Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1911 No. 100, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, introduce amendments to the General Postal Regulations regarding the use of stamps on envelopes and wrappers. Enacted by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, these amendments aim to provide clarity and flexibility in the acceptance of coloured envelopes and wrappers for stamping. Specifically, the regulation modifies the earlier rule that disallowed coloured envelopes or wrappers and those too thin to bear the impression of the die, now allowing coloured envelopes and wrappers approved by the Deputy Postmaster-General while still excluding those too thin to bear the stamp impression. This legislative instrument seeks to address the need for updated and more nuanced guidelines in postal practices to facilitate efficient and effective mail service delivery.

Scope and Application

The General Postal Regulations, as amended under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, outline specific provisions regarding the use of stamps on envelopes and wrappers for the public. These regulations apply to all individuals and entities engaging in postal services within the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring compliance with the statutory requirements for mail delivery. The amendment, effective from 22 July 1911, allows the acceptance of coloured envelopes and wrappers for stamp impression, provided they meet the approval criteria set by the Deputy Postmaster-General. However, it explicitly states that envelopes or wrappers too thin to bear the stamp impression remain unacceptable. The regulations extend to the entire Commonwealth, applying uniformly across all states and territories. Additionally, subordinate instruments may further specify or modify these regulations, thereby extending or restricting their application as necessary.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the General Postal Regulations, which amend the previous regulation regarding the impressing of stamps on envelopes and wrappers for the public, pertain primarily to the acceptance criteria for such items (regulation 1). Specifically, regulation 1 revises the criteria to allow for coloured envelopes or wrappers that have been approved by the Deputy Postmaster-General, while still excluding those that are too thin to bear the impression of the die. This regulation ensures that while certain coloured envelopes may now be acceptable, the structural integrity of the envelope or wrapper remains a prerequisite for acceptance. Under these regulations, obligations are placed on both postal service providers and the public. Postal service providers must ensure that only envelopes and wrappers that meet the specified criteria are accepted for stamping, which now includes approved coloured envelopes but excludes those that are too thin. The public, on the other hand, must ensure that their envelopes and wrappers comply with these standards before attempting to have stamps impressed upon them. Failure to comply with these standards may result in the rejection of the envelopes or wrappers by postal service providers. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil or criminal consequences mentioned in this particular regulation for breaches of the specified criteria. However, it is implicit that non-compliance with the acceptance criteria may result in the non-acceptance or rejection of envelopes or wrappers by postal service providers. While this may inconvenience the public, there are no stated penalties for the failure to comply with these standards within the regulation itself.