Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

Statutory Rules 1912, No. 215, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, introduced an amendment to the General Postal Regulations concerning the payment of postage by the receiver for official correspondence in the State of Queensland. This legislative instrument was issued by the Governor-General in Council, addressing the need for streamlined postal processes for specific official communications between departments. The regulation allows postal articles addressed to the Under-Secretary of the Department of Public Instruction in Brisbane, bearing certain endorsements, to be sent without prepayment of postage, with the recipient paying the postage upon delivery. This legislative amendment was designed to facilitate the efficient transmission of educational materials and correspondence, reflecting the policy objective of enhancing administrative convenience and reducing bureaucratic barriers in postal communications within the state.

Scope and Application

The amended General Postal Regulations, introduced under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, specifically address the payment of postage for official correspondence within the State of Queensland. These regulations apply to postal articles that are enclosed in envelopes bearing specific endorsements and addresses, such as those addressed to "O.H.M.S. The Under-Secretary, Department of Public Instruction, Brisbane" with a particular school number. The regulation exempts these items from the requirement of prepayment of postage; instead, the postage at prepaid rates is to be paid by the recipient upon delivery. The scope of this amendment is limited geographically to the State of Queensland and pertains to designated official correspondence. The regulation was designed to streamline the postal process for specific government-related communications while ensuring that the Commonwealth's postal services remain financially viable through the payment of postage at the point of delivery. This legislative instrument was issued provisionally and came into operation on the ninth day of November, 1912.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Statutory Rules 1912, No. 215, pertain to the General Postal Regulations concerning the payment of postage by the receiver for official correspondence in the State of Queensland. Specifically, section 1 amends the existing regulation by inserting a new provision that allows certain postal articles to be sent without prepayment of postage (Section 1). These articles must be enclosed in envelopes bearing specific endorsements and address details, such as "O.H.M.S." and "The Under-Secretary, Department of Public Instruction, Brisbane," followed by particulars like school number and year (Section 1). The amended regulation imposes obligations on the parties involved, particularly those sending official correspondence within Queensland. It mandates that the senders must ensure the envelopes bear the specified endorsements and address details to qualify for the exemption from prepayment of postage (Section 1). The receivers of these postal articles are required to pay the postage at the prepaid rates upon delivery, effectively shifting the financial responsibility from the sender to the recipient (Section 1). Failure to comply with the provisions set out in these regulations can result in various consequences. While the specific text does not detail explicit offences or penalties, non-compliance could potentially lead to the postal service refusing to process such correspondence without prepayment, or requiring the sender to pay additional postage fees. The penalties or consequences for such breaches are not explicitly stated within the text, but they could involve administrative fines or other sanctions as determined by the relevant postal authority.