receive payment in respect of keys returned upon relinquishment of the box, as provided by sub-regulation (5) of regulation 116, and to refund of portion of the fee, as provided by regulation 120, shall pass to the transferee.
3. Sub-regulation (2) of Regulation 122 is amended by inserting after the words “fee for the box” the words “nor the amount paid for the use of the keys”.
By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1929 No. 103, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, was enacted to address issues related to the management and security of private postal boxes, as well as the financial transactions associated with their use. This legislation was introduced by the Parliament of Australia to amend the existing postal regulations concerning private box keys and fees, aiming to clarify and streamline the administrative processes. The policy objective was to ensure that the postal service maintains control over the keys, while also providing a structured fee system for their provision and replacement, thus balancing the interests of both the government and the tenants of private boxes.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules 1929, No. 103, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, establish amendments to the Postal Regulations, specifically addressing the management and use of private boxes in post offices. This legislation applies to individuals and entities renting private boxes, governing the provision, use, and return of keys for these boxes, as well as the financial implications of key management. The application of these regulations is limited to the Commonwealth, overseen by the Postmaster-General, who is responsible for issuing and reclaiming keys, imposing charges for their provision, and handling fees associated with lost or unreturned keys. The regulations detail the procedures for obtaining additional keys, the mandatory reporting of lost keys, and the financial penalties for non-compliance. Any amendments or extensions to these regulations would be made through subordinate instruments, ensuring the framework remains adaptable to changing postal service requirements.
Key Provisions
The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, which came into operation on 1st January 1929, introduce several changes to the management of private postal boxes. Regulation 116 specifies that the Postmaster-General must provide two keys for each rented private box, with an initial payment of five shillings for these keys (Regulation 116(1)). Additional keys can be obtained by paying an extra one shilling and sixpence per key (Regulation 116(2)). Importantly, all keys remain the property of the Postmaster-General (Regulation 116(3)). If a key is lost, the tenant must report the loss, return any remaining keys, and a new lock will be fitted at a cost of five shillings (Regulation 116(4)). When the tenancy ends, the tenant must return all keys; if done within fourteen days, the initial fee is refunded, but additional key fees are not (Regulation 116(5)).
These regulations also impose obligations on tenants of private boxes. Tenants must report lost keys and return any remaining keys to the post office (Regulation 116(4)). They must also return all keys within fourteen days of the end of their tenancy to be eligible for a refund of the initial key fee, but not the additional key fees (Regulation 116(5)). Furthermore, upon transferring the tenancy of a private box, the right to receive a refund for returned keys and a portion of the fee transfers to the new tenant (Regulation 119(2)).
In the event of non-compliance with these regulations, tenants may face penalties. If keys are not returned within the specified timeframe, tenants may be charged the rental fee for the box until the keys are returned (Regulation 116(5)). The regulations also clarify that the fee for the box does not include the amount paid for the use of keys (Regulation 122(2)). There are no explicit mentions of criminal or civil penalties for breaches in these regulations, but the financial obligations and potential ongoing rental fees serve as deterrents against non-compliance.