POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT.
POSTAL REGULATIONS.
Statutory Rules 1963, No. 35(a)
Keys.
1. Regulation 133 of the Postal Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (5.) the words “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.”.
Refund on relinquishment of private box.
2. Regulation 137 of the Postal Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words “, on return by him to the Department of all the keys of the box,”.
Payments to masters of vessels.
3.—(1.) 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 or on rivers | Eight pence per pound |
Mails (other than letters and post cards) in harbours or on rivers | One shilling and fourpence per hundredweight |
Mails to places within the Commonwealth, otherwise than in harbours or on rivers | Ten pounds per ton by weight |
Mails to places beyond the Commonwealth— | |
where the mails are to be conveyed not more than 2,999 miles | Twenty-one pounds eighteen shillings and twopence per ton by weight |
where the mails are to be conveyed more than 2,999 miles but not more than 6,000 miles | Forty-two pounds eleven shillings and threepence per ton by weight |
where the mails are to be conveyed more than 6,000 miles | Forty-nine pounds sixteen shillings and threepence per ton by weight |
(2.) Regulation 258 of the Postal Regulations, as amended by the last preceding sub-regulation, applies to and in relation to the conveyance of mails on and after the first day of January, 1963.
(a) Made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1961 on 25th April, 1963; notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 26th April, 1963.
Overview
The Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1961, enacted by the Australian Parliament, addresses the regulation of postal services within the country. The Act was updated through Statutory Rules 1963, No. 35, issued on 25th April 1963, and notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 26th April 1963. These regulations primarily aim to streamline the administrative processes related to the use and relinquishment of private postal boxes and to standardise the rates of payment for the conveyance of mails to and from various destinations, both within and outside Australia. The changes include the removal of certain conditions regarding the return of keys for private boxes and the establishment of new rates for the conveyance of mails by vessels.
Scope and Application
The Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1961, as amended by the Postal Regulations Statutory Rules 1963, No. 35, encompasses various postal services and the conduct related to them across Australia. The Act applies to individuals and entities involved in postal services, including the Department of Posts and Telecommunications, which is responsible for administering and enforcing the regulations. The regulations govern aspects such as the rental of private mail boxes, the handling and return of keys, and the payment of fees. Notably, the Act specifies that refunds on the relinquishment of private boxes are no longer contingent upon the return of keys. Additionally, the Act regulates payments to masters of vessels for the conveyance of mails, providing detailed rates based on the distance and type of mail conveyed. The amended Postal Regulations, effective from 1st January 1963, establish these revised payment structures and conditions, thereby impacting entities engaged in maritime postal services within and beyond the Commonwealth. The scope of the Act is national, with its provisions extending across all states and territories of Australia, ensuring a uniform framework for postal services and related transactions.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Postal Regulations, as amended by Statutory Rules 1963, No. 35, focus on the modification of specific sub-regulations related to the management of postal services. Regulation 133, concerning keys for rented private boxes, is amended to remove the clause that held the tenant liable for rental fees until the keys were returned. This change removes a potential financial burden on tenants who may lose or otherwise misplace the keys to their rented postal boxes. Regulation 137, relating to the relinquishment of private boxes, is similarly amended by removing the requirement that the tenant return all keys to the Department upon relinquishment. This alteration simplifies the process of relinquishing a private box by reducing administrative steps. Regulation 258, which pertains to the payment rates for the conveyance of mails, has been entirely revised with a new table outlining different rates based on the distance and type of mail being conveyed. These new rates apply to mails transported on or after 1 January 1963.
The amended Postal Regulations impose specific obligations and requirements on the parties involved in the management and use of postal services. Tenants of private postal boxes are no longer obligated to return all keys to the Department upon relinquishment of the box, which simplifies the relinquishment process. Moreover, tenants are no longer liable for continued rental fees if they fail to return the keys, alleviating a potential financial obligation. The new payment rates outlined in Regulation 258 establish clear guidelines for the Department to follow when determining the cost for the conveyance of mails, ensuring consistency and transparency in billing practices.
The legislation also outlines potential consequences for non-compliance with the amended regulations. While the specific offences and penalties are not detailed within the text of these regulations, breaches of postal regulations generally could lead to civil or criminal actions under the broader Post and Telegraph Act. Such actions may include fines or other penalties as determined by the relevant authorities. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as any additional provisions outlined in the overarching legislation.