STATUTORY RULES.
1912. No. 45.
PROVISIONAL REGUI.ATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1910.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the undermentioned amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, namely:—
General Postal Regulations.
Private Boxes; Private Mail Bags,
Telegraphic Regulations.
Telegrams within the Commonwealth—Multiple telegrams: Miscellaneous,
should come into immediate operation, and make the amended Regulations to come into operation forthwith as Provisional Regulations.
Dated this twentieth day of February, One thousand nine hundred and twelve.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
C. E. FRAZER.
General Postal Regulations
Private Boxes.
The Regulations under this head (Gazette No. 26 of 5th June, 1902, page 244, as amended by Statutory Rules 1908, No. 107) are amended,
(1) by omitting the words “minimum period of three months” from sub-regulation (3) of Regulation 1, and inserting in their stead the words “period of not less than three months and not more than six months.” and
(2) by omitting the word “quarter” from Regulation 2 and inserting in its stead the word “month.”
Private Mail Bags.
Regulation 2. under this head (Gazette No. 26 of 5th June. 1902, page 245) is amended by omitting the word “quarter” and inserting in its stead the word “month.”
C.2261.—Price 3d.
Telegraphic Regulations.
Telegrams within the Commonwealth — Multiple telegrams.
The Regulation under this head (Statutory Rules 1905, No. 40) is amended by repealing the first paragraph, and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—
A multiple telegram may be addressed either to several persons in the same locality, or in different localities, served by the same telegraph office, or to one person or firm at one address or at several addresses in the same locality, or in different localities served by the same telegraph office. The indicator “X addresses,” showing the number of addresses, is to be written in the remarks, and charged for as one word. In the address the figures 2, 3, 4, &c., as the case may be, must be written by the sender immediately before the second and subsequent addresses respectively, and such figures, which must be transmitted, shall not be counted or charged for. The name of the office of destination is needed only once, at the end of the address.
Miscellaneous.
Regulation 1 under this head (Statutory Rules 1904, No. 81) is amended by inserting after the words “insure delivery,” the following words:—
“When a telegram is intended to be delivered to one person in care of another person, the word ‘care’ must be written in the address immediately after the name of the addressee.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by J. Kemp, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1912, No. 45, titled "Provisional Regulations Under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910," were introduced to address the urgent need to amend existing regulations regarding postal and telegraphic services within Australia. Enacted by the Governor-General with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, these provisional regulations were necessary to make immediate changes to the General Postal Regulations and Telegraphic Regulations to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of postal and telegraphic services. The policy objective of these amendments was to streamline the process of sending multiple telegrams and improve the delivery of telegrams to individuals in care of another person, reflecting an urgent response to operational needs identified within the postal and telegraph services.
Scope and Application
The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, as detailed in Statutory Rules 1912, No. 45, apply to the postal and telegraphic services within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations govern the use of private boxes, private mail bags, and multiple telegrams, making specific amendments to the General Postal Regulations and Telegraphic Regulations. For instance, the regulations revise the duration for which private boxes and private mail bags can be retained, modifying the previous minimum period of three months to a range of three to six months. Additionally, they update the guidelines for addressing multiple telegrams, clarifying the format and addressing multiple persons or locations served by the same telegraph office. The regulations also introduce a requirement for the word "care" to be included in the address when a telegram is intended for delivery to a person in the care of another individual. The scope of these regulations extends across the entire Commonwealth, encompassing all postal and telegraphic services within Australia, thereby ensuring uniformity and efficiency in communication services.
Key Provisions
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, as detailed in Statutory Rules 1912, No. 45, introduce several amendments to the General Postal Regulations and Telegraphic Regulations. These changes are made to streamline and clarify certain provisions related to private boxes, private mail bags, and the sending of multiple telegrams. Specifically, Regulation 1 under the General Postal Regulations (sub-regulation (3)) has been amended to specify a rental period for private boxes of not less than three months and not more than six months (sub-regulation (3)). Furthermore, Regulation 2 under the same category has been altered to change the term "quarter" to "month," ensuring that all references to time periods within these regulations are consistent (Regulation 2). Similarly, Regulation 2 under Private Mail Bags has also been amended to replace "quarter" with "month," making the terminology uniform across the regulations (Regulation 2).
These amendments impose specific obligations on parties using private boxes and private mail bags under the Post and Telegraph Act. For private boxes, the revised rental period of between three and six months must be adhered to, providing a more flexible yet clearly defined time frame for such services. For private mail bags, the change to a monthly basis ensures consistency in billing and service expectations. Additionally, the requirement to include the word "care" in the address of a telegram intended for delivery to one person in the care of another person (Regulation 1, Miscellaneous) ensures that the intended recipient receives the telegram without confusion or delay.
Failure to comply with these regulations may result in civil or administrative consequences, although the specific penalties are not detailed in the statutory rules. However, it is understood that breaches of postal or telegraph regulations could potentially lead to fines, service disruptions, or other administrative actions as outlined in the overarching Post and Telegraph Act. The precise penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as any relevant case law or subsequent legislative amendments.