Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1908, No. 2, Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, were enacted to refine and amend existing regulations concerning the counting and charging of telegrams within the Commonwealth and the provision of public telephones on private premises. This legislative instrument was issued by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The primary objective of these regulations is to establish clear guidelines for the pricing and service conditions of telegraphic communications and public telephone services, ensuring both the efficiency and profitability of these services. These regulations introduce specific criteria for counting and charging telegrams based on the language and format used, whether plain language, code, or cipher. Additionally, they provide detailed conditions for the provision of public telephones on private premises, including financial agreements and revenue sharing arrangements between the service provider and the Postmaster-General. The intent is to maintain a balanced and transparent system that adequately compensates for service costs while facilitating the use of public communication services.

Scope and Application

The Post and Telegraph Regulations of 1908, as amended under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, govern the use and administration of telegraphic services within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations apply to the transmission, counting, and charging of telegrams sent within Australia, establishing guidelines for how telegrams may be written and the rates at which they are charged. They cover telegrams that may be composed in plain language, code, or cipher, and provide specific definitions and counting methods for each type. Furthermore, these regulations outline the conditions under which public telephones may be installed on private premises when the anticipated revenue does not cover the rental costs, detailing financial agreements and responsibilities between the applicant and the Postmaster-General. These regulations set forth a national framework for the administration of telegraphic services and public telephones, applying uniformly across the Commonwealth of Australia, and are supplemented by additional provisions in subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The amended regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, specifically the Telegraphic Regulations and the Telephone Regulations, outline the procedures for the counting and charging of telegrams, as well as the conditions for providing public telephones on private premises. Under the Telegraphic Regulations, telegrams can be written in various forms including plain language, code, cipher, or a combination of these (Reg. 1). Plain language is defined as words contained in Webster's English Dictionary or words in admitted languages that have an intelligible connected meaning (Reg. 1a). Code is defined as words in admitted languages that have no connected meaning or artificial words pronounceable in those languages (Reg. 1b). Cipher is defined as a group of letters or Arabic figures that do not form a recognisable word (Reg. 1c). The regulations detail how words are counted and charged for each form of telegram, with specific rates and minimum charges set out (Regs. 1d to 1h). The obligations imposed by the regulations include the requirement for telegrams to be written in one of the specified forms and for the sender to pay the appropriate charges based on the content and length of the telegram. For public telephones on private premises, applicants must enter into an agreement with the Postmaster-General to make good any shortfall in revenue from the use of the telephone and deposit an amount equal to half the rental for six months (Reg. 49a). The agreement must last for one year, and any excess revenue above the rental amount is to be divided equally between the applicant and the Postmaster-General (Reg. 49a(e)). Calls originating at the telephone must be paid for at a rate of 1d per call by cash inserted in a coin attachment provided by the Postmaster-General (Reg. 49a(f)). For breaches of these regulations, the penalties and consequences are not explicitly detailed in the provided text. However, under the general legal framework, non-compliance with regulations could potentially lead to administrative actions, fines, or other penalties as prescribed by the relevant legislation. For example, failure to pay the charges for telegrams or public telephone services could result in financial penalties or the suspension of services. It is advisable for parties to strictly adhere to the stipulated procedures to avoid any adverse consequences.