STATUTORY RULES.
1959. No. 7.
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 4th day of February, 1959.
W. J. SLIM
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Postmaster-General.
AMENDMENT OF THE POSTAL REGULATIONS.†
Payments to masters of vessels.
Regulation 258 of the Postal Regulations is amended by omitting the table and inserting in its stead the following table:—
Conveyance of— | Rate of Payment. |
Letters and post cards in harbours and on rivers | Eightpence per pound |
Mails (other than letters and post cards) in harbours and on rivers | One shilling and four pence per hundred weight |
Mails to places within the Commonwealth otherwise than in harbours and on rivers | Ten pounds per ton by weight |
Mails to places beyond the Commonwealth— | |
Where the mails are to be conveyed up to three thousand miles | Eighteen pounds seventeen shillings and four pence per ton by weight |
Where the mails are to be conveyed over three thousand miles and up to six thousand miles | Thirty-six pounds thirteen shillings per ton by weight |
Where the mails are to be conveyed over six thousand miles | Forty-two pounds seventeen shillings and ten pence per ton by weight |
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 12th February, 1959.
† Statutory Rules 1935, No. 3, as amended by Statutory Rules 1935, Nos. 53, 70, 80 and 95; 1936, Nos. 50 and 113; 1937, Nos. 13, 35, 37 and 48; 1938, Nos. 2, 55, 94 and 100; 1939, Nos. 44, 57 and 66; 1940, Nos. 1 and 232; 1942, Nos. 5, 313, 439 and 554; 1943, Nos. 57, 94, 122, 237 and 286; 1944, No. 145; 1945, No. 194; 1946, Nos. 131 and 149; 1947, Nos. 91 and 114; 1948, No. 62; 1949, Nos. 23, 30, 38 and 106; 1950, Nos. 49 and 93; 1951, Nos. 22 and 72; 1952, No. 38; 1953, No. 81; 1954, No. 52; 1955, No. 28; 1956, Nos. 31 and 67; and 1957, No. 38.
By Authority: A. J. ARTHUR, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.
1302/57.—PRICE 3D. 9/22.12.1958.
Overview
The Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 was enacted to regulate the provision of postal and telegraph services within Australia and between Australia and other countries, establishing a framework for efficient and reliable communication infrastructure. This legislative instrument, Statutory Rules 1959 No. 7, amends the Postal Regulations by adjusting the rates of payment for the conveyance of mails and other postal items to address discrepancies and inflation over the years, ensuring that the payments to the masters of vessels transporting mails are fair and updated. The regulation was made by the Governor-General in Council, acting under the authority of the Commonwealth Parliament, with a policy objective to streamline postal service costs and maintain effective postal services across the nation.
Scope and Application
This Statutory Rule, numbered 1959 No. 7, is a regulation made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 and applies to the payment rates for the conveyance of mails, specifically letters and postcards, within and outside Australia. The regulation updates the rates payable to the masters of vessels for transporting mails within harbours and rivers, and to places within and beyond the Commonwealth, with different rates specified for varying distances. The regulation is a Commonwealth instrument, thereby applying nationally across Australia. There are no exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds stated within the regulation itself, but it should be noted that subordinate instruments may extend or restrict its application. The regulation specifically amends Regulation 258 of the Postal Regulations by replacing the existing table with a new one detailing the updated rates. This regulation, effective from the date it was notified in the Commonwealth Gazette, 12th February 1959, provides clear guidelines for the payment of mail transportation services within the scope of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950.
Key Provisions
The primary focus of the Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 is the amendment of Regulation 258, which pertains to payments to masters of vessels for the conveyance of mail. Section 1 outlines the new rates for these payments, replacing the previous table with detailed rates based on the type and destination of the mail. Specifically, section 1(1) of the Regulation establishes that letters and postcards in harbours and on rivers are to be paid at a rate of eightpence per pound, while other mails in these locations are charged at one shilling and four pence per hundredweight. For mails sent to places within the Commonwealth outside of harbours and on rivers, the rate is set at ten pounds per ton by weight. For international mails, the rates vary based on the distance, ranging from eighteen pounds seventeen shillings and four pence per ton for distances up to three thousand miles, to forty-two pounds seventeen shillings and ten pence per ton for distances exceeding six thousand miles.
The obligations imposed by this regulation are primarily on the masters of vessels who transport mail, requiring them to adhere to the newly specified payment rates as outlined in section 1. These rates are to be strictly followed to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950. Additionally, the regulation mandates that the Postmaster-General's Department must process payments according to these updated rates, ensuring that the financial transactions associated with mail transportation are conducted accurately and in accordance with the law.
Failure to comply with the stipulated payment rates or the regulation itself may result in civil or criminal consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed within the text of this Regulation, breaches of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 generally carry potential penalties under the broader legislative framework. These may include fines and, in severe cases, criminal charges. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as any applicable provisions within the overarching act. Therefore, adherence to the specified rates and regulatory requirements is crucial to avoid any legal repercussions.