Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules of 1913, No. 229, represent a series of amended Regulations made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, and were issued provisionally as Statutory Rules 1913, No. 155. This legislative instrument was enacted by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, to amend existing regulations pertaining to postal, telegraphic, and telephone services. The primary objective of these amendments was to address specific needs in the transmission of electoral information, both in terms of papers and telegrams, and to update the standards for telephone lines in country districts. These regulations were designed to come into operation on the thirteenth day of September, 1913, reflecting the evolving requirements of communication infrastructure in Australia during that period.

Scope and Application

The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, as set forth in Statutory Rules 1913, No. 229, apply to various aspects of postal, telegraphic, and telephonic services within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations specifically govern the transmission of electoral papers, electoral telegrams, and referendum telegrams, as well as the installation of telephone lines in country districts. The regulations provide detailed instructions and standards for these services, ensuring they are conducted efficiently and accurately. For example, the regulations specify the content and permissible information in electoral and referendum telegrams, along with the applicable transmission rates. Furthermore, they outline the physical requirements for telephone lines in country districts, such as the minimum height of wires above roads, tracks, and public places, as well as the construction standards for poles at crossings. These regulations are designed to maintain the integrity and functionality of communication services during critical events like elections and referenda, and to ensure the safety and reliability of telephone infrastructure in rural areas.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of these regulations pertain to the handling of electoral papers, telegrams concerning Commonwealth parliamentary elections and referenda, and the erection of telephone lines in country districts. Section 1 under the heading "Electoral Papers" specifies the amendment to the figures in clause (c), changing "1909" to "1912". Under "Telegraphic Regulations", Section 2 repeals the previous regulation and introduces new provisions for "Electoral and Referendum Telegrams", outlining the content and the rates for their transmission. Lastly, under "Telephone Regulations", Section 76 outlines the new regulation concerning the erection of telephone lines, stipulating the minimum height of the wire and the specifications for poles at crossings. These regulations impose specific requirements on those involved in transmitting electoral information via post, telegraph, and telephone. For electoral papers, the updated figures in clause (c) must be adhered to. For telegrams, only information strictly related to the electoral process and referenda, as outlined in the new regulation, can be transmitted at the prescribed rates. Regarding telephone lines, the erection standards must be met to ensure safety and structural integrity, with particular attention to the height of wires along roads, tracks, and public places, as well as the specifications for poles at crossings. The regulations also outline consequences for non-compliance. While the document does not explicitly state penalties for breaches of these regulations, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance could lead to legal consequences under the broader framework of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910. Given the context of statutory regulations, penalties could include fines or other sanctions, although the specific maximum penalties are not detailed within these regulations. It is likely that the penalties would be consistent with those provided for under the overarching Act or other relevant legislation.