Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1913, No. 178, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, was enacted to address the issue of ensuring transparency and accountability in the postal service, particularly concerning the origin of printed materials sent through the postal system. The regulation was issued provisionally as Statutory Rules 1913, No. 93, and came into operation on 12 July 1913. 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. The policy objective of this amendment was to require catalogues printed in Australia and sent at a special postal rate to bear an imprint specifying that they were printed in Australia and include the name and address of the printer, thereby enhancing the traceability and authenticity of such printed materials within the postal system.

Scope and Application

The Postal Regulations, as amended by Statutory Rules 1913, No. 178, apply to the Commonwealth of Australia, including its territories such as Papua (British New Guinea) and Fiji. Specifically, these Regulations pertain to the postage of catalogues and stipulate that any catalogues posted at the special rate must bear an imprint indicating that they have been wholly set up and printed in Australia. Additionally, the imprint must include the name and address of the printer. This regulation ensures transparency and compliance with the designated postage rates, thereby applying to individuals and entities involved in the printing and distribution of catalogues within the specified regions. The amendment, which came into operation on 12 July 1913, extends the existing regulations to enforce these requirements more rigorously, particularly by mandating the inclusion of printer details on catalogues posted under the special rate.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Postal Regulations, specifically Regulation 2, require that any catalogues posted within the Commonwealth and to Papua (British New Guinea) and Fiji at the special postage rate for catalogues must bear an imprint indicating that they have been wholly set up and printed in Australia. Moreover, these catalogues must also display the name and address of the printer (Reg. 2). This amendment to Regulation 2, which comes into effect on 12 July 1913, aims to ensure transparency and accuracy in postal services by mandating that only those catalogues meeting the specified criteria can benefit from the special postage rate. The Act imposes clear obligations on entities sending catalogues through the postal service. Specifically, these entities must ensure that any catalogues they post are indeed wholly set up and printed in Australia, and they must include an imprint stating this fact. Furthermore, the name and address of the printer must be clearly visible on the catalogue. Failure to adhere to these requirements means the catalogue will not qualify for the special postage rate, potentially leading to additional charges for postage. Breaching the obligations set out in Regulation 2 can result in administrative and financial penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the statutory rules, non-compliance could lead to the catalogues being charged at the standard postage rate rather than the special rate, which could incur additional costs for the sender. Additionally, persistent non-compliance might attract further scrutiny or enforcement actions from postal authorities, potentially resulting in more severe repercussions for the sender.