Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1907L00057 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

STATUTORY RULES.

1907. No. 57.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT, 1901.

(Issued provisionally as Statutory Rules 1907, No. 16.)

I, THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the undermentioned amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, namely:—

Money Orders,

to come into operation on the fifteenth day of June, 1907.

Dated this twenty-second day of May, One thousand nine hundred and seven.

HARRY H. RAWSON,

Deputy Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

AUSTIN CHAPMAN.

———

Money Orders.

Regulation 4, made by Statutory Rules, 1906, No. 40, is repealed, and the following substituted in lieu thereof:—

4. The rates of commission chargeable for the issue of Money Orders shall be—

If Payable in—

For Sums—

Not exceeding £2

Exceeding £2 but not exceeding £5

Exceeding £5 but not exceeding £7.

Exceeding £7 but not exceeding £10.

Exceeding £10 but not exceeding £12.

Exceeding £12 but not exceeding £15.

Exceeding £15 but not exceeding £17.

Exceeding £17 but not exceeding £20.

 

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The Commonwealth.........

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6

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6

1

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1

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1

6

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6

2

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2

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New Zealand and Fiji........

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6

1

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6

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6

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6

4

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United Kingdom, other British Possessions, and Foreign Countries 

6d. for each pound or fraction of a pound.

Regulations 3, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 of the Postal Regulations (published in the Commonwealth Gazette of the 5th June, 1902) under the head “Money Orders” are repealed, and the following substituted in lieu thereof:—

3. Money orders shall be issued and paid as under—

At the Chief Money Order Office of each State—Monday 10 Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.

At all other Money Order Offices within the Commonwealth daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; but offices may be opened and closed at other hours when deemed necessary by the Postmaster-General.

C.6325—Price 3d.

6. No single order payable in the Commonwealth, the United States of America, or Italy, may be issued for more than £20, nor for more than £40 to the United Kingdom (and places viâ the United Kingdom), Germany (and German Protectorates), Canada, Fiji, New Zealand, Cape Colony, Orange River Colony, The Transvaal, Natal, Hong Kong, India, Ceylon (and places viâ Ceylon), the Straits Settlements, and Tonga; to all other places the limit is £10. Two or more orders may be obtained when it is desired to remit larger amounts. No order may contain a fraction of a penny.

14. An order once issued shall not be cancelled, and if repayment, alteration of name of payee, correction of error in name of remitter or payee, or transfer of payment to a different office be required, application must be made on a form provided for the purpose, and obtainable at any money order office. Every such application must be accompanied by postage stamps or a postal note to the value of 6d. in the cases of alteration or correction of name, and to the value of the amount of commission chargeable on an order for a like sum in the cases of repayment or transfer of payment.

15. The remitter of a money order may apply at the issuing office for an alteration in the name of the payee or remitter, and it may be granted, provided the application is in writing, and accompanied by the prescribed fee, and the issuing officer is satisfied that the applicant is the remitter. If a telegraph order, the alteration shall only be sent by post.

16. If it be desired to stop payment of an order payable in the Commonwealth, notice, accompanied by a fee of 6d., must be sent to the office at which the order is payable.

17. If a money order payable in the Commonwealth be lost, a duplicate may be obtained on application to the Chief Money Order Office in the State of payment (or, if the order was issued in the Commonwealth, at the Chief Money Order Office in the State of issue or payment), and on payment of a fee of 6d. Printed forms of application may be obtained at any Money Order Office. In the case of an order payable beyond the Commonwealth, application must be made by the payee to the Chief Money Order Office of the country in which the order is payable.

18. The transfer of a money order payable at any Money Order Office in the Commonwealth to any other Money Order Office in the Commonwealth may be arranged on the following conditions:—

(a) The application must be made by the payee in writing, and be accompanied by the prescribed, fee, and must contain the names of the payee and remitter;

(b) The money order must be enclosed, and be correctly receipted by the payee;

(c) If a telegraph order, it shall only be transferred by post, and on receipt of remitter’s message to payee with an instruction to transfer, or a receipt written thereon property signed by the payee.

19. Repayment of a money order issued in the Commonwealth may be applied for by the remitter. Application must be made in writing, and be accompanied by the prescribed fee, and should be made to the issuing office, if convenient; if not, it may be made direct to the Chief Money Order Office of the State or country of payment. It must be stated on the application if the remitter has the Money Order; but if it be a telegraph order it must be so stated, and the original receipt given by the officer who issued it must be sent with the application. As repayment cannot be made until payment has been cancelled at the office on which the money order was drawn, sufficient time for this must be allowed by the applicant.

 

By Authority: J. Kemp, Acting Government Printer, Melbourne.

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1907, No. 57, enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, were introduced to address the need for regulating the issuance and management of money orders within the newly federated Commonwealth of Australia. This legislative instrument was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, aiming to standardise and streamline the processes surrounding money orders. The primary policy objective was to ensure that money orders could be reliably issued and managed across the country and to other international locations, with clear guidelines on fees, limits, and procedures for alterations, cancellations, and transfers. The regulations specified the commission rates for issuing money orders, established the maximum amounts that could be remitted through a single order, and outlined the procedures for altering, cancelling, or transferring orders. By providing detailed guidelines for the operation of money order offices, these regulations sought to enhance the efficiency and reliability of financial transactions facilitated through the postal system, both domestically and internationally.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules of 1907, No. 57, issued under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, provide regulations concerning Money Orders. These regulations apply to the issuance, payment, alteration, and transfer of Money Orders across various jurisdictions, including the Commonwealth, New Zealand, Fiji, the United Kingdom, other British possessions, and foreign countries. The regulations establish specific rates of commission for Money Orders based on the amount and destination, with maximum limits set for single orders depending on the destination. The regulations also outline the procedures for altering or correcting details, stopping payment, obtaining duplicates, and repaying money orders, including fees and necessary forms. The regulations are applicable nationally within Australia, as well as to international payments, and are administered by the Chief Money Order Offices in each state. The application of these regulations can be extended or modified through subordinate instruments, which may include further specifications or amendments to the detailed procedures and fees involved in the handling of Money Orders.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of these regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, specify the rates of commission for the issue of money orders (Reg. 4) and the conditions under which money orders can be issued, altered, cancelled, and transferred (Regs. 3, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19). Regulation 4 sets out specific commission rates for different sums and different locations, while Regulations 3, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 detail the operational aspects of money orders, including the issuing times, maximum limits, and processes for alterations, cancellations, and transfers. The obligations and requirements imposed by these regulations are primarily directed at money order offices and the individuals who issue and use money orders. Money order offices must adhere to specific operating hours for issuing money orders (Reg. 3), and individuals must comply with the maximum limits for single money orders (Reg. 6). If a money order needs to be altered, cancelled, or transferred, individuals must follow the prescribed procedures, which include completing specific forms and paying associated fees (Regs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19). These regulations also ensure that no single money order can be issued for more than £20 within certain regions, with higher limits in some cases, and that two or more orders may be obtained to remit larger amounts (Reg. 6). Breach of these regulations can lead to civil consequences, primarily in the form of fines or fees for improperly altering, cancelling, or transferring money orders. For example, if an individual wishes to alter the name of the payee or remitter on a money order, they must complete a prescribed form and pay the appropriate fee (Reg. 15). Failure to follow the prescribed procedures for alterations, cancellations, or transfers may result in the denial of the request or additional fees. The regulations do not explicitly state criminal penalties, but the requirement to pay fees and follow prescribed procedures suggests that non-compliance could lead to civil action to recover fees or other costs associated with processing incorrect or incomplete applications.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.