Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Regulations (Amendment) (Provisional)

Legislation au C1907L00123 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

STATUTORY RULES.

1907. No. 123.

 

 

 

PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the undermentioned amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, namely:—

Postal Regulations.

Registration.

General Postal Regulations,

Sale of Postage Stamps of one State in another State. Notice of postponement of departure of non-contract vessels, and of non-departure of vessels which have received mails on board.

Money Orders, 5a.

Postal Notes, 6.

Telephone Regulation

Part I., Telephone Exchange,

should come into immediate operation, and make the amended Regulations to come into operation forthwith as Provisional Regulations.

Dated this sixth day of December, One thousand nine hundred and seven.

NORTHCOTE,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

SAMUEL MAUGER.

 

Postal Regulations.

Registration.

The Regulations under this head (Gazette No. 26, of 5th June, 1902) are amended by the addition of the following after Regulation 3:—

4. Registered articles shall be delivered only to the addressee thereof, or to another person presenting a duly witnessed order from such addressee, which order must bear the address of the latter, and the date on which such order is made.

General Postal Regulations.

Sale of postage stamps of one State in another State.

The Regulation under this head (Statutory Rules 1907, No. 75) is repealed, and the following substituted in lieu thereof:—

Sale of postage stamps of one State in another State.

At the General Post Office in each State, postage stamps issued for use in other States of the Commonwealth may be purchased at face value, provided the amount of such stamps purchased at the one


time shall not exceed 4d. Commission will be charged at the following rates on stamps so purchased in excess of 4d. worth, viz.:—

Amount of Stamps Purchased.

Commission.

5d. to 1s. 6d...........................

½d.

1s. 7d. to 4s. 6d........................

1d.

4s. 7d. to 5s...........................

1½d.

5s. 1d. to 7s. 6d........................

2d.

7s. 7d. to 20s..........................

3d.

The Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, published in the Commonwealth Gazette No. 26, of the 5th June, 1902, are amended by the addition of the following after the Regulation headed “Daily Mail Notice,” viz.:—

Notice of postponement of departure of non-contract vessels, and of non-departure of vessels which have received mails on board.

The notices required to be given by masters of vessels pursuant to sub-section two of section seventy-one, and to section seventy-two of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, shall be in writing.

Money Orders.

The Regulations under this head (Gazette No. 26 of 5th June, 1902) are amended by adding the following after Regulation 5, viz.:—

5a. Payment of a Money Order shall be made only to the payee thereof, or to another person presenting a duly witnessed order from the payee, which order must bear the address of the latter, and the date on which such order is made.

Postal Notes.

Regulation 6 under this head (Statutory Rules 1904, No. 45) is amended by the addition of the following at the end thereof:—

Provided further that, should a Bank refuse to accept without charge a crossed postal note, such note shall, on being presented at a Post Office, be paid, if signed by the person or firm to whom it is made payable, or, in the case of an open postal note, by the person presenting it for payment.

Telephone Regulations,

Part 1.—Telephone Exchanges.

The Regulations under this head (Statutory Rules 1906, No. 114) are amended by inserting the following two paragraphs between the first and second paragraphs of Regulation 22, viz.:—

In cases where subscribers request the removal of instruments to other premises the Postmaster-General may, should be think fit, demand payment in advance of the estimated cost of removal, and the subscriber shall, upon such demand, forthwith pay the amount.

In the event of a subscriber removing from or giving up possession of the premises upon which the telephone is situated, without paying in advance the cost of removing the instruments or making other arrangements approved by the Postmaster-General for the removal or discontinuance of the service, the Postmaster-General may disconnect the telephone and remove any instruments and fittings belonging to him, and notwithstanding such disconnection and removal, may recover from the subscriber the rent and any charges payable to the end of the term agreed upon or which are due under the Regulations.

 

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

Overview

Statutory Rules 1907, No. 123, titled "Provisional Regulations Under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901," was enacted to amend the existing Postal Regulations, General Postal Regulations, Money Orders, Postal Notes, and Telephone Regulations to address various administrative and operational issues related to postal and telegraph services. These amendments were introduced to streamline postal services, enhance security for registered articles and money orders, regulate the sale of postage stamps between states, and address issues concerning the removal of telephone instruments and the payment of associated costs. Enacted by the Parliament of Australia, the policy objective of these regulations was to ensure efficient and secure postal, telegraph, and telephone services across the Commonwealth.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 apply to the postal, telephone, and telegraph services within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations govern the operation and management of these services, impacting both the Commonwealth and the states in terms of how postal services are delivered, managed, and regulated. They apply to individuals, businesses, and other entities that utilise postal, telephone, and telegraph services, as well as the postal and telegraph authorities responsible for their operation. The regulations set out detailed provisions for the delivery of registered articles and money orders, the sale of postage stamps across states, the handling of notices for vessel departures, and the payment of postal notes and telephone services. These regulations also include specific financial penalties for non-compliance, particularly regarding the removal of telephone instruments without prior payment. The regulations are intended to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of these services across the nation. There are no explicit exclusions or exemptions mentioned in the text, implying that the regulations apply broadly to all relevant entities and transactions within the scope of postal, telegraph, and telephone services. The regulations extend their application through subordinate instruments, allowing for further detailed specifications and amendments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, published as Statutory Rules 1907, No. 123, include several key amendments and provisions affecting various aspects of postal and telephone services. In the area of postal regulations, Regulation 4 stipulates that registered articles must only be delivered to the addressee or to another person presenting a duly witnessed order from the addressee (Regulation 4). Furthermore, Regulation 5a mandates that payment of money orders is restricted to the payee or to another person with a duly witnessed order from the payee, which must also bear the address of the latter and the date of the order (Regulation 5a). These regulations impose specific obligations on postal service providers and users. For instance, postal service providers must ensure that registered articles and money orders are delivered or paid only to the addressee or a duly authorised person. Users must provide valid and witnessed orders if they wish to have registered articles or money orders delivered to someone other than the addressee. The regulations also mandate that notices of vessel postponements or non-departures must be in writing, reinforcing the need for clear and formal communication in these scenarios (Regulation 71 and 72). Breaches of these regulations can result in significant consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the text, it is reasonable to infer that failure to adhere to these provisions could lead to legal action or penalties under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901. The precise nature of these penalties would depend on the specific breach and the discretion of the relevant authorities. For instance, improper handling of registered articles or money orders could result in civil liability for any losses incurred by the rightful recipients. Similarly, failure to provide proper written notices regarding vessel departures could lead to administrative penalties or other consequences as deemed appropriate by the authorities.

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