Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Postal Regulations of 1912, enacted by the Governor-General in Council under the authority of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, aim to amend the existing regulations governing the handling of printed papers, specifically post cards, within the Commonwealth and its territories, as well as to New Zealand and Fiji. The purpose of these amendments is to allow cards inscribed as "Post Card" to be treated as printed papers if they adhere to the relevant regulations concerning printed materials, and if they contain only the necessary address information without any additional writing. This legislative instrument was issued provisionally as Statutory Rules 1911 No. 203 and was brought into operation on 13 April 1912, with the intent of providing clearer guidelines on the classification and treatment of post cards within the postal system.

Scope and Application

The Postal Regulations, as amended by Statutory Rules 1911 No. 203, pertain to the handling of packets within the Commonwealth of Australia and for international delivery to Papua (British New Guinea), New Zealand, and Fiji. These regulations are enacted under the authority of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910 and are designed to govern the postal services' operations, particularly concerning the transportation of mail items. The regulations specifically address the treatment of postcards, stipulating that cards inscribed with "Post Card" may be permitted as printed papers if they comply with relevant regulations for printed papers and only bear the name and address of the recipient and sender. The regulations came into effect on the 13th of April, 1912, and were issued provisionally as Statutory Rules 1911 No. 203. The scope of these regulations is confined to postal services within Australia and to certain international destinations, and they do not extend beyond these boundaries unless further specified through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-10, specifically section 4, pertains to the treatment of cards bearing the inscription "Post Card". It allows such cards to be treated as Printed Papers, provided they adhere to the regulations governing Printed Papers and bear only the name and address of the recipient and the sender (Regulation 4). This means that if a card is labelled as a post card and includes no additional writing apart from the necessary addresses, it can be processed under the same conditions as Printed Papers. Under this legislation, the obligations imposed on the parties involved include strict adherence to the format and content requirements for post cards. For instance, any card intended to be sent as a post card must not include any extraneous writing beyond the specified addresses. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the card not being processed as a post card, which could lead to higher postal rates or rejection of the card. Breach of the regulations can result in several consequences. Although the document does not specify detailed offences or penalties, it is implied that non-compliance with the provisions could lead to the card being treated as a different type of mail, potentially incurring higher postage fees. Furthermore, persistent non-compliance could result in administrative actions, such as warnings or more stringent enforcement measures by postal authorities. The exact penalties or consequences for breach are not detailed in the provided text but could be explored further within the full scope of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-10.