STATUTORY RULES.
1931. No. 4.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1923.
I, THE person administering the Government of 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 forthwith.
Dated this twenty-first day of January, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-one.
SOMERS
Administering the Government of the
Commonwealth of Australia.
By His Excellency’s Command,
J. A. LYONS
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Postal Regulations.
(Statutory Rules 1927, No. 144, as amended to this date.)
1. The following regulation is inserted after regulation 18:—
18a. Any person who places or causes to be placed in or upon a publication which has not been registered at a General Post Office for transmission through the post as a book, as a periodical, or as a newspaper, as the case may be, an inscription likely to give the impression that such publication has been so registered shall be guilty of an offence.
Penalty, £50.
2. Regulation 142 is amended by omitting from paragraph (a) of section (1.) the words “wax, gum, or other adhesive substance” and inserting in their stead the words “some adhesive substance”.
By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.
3429.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1931, No. 4, pertain to amendments under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations were made to address the issue of publications falsely claiming registration for postal transmission. The amendments aim to deter individuals from misinforming the public about the registration status of their publications by imposing a penalty for such actions. This legislative instrument was crafted under the authority of the person administering the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, to ensure the integrity and proper functioning of postal services. The policy objective is to uphold the regulatory standards and ensure compliance within the postal system.
Scope and Application
The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 apply to any person who engages in the act of placing or causing to be placed in or upon a publication that has not been registered at a General Post Office for transmission through the post as a book, periodical, or newspaper, an inscription that gives the impression of such registration. This stipulation is intended to ensure that only publications properly registered with the postal service are circulated under the presumption of being so registered, thereby maintaining the integrity of the postal system's registration process. The geographic reach of these regulations is nationwide, as they are enacted under the Commonwealth of Australia's authority. The amended regulation imposes a penalty of £50 for any violation, underscoring the seriousness with which such misrepresentations are viewed. Additionally, the regulation clarifies the types of adhesive substances permitted for use in postal services, broadening the scope from specific substances like wax or gum to a general category of "some adhesive substance," thus providing more flexibility in compliance. These regulations extend the application of the Act through subordinate instruments, ensuring comprehensive coverage of postal practices and standards.
Key Provisions
The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 introduce several key provisions to regulate postal services. Firstly, a new regulation (18a) is introduced to address the issue of misleading inscriptions on publications. According to this regulation, any person placing or causing to be placed an inscription on a publication, which has not been registered at a General Post Office for transmission, that gives the impression of such registration is guilty of an offence. This measure aims to prevent deceptive practices that may exploit the postal system for unapproved publications. Regulation 142 is also amended, with the specific wording regarding the use of adhesive substances changed from “wax, gum, or other adhesive substance” to “some adhesive substance”. This change broadens the scope of substances covered under this regulation, providing a more comprehensive approach to controlling the materials used in postal activities.
The obligations and requirements imposed by these regulations are primarily directed towards individuals and entities involved in the dissemination of publications through postal services. They must ensure that any publications are appropriately registered with the General Post Office before transmission, and they must avoid using inscriptions that falsely imply registration. Furthermore, the regulations require that any adhesive substances used in the preparation of these publications comply with the updated criteria set out in regulation 142. These provisions are designed to maintain the integrity of postal services and ensure compliance with legal standards.
The Regulations also outline specific consequences for breaches of these provisions. For instance, regulation 18a stipulates that any person found guilty of placing a misleading inscription on an unregistered publication is subject to a penalty of £50. This penalty serves as a deterrent against deceptive practices and ensures that individuals adhere to the regulatory requirements. The financial penalty is a clear indicator of the seriousness with which the law treats such violations, reinforcing the importance of compliance with postal regulations. Additionally, the amendment to regulation 142, although it modifies the wording of permissible adhesive substances, also implicitly carries the risk of penalties if non-compliant materials are used in postal activities.