Ex. Min. No. 445. Commonwealth of Australia.
Postmaster-General’s Department,
2nd October, 1902.
Ex. Min. No. 445. Commonwealth of Australia.
Postmaster-General’s Department,
2nd October, 1902.
IS Excellency the Acting Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, by and with the advice of the Executive Council thereof, has approved that the regulations made, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 (as published in the Commonwealth Gazette of the 5th June, 1902, No. 26). be amended as shown hereunder to take effect on and from the 24th day of October, 1902.
JAMES G. DRAKE,
Postmaster-General
Amendments of Regulations.
Transaction of Business after usual Office Hours.
Arrangements may be made to keep any official office open for the transmission of telegrams after the ordinary business hours, upon notice being given to the officer in charge, at least one hour before the ordinary time of closing, and upon payment of a deposit of Two shillings and sixpence (2s. 6d.) for the first hour or portion thereof, and One shilling and sixpence (1s. 6d.) for every subsequent hour, or portion thereof, during which it is desired the office shall be kept open. All telegrams transmitted must be paid for at the usual rates.
Private Telephone Lines in Country Districts.
6. On the completion of the line to the satisfaction of the Deputy Postmaster-General a licence to use it shall be issued. A licence-fee of Five shillings per annum payable in advance shall be charged, irrespective of the length of the line. This fee covers the use of one line only. If the line be extended so as to connect additional stations, a further fee of Five shillings per annum for each additional line shall be charged; and, in the case of a line joining two pastoral holdings, a separate licence-fee shall be charged for each holding occupied by a different lessee, irrespective of the length of the line, and such fee must be paid in advance.
7. Where such line is erected partly on existing poles the property of the Postmaster-General, the sum of Twenty-five shillings (25s.) per annum per mile, payable annually in advance, shall be charged for the portion erected on such poles, in addition to the licence-fee mentioned. The wire on such poles shall be erected and maintained by the Postmaster-General, and the licensee must undertake to rent the line for a period of at least Six (6) years.
Telephone Regulations.
First sentence of clause 13 to be amended to read as follows:— The name of every subscriber will be inserted once free of charge in each issue of the Telephone Directory, but an annual fee of Five shillings shall be charged for each additional name inserted at the request of a subscriber, but more than six names shall not be inserted at the request of any one person.
Commonwealth Press Telegrams.
3. Commonwealth press telegrams shall mean those relating to parliamentary, executive, and departmental proceedings of the Commonwealth, or parliamentary papers and bills, or summaries thereof, without notes or comments or any extraneous matter beyond what may be necessary to afford a connective statement of the facts.
Counting and Charging Telegrams.
Regulation 22 (3) to read—“Every isolated character, letter, or figure.”
Addition to Regulation Fixing Rates for Conversations over Telephone Trunk Lines other than Press.
The period for which a line may be used by any one person shall not exceed six (6) minutes in cases where other persons are waiting to use the line.
Overview
The Post and Telegraph Act 1901 was enacted to establish and regulate the operations of the postal and telegraph services in the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia. The Act was introduced to address the need for a unified and efficient system to manage communications across the vast and diverse territory of Australia. Enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, the primary policy objective of the Act was to ensure the provision of reliable and accessible postal and telegraph services throughout the nation. The accompanying regulations, including those detailed in the Legislative Instrument No. 445 of 1902, further define the operational aspects, fees, and administrative procedures to maintain the integrity and efficiency of these services. The regulations outline specific provisions for the extension of business hours for telegram transmissions, the licensing of private telephone lines, and the charging of fees for additional entries in the telephone directory, amongst other administrative details.
Scope and Application
The legislative instrument pertains to the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, specifically amending the regulations concerning the operation of post and telegraph services within the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulations apply to the conduct and transactions of the Postmaster-General's Department and the individuals or entities involved in the use of telegraph and telephone services. The amendments introduce fees for the use of telegraph offices outside of normal business hours and establish a licensing system for private telephone lines in country districts, with fees charged based on the number of lines and the length of the line. Additionally, the regulations specify charges for inserting subscriber names in the telephone directory and define the scope of Commonwealth press telegrams. The instrument also sets a time limit for the use of telephone trunk lines to ensure equitable access for all users. The amendments are applicable across the Commonwealth, as they are issued under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, and they are effective from the date specified in the instrument.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this legislation involve amendments to the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, primarily concerning the transaction of business after usual office hours, the licensing of private telephone lines in country districts, and adjustments to the Telephone Directory insertions and the charging of telegrams. Specifically, section 6 of the amended regulations allows for the arrangement of keeping an office open for telegram transmission after usual hours, subject to prior notice and payment of a deposit fee. Similarly, section 7 outlines the licensing and fee structure for private telephone lines, including additional charges for extended lines or those connecting multiple pastoral holdings. Furthermore, the regulation amendments include a change to the insertion of subscriber names in the Telephone Directory, stipulating a free initial insertion and a fee for each additional name requested by the subscriber, with a maximum of six names per person (section 13).
The obligations imposed on the parties by this Act include the requirement to give notice and pay a deposit for extending office hours for telegram transactions. For private telephone lines, parties must obtain a licence upon line completion and pay the prescribed annual fee, as well as any additional fees for extensions or multiple holdings. For the Telephone Directory, subscribers must pay for any insertions beyond the initial free entry. The Act also mandates that Commonwealth press telegrams adhere to specific content guidelines, excluding notes, comments, or extraneous matter beyond what is necessary for a factual statement.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Act may lead to various consequences. While the specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences are not explicitly stated in the provided text, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with payment obligations or regulatory requirements could result in administrative penalties, fines, or other enforcement actions under the authority of the Postmaster-General’s Department. Additionally, the strict guidelines for Commonwealth press telegrams suggest that violations could lead to disciplinary measures or legal consequences for disseminating unauthorised content. The Act thus ensures compliance through clear operational and financial obligations, backed by the potential for regulatory enforcement.