STATUTORY RULES.
1906. No. 64.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901.
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 Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act. 1901, namely,
General Regulations—Holiday Arrangements,
should come into immediate operation, and make the amended Regulation to come into operation forthwith as a Provisional Regulation.
Dated this eighth day of August, One thousand nine hundred and six.
NORTHCOTE,
Governor-General.
AUSTIN CHAPMAN,
By His Excellency’s Command.
General Regulations.
Holiday Arrangements.
The Regulations under this head and the amendments thereof made by Statutory Rules 45 and 81 of 1904 shall be repealed and the following substituted in lieu thereof, viz.:—
Holiday Arrangements.
3. On Christmas Day and Good Friday the same arrangements shall be observed as on Sunday; and on other Public Holidays the arrangements shall be as follow:—
— | New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, King’s Birthday, Boxing Day, and Holidays proelaimed throughout the Commonwealth, or appointed or proclaimed in any State or part of a State, and generally observed in that State or part as Public Holidays. | Other days or half-days appointed or proclaimed as Holidays in any State or part of a State, but not generally observed in that State or part as Holidays. |
General Post Office— The Delivery Office, Registration Office, and office for sale of postage stamps to be open | From 9 a.m. to 12 noon | As on ordinary days |
Private boxes to be open as usual. The country mails usually despatched in the afternoon and evening, also the coastwise, Inter-State, and foreign mails, to close | At 12 noon, unless otherwise specially intimated | As on ordinary days |
The first delivery only to be effected by postmen. The Parcels Office to be open......... | From 9 a.m. to 12 noon | As on ordinary days |
C. 9461.—Price 3d.
Holiday Arrangements—continued.
— | New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, King’s Birthday, Boxing Day, and Holidays proclaimed throughout the Commonwealth, or appointed or proclaimed in any State or part of a State, and generally observed in that State or part as Public Holidays. | Other days or half-days appointed or proclaimed as Holidays in any State or part of a State, but not generally observed in that State or part as Holidays. |
General Post Office—continued. The Money Order Office to be open | From 9.30 a.m. to 12 noon | As on ordinary days |
The Chief Telegraph Office to be open.. | As on ordinary days |
All Post and Telegraph Offices above the 4th Class to be open for telegraphic business | | |
As on ordinary days |
Branch Offices in the cities and suburban and country offices to be open | From 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and if they do not ordinarily close at 6 p.m., from 6 to 8 p.m. | As on ordinary days |
The first delivery only to be made by postmen. The iron pillar receivers and letter boxes in the city and metropolitan suburbs to be cleared | Only at the ordinary hours in the morning | Ason ordinary days |
|
Note.—The above will not apply to local holidays gazetted for special purposes, upon which days offices will be open as on ordinary days.
If British and Foreign Mails arrive, or are despatched on any of the above-mentioned holidays, special arrangements must be made to suit the public convenience.
By Authority: J. Kemp, Acting Government Printer, Melbourne.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1906 No. 64, titled "Provisional Regulations Under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901," were enacted in response to the need for urgent adjustments to holiday arrangements for postal and telegraph services. This legislative instrument was issued by the Governor-General, acting on advice from the Federal Executive Council, and came into operation immediately due to its urgency. The policy objective of these regulations is to establish standardised holiday arrangements for public holidays across Australia, ensuring consistency in postal and telegraph services while accommodating public convenience. The regulations specify that certain public holidays such as Christmas Day, Good Friday, New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, and King’s Birthday will have modified operational hours for various postal and telegraph offices, with specific provisions for mail deliveries and office openings to align with the observance of these holidays.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, specifically the General Regulations—Holiday Arrangements, apply to the operations of post and telegraph services across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring consistent holiday arrangements are observed. These regulations apply to both the General Post Office and various post and telegraph offices, dictating operational hours and delivery schedules on public holidays. For instance, on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and other public holidays generally observed across the states, post and telegraph offices will follow specific operating hours, with certain services like the Delivery Office, Registration Office, and Parcels Office open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, similar to ordinary days. The Money Order Office will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and telegraphic business will continue as usual. These regulations do not apply to local holidays gazetted for special purposes, where offices will operate as on ordinary days. Special arrangements must be made for British and Foreign Mails arriving or being despatched on these holidays to accommodate public convenience.
Key Provisions
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 outline specific arrangements for public holidays, particularly focusing on the operations of various postal and telegraph services (reg. 3). On Christmas Day and Good Friday, services mirror those on Sundays, while on other public holidays, services vary based on whether the holiday is generally observed throughout the Commonwealth or only in specific states or parts of states. For instance, on holidays like New Year's Day, Easter Monday, King's Birthday, and Boxing Day, which are generally observed, the General Post Office, including the Delivery Office, Registration Office, and office for sale of postage stamps, operates from 9 a.m. to 12 noon (reg. 3). Private boxes remain accessible as usual, and the first postal delivery is made by postmen only. Parcel services and the Money Order Office also operate from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on these holidays. Telegraph services at higher-class offices and branch offices in cities and suburbs are available from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and, if they do not close at 6 p.m., from 6 to 8 p.m. Additionally, if British and Foreign Mails arrive or are despatched on these holidays, special arrangements must be made.
These Regulations impose specific operational requirements on postal and telegraph services during public holidays. Post and telegraph offices must adhere to the specified hours of operation, ensuring that services such as mail delivery, parcel handling, money orders, and telegraphic business are available within the designated times (reg. 3). Offices must also ensure that mail is cleared at ordinary morning hours, with special provisions for British and Foreign Mails. Furthermore, while local holidays gazetted for special purposes will not affect these arrangements, offices will remain open as on ordinary days during such times.
Breaches of these Regulations may lead to administrative consequences, although the specific penalties are not detailed in the Regulations themselves. The Post and Telegraph Act 1901, under which these Regulations are made, may provide further details regarding penalties for non-compliance. Generally, failure to adhere to the specified operational hours and arrangements could result in service disruptions, which may have indirect legal or financial repercussions for those relying on postal and telegraph services.