STATUTORY RULES.
1905. No. 38.
———
REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901.
(See Statutory Rule No. 24 of 1905.)
I, THE Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the attached Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, namely:—
General Postal Regulations.—Payment of Postage by the Receiver,
to come into operation on the first day of July, 1905.
Dated this ninth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and five.
NORTHCOTE,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
SYDNEY SMITH.
————
GENERAL POSTAL REGULATIONS.
Payment of Postage by the Receiver.
The Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, published in the Commonwealth Gazette on the 5th June, 1902, are hereby amended by the insertion of the following new regulation under the above head:—
3. The postage on the following postal articles may be paid by the receiver instead of being prepaid by the sender:—
Correspondence from Commonwealth Electoral Registrars to Commonwealth Divisional Returning Officers, if posted within the Commonwealth, enclosed in covers bearing the printed address—
“The Divisional Returning Officer,
Commonwealth Electoral Division
of...................”
and having printed thereon the words, “Commonwealth Electoral Registrar...............,” and “Postage to be paid on delivery under provisions of Section 97 (q) of Post and Telegraph Act 1901.”
By Authority: Robt. S. Brain, Government Printer, Melbourne.
C.6163.—Price 3d.
Overview
The General Postal Regulations, published as Statutory Rule No. 38 of 1905, represent amendments to the existing regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901. These regulations were enacted by the Governor-General in Council and aim to address the administrative convenience in the payment of postage for certain types of correspondence, particularly in the context of Commonwealth electoral processes. Specifically, the regulations allow for the payment of postage by the receiver instead of requiring the sender to prepay the postage on electoral correspondence from Commonwealth Electoral Registrars to Commonwealth Divisional Returning Officers. This change facilitates the efficient handling of electoral materials within the Commonwealth by ensuring that postage is paid at the point of delivery, thereby streamlining the postal process during critical electoral periods. The regulations underscore the intent to enhance operational efficiency in the context of electoral communications.
Scope and Application
The General Postal Regulations made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 apply to postal articles that require postage, specifically allowing the receiver to pay the postage instead of the sender in certain circumstances. This applies to correspondence from Commonwealth Electoral Registrars to Commonwealth Divisional Returning Officers, which must be enclosed in specific covers bearing designated printed addresses and wording as outlined in the regulation. This regulation is geographically limited to postal articles posted within the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulation specifies that the exemption from prepayment of postage applies only to the described correspondence, indicating a clear limitation in terms of both the type of document and the parties involved. This regulation extends the application of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 by providing a specific instance where the usual requirement for prepayment of postage is waived, thereby facilitating the postal process for electoral communications within the Commonwealth.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this statutory rule concern amendments to the General Postal Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, specifically regarding the payment of postage by the receiver (Regulation 3). This regulation allows for certain correspondence to be sent with the postage paid by the receiver rather than the sender. Regulation 3 outlines that correspondence from Commonwealth Electoral Registrars to Commonwealth Divisional Returning Officers, when posted within the Commonwealth and bearing specific printed addresses and wordings, may have the postage paid by the receiver. This is permitted under Section 97(q) of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901.
The obligations imposed by this Act on the parties involved primarily pertain to the proper addressing and marking of the correspondence. Commonwealth Electoral Registrars must ensure that the correspondence is enclosed in covers bearing the printed address "The Divisional Returning Officer, Commonwealth Electoral Division of..." and includes the words "Commonwealth Electoral Registrar..." and "Postage to be paid on delivery under provisions of Section 97(q) of Post and Telegraph Act 1901." This marking ensures that the correspondence qualifies for the payment of postage by the receiver.
Failure to comply with these regulations could lead to civil or administrative consequences, although the specific penalties are not detailed within the statutory rule itself. However, given the context of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, non-compliance might result in fines or other penalties as prescribed under the broader postal regulations. The exact nature and extent of these penalties would be further defined in the overarching postal legislation.