STATUTORY RULES.
1913. No. 259.
______
REGULATION UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901–1912.
(Issued provisionally us Statutory Rules 1913, No. 208.)
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the undermentioned amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1912, namely:—
Postal Regulations,
Newspapers—General,
to come into operation on the 25th day of October, 1913.
Dated this first day of October, One thousand nine hundred and thirteen.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
AGAR WYNNE.
_________
Postal Regulations,
Newspapers—General,
Regulation 5 under this head (Gazette, No. 26, of the 5th June, 1902, page 242, as amended by Statutory Rules 1910, No. 126) is repealed, and the following Regulation is inserted in its stead:—
“Except in the case of newspapers sent to the United Kingdom by the ‘All-sea’ route, two or more newspapers to the same address can be tied together, but the outside newspaper or wrapper must bear on its face or addressed side the full postage for each paper, and the whole should be tied so that the number of papers can be counted. The limit of weight of newspaper packets addressed to places beyond the Commonwealth, excepting those posted by registered newspaper proprietors or by news vendors to New Zealand, is 5 lbs.”
___________________
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.15306.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1913, No. 259, enacted under the authority of the Governor-General in Council, amends the existing Postal Regulations concerning the mailing of newspapers, specifically repealing and replacing Regulation 5 from the Gazette, No. 26, of 5 June 1902, as previously modified by Statutory Rules 1910, No. 126. The regulation was introduced to address issues regarding the postal mailing of newspapers, ensuring clarity and efficiency in postage application and weight limits for newspaper packets sent both within and outside the Commonwealth. The policy objective is to streamline postal procedures and ensure accurate postage application on newspapers, while also setting clear weight limits to manage the logistical aspects of postal services.
Scope and Application
The Postal Regulations, Newspapers—General, specified in Statutory Rules 1913, No. 259, apply to the transmission of newspapers within and beyond the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations primarily concern the posting of newspapers, detailing the permissible methods for bundling and the requisite postage. Specifically, the regulations govern the physical arrangement of newspapers, stipulating that multiple newspapers addressed to the same location may be tied together, provided that the outermost paper or wrapper clearly indicates the full postage for each individual paper. This rule, however, does not extend to newspapers sent to the United Kingdom via the 'All-sea' route. The regulations also impose a weight limit of 5 lbs on newspaper packets addressed to destinations outside the Commonwealth, with a specific exception for registered newspaper proprietors and news vendors posting to New Zealand. These regulations are subject to further interpretation and application through subordinate instruments, which may provide additional specifications or clarifications to ensure compliance and facilitate the efficient administration of postal services concerning newspapers.
Key Provisions
The Postal Regulations, Newspapers—General section of the legislation primarily updates and replaces an existing regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1912 (Section 1). Regulation 5, previously found in the Gazette on the 5th of June, 1902, has been repealed and replaced with new provisions. The new regulation allows for two or more newspapers to be tied together and sent to the same address, with the stipulation that the outermost newspaper must display the full postage for each paper (Regulation 1). This regulation applies unless the newspapers are being sent to the United Kingdom via the "All-sea" route. The regulation also sets a weight limit of 5 lbs for newspaper packets addressed to places outside the Commonwealth, with an exception made for registered newspaper proprietors or news vendors sending newspapers to New Zealand.
Under this amended regulation, there are specific obligations imposed on parties sending newspapers. Senders must ensure that the outermost newspaper or wrapper displays the correct postage for each paper included in the packet (Regulation 1). Additionally, they must tie the newspapers in such a way that the exact number of papers can be counted, facilitating compliance and ensuring transparency in the postal process. For newspaper packets addressed to locations beyond the Commonwealth, the weight limit of 5 lbs must be adhered to, except for those sent by registered newspaper proprietors or news vendors to New Zealand.
Failure to comply with these provisions can lead to various consequences. The regulation does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, but given the context of postal regulations, it can be inferred that breaches might result in the refusal of service, additional postage fees, or other administrative penalties. Given the historical context of the legislation, severe penalties such as fines or imprisonment might not be explicitly mentioned, but non-compliance could still attract civil or administrative actions under the broader postal and telegraph laws in place at the time.