STATUTORY RULES.
1931. No. 61.
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 following Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, to come into operation on and from the 29th January, 1931.
Dated this twenty-eighth day of May, 1931.
ISAAC A. ISAACS
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
A. E. GREEN
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Postal Regulations.
(Statutory Rules, 1927, No. 144, as amended to this date.)
Regulation 210 of the Postal Regulations is repealed and the following Regulation inserted in its stead:—
210.—(1.) The rate of commission chargeable for the issue of Money Orders shall be as follows:—
(a) For orders payable in—
The Commonwealth: 6d. for each £5 or fraction of £5. Papua, Rabaul (New Guinea), Nauru, Fiji, New Caledonia 3d. for each £1 or fraction of £1 with minimum of 6d.
(b) For orders payable in or through New Zealand: 3d. for each £1 or fraction of £1 with minimum of 6d.
(c) For orders payable in or through Gilbert und Ellice Islands, North Borneo, Solomon Islands, Tonga: 4d. for each £1 or fraction of £1 for the first £6, and 3d. for each additional £1 or fraction of £1 with minimum of 9d.
(d) For orders payable in or through Canada, Ceylon, Dutch East Indies, Egypt, Federated Malay States, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Irish Free State; Italy, Malta; Mauritius, Norway, Straits Settlements, Union of South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America (including Hawaii and Pago Pago) Philippine Islands: 4d. for each £1 or fraction of £1 for the first £6 and 3d. for each additional £1 or fraction of £1 with minimum of 9d.
(e) For Maternity Allowance Money Orders: 2d. for each order.
(2.) In addition to the commission specified in paragraph (b) and (d) of Sub-regulation (1) of this Regulation, the remitter of a Money Order drawn on any of the countries specified in those paragraphs shall pay the sum required by the Department to cover exchange on the amount remitted.
By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.
1236.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1931, No. 61, enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, were established by the Governor-General, in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. These regulations, which came into effect on 29th January 1931, were designed to amend the Postal Regulations concerning the commission rates for issuing Money Orders. The problem these regulations sought to address was the need for updated and more specific commission rates for various locations and purposes, reflecting changes in postal services and international exchange rates. The policy objective was to ensure that the charges for issuing Money Orders were both fair and reflective of the administrative and transactional costs involved, while also considering the economic conditions of different regions.
Scope and Application
The Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, effective from 29 January 1931, establish specific rates for commission charges on the issuance of Money Orders, detailing different rates for various jurisdictions. These regulations apply to the issuance of Money Orders within the Commonwealth of Australia and to various specified territories and countries, including Papua, Rabaul, Nauru, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, North Borneo, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Canada, Ceylon, Dutch East Indies, Egypt, Federated Malay States, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Irish Free State, Italy, Malta, Mauritius, Norway, Straits Settlements, Union of South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America including Hawaii and Pago Pago, and Philippine Islands. Each jurisdiction has a distinct rate structure, with some areas having a minimum charge applied. Additionally, for Money Orders payable in or through certain countries, the remitter is required to cover the exchange costs. These regulations provide clarity and consistency in the financial transactions associated with Money Orders across the specified regions.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of these regulations concern the amendment of the Postal Regulations, specifically Regulation 210, which pertains to the rates of commission chargeable for the issue of Money Orders. According to Section 210(1), different rates apply depending on the destination of the Money Order. For example, for orders payable within the Commonwealth, the rate is six pence for each five pounds or fraction thereof, while for orders payable in Papua, Rabaul, Nauru, Fiji, New Caledonia, or through New Zealand, the rate is three pence for each pound or fraction thereof, with a minimum charge of six pence. These rates vary for different territories and conditions, as detailed in the regulation.
The obligations imposed by these regulations on parties or entities include adherence to the specified rates for issuing Money Orders as outlined in Section 210. This means that anyone issuing a Money Order under these regulations must pay the prescribed commission rates based on the destination and other specified conditions. Additionally, remitters of Money Orders drawn on countries specified in Section 210(1)(b) and (d) must also pay the sum required by the Department to cover exchange on the remitted amount.
In terms of penalties and consequences for breach, the regulations do not explicitly mention any specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences. However, non-compliance with the stipulated rates and additional requirements may result in the refusal to process the Money Order or other administrative actions taken by the Department. Given the historical context of these regulations, any breach might have led to administrative penalties or denial of service, as was typical for non-compliance with postal regulations during that era.