STATUTORY RULES.
1929. No. 16.
REGULATION 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 Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this fifth day of February, 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.)
Sub-regulation (2) of Regulation 80 is omitted and the following sub-regulation inserted in its stead:—
(2) Undelivered postal articles, except parcels and the postal articles referred to in the last preceding regulation and the last preceding sub-regulation, shall—
(a) if posted within the Commonwealth for delivery therein, be retained at the office of destination as follows:—
(i) if addressed to a fixed address, i.e., to a street, road, institution, farm, station, &c.—8 days:
Provided that the article shall be retained for one calendar month when the postmaster knows that the addressee is residing in the locality served by his office, or has good reason to believe that the article will be called for during that period;
(ii) if addressed only to a post town, i.e., when only the name of the addressee and that of the post town appear in the address—14 days:
Provided that the article shall be retained for one calendar month when the postmaster knows that the addressee is residing in the locality served by his office, or has good reason to believe that the article will be called for during that period:
162.—Price 3d.
Provided further that when the article is addressed to a person who previously resided in the locality and the postmaster knows that such person has permanently left the district, the period of retention of the article shall be 8 days;
(iii) if addressed to a post office, i.e., when the name of the addressee, the words “Post Office” and the name of the post town appear in the address—one calendar month:
Provided that when the article is addressed to a person who previously resided in the locality and the postmaster knows that such person has permanently left the district, the period of retention of the article shall be 8 days;
(iv) if addressed to a person on board a ship—one calendar month.
(b) if received from a place outside the Commonwealth, be retained at the office of destination for one calendar month.
By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1929, No. 16, enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, amends the existing Postal Regulations to adjust the retention periods for undelivered postal articles within and outside the Commonwealth. This legislative instrument was introduced to streamline the handling and retention of undelivered mail by specifying precise periods based on the type of address and circumstances, thereby addressing inefficiencies in the postal service. The regulations were made by the Governor-General in accordance with the Federal Executive Council's advice and are intended to ensure that postal articles are retained for appropriate durations before being deemed undeliverable, thus facilitating better management and delivery practices.
Scope and Application
The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 applies to the retention and delivery of undelivered postal articles within the Commonwealth of Australia and those received from places outside the Commonwealth. This regulation governs the duration for which such articles are to be held at the destination post office, varying the retention period based on the type of addressee, such as fixed addresses, post towns, or post offices, and whether the article is addressed to someone on board a ship. Additionally, it includes specific provisions for retention periods when the postmaster knows that the addressee has permanently left the locality. The regulation operates nationwide, applying to all post offices within the Commonwealth, and mandates the retention of postal articles for specified durations to facilitate their delivery. The regulation does not explicitly state exclusions but implicitly excludes parcels and certain other postal articles as referenced in the preceding regulation and sub-regulation. The regulation may be further extended or specified through subordinate instruments, ensuring its application is comprehensive and aligned with postal practices.
Key Provisions
The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 (C1929L00016) outlines the new procedures for the retention of undelivered postal articles. Specifically, Regulation 80 (2) has been amended to introduce different retention periods for various types of undelivered postal articles based on their destination and the nature of the address. For example, if a postal article is posted within the Commonwealth and addressed to a fixed address, such as a street or institution, it must be retained for eight days (Regulation 80 (2)(a)(i)). However, if the postmaster knows or has good reason to believe that the addressee is residing in the locality served by their office, the retention period extends to one calendar month. Similarly, if the postal article is addressed only to a post town, the retention period is 14 days, but again, this extends to one calendar month if the postmaster has information that the addressee is in the locality. When the postal article is addressed to a person on board a ship, it must be retained for one calendar month (Regulation 80 (2)(a)(iv)). For postal articles received from outside the Commonwealth, the retention period is set at one calendar month.
The obligations imposed by these regulations are primarily on the postmasters and the postal service. They must adhere to the prescribed retention periods based on the type of address and the origin of the postal article. If the addressee is known to be residing in the locality, the postmaster must extend the retention period to one calendar month. Additionally, the postmaster must be diligent in documenting and acting upon any knowledge that an addressee has permanently left the district, in which case the retention period for certain articles is reduced to eight days. These obligations ensure that postal articles are held for a reasonable time, balancing the need to return articles to their rightful owners with the efficient management of postal resources.
Breaches of these regulations could result in various consequences, although specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument. Generally, failure to comply with postal regulations can lead to administrative actions, such as reprimands or other internal disciplinary measures within the postal service. In more severe cases, non-compliance might result in legal action, particularly if it affects the efficient operation of the postal service or leads to significant loss or misdirection of postal articles. While the exact penalties are not explicitly stated, adherence to these regulations is crucial to maintaining the integrity and reliability of postal services.