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

Overview

Statutory Rules 1913 No. 93, introduced under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, aimed to address the issue of ensuring that catalogues posted at a special rate for those wholly set up and printed in Australia were accurately identified. Enacted by the Governor-General in Council, this provisional regulation required that such catalogues bear an imprint indicating they were printed in Australia and include the name and address of the printer. The objective was to maintain the integrity of the special postage rate by verifying that only eligible items benefit from this reduced cost, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in postal services.

Scope and Application

The Postal Regulations outlined in Statutory Rules 1913 No. 93 apply to the postal services within the Commonwealth of Australia, as well as to the territories of Papua (British New Guinea) and Fiji. Specifically, the regulation pertains to the handling of catalogues, imposing a requirement for any catalogue posted at the special rate for Australian-printed materials to bear an imprint indicating that it was indeed set up and printed in Australia. This imprint must also include the name and address of the printer. The regulation seeks to ensure that any catalogues benefiting from the special postal rate for Australian-printed materials are genuinely produced within Australia. The regulation comes into immediate effect as a Provisional Regulation, reflecting the urgency deemed necessary by the Governor-General in Council, and extends its jurisdictional reach to include the Commonwealth, Papua, and Fiji. There are no exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds specified within the text of this statutory rule, but the regulation's application may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as deemed necessary.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910 (Section 1) concern the posting of catalogues at the special rate of postage. Specifically, Section 2 requires that catalogues posted at this special rate must bear an imprint stating that they have been wholly set up and printed in Australia. Furthermore, this imprint must also include the name and address of the printer (Section 2). These provisions aim to ensure transparency and compliance with postal regulations by clearly identifying the origin and printer of the catalogues. The obligations imposed by this Act on the parties or entities it governs are straightforward but crucial. Any individual or business posting catalogues at the special rate must ensure that these catalogues meet the specified requirements, namely bearing the necessary imprint with the details of their Australian origin and the printer's information (Section 2). This ensures that only those catalogues that are genuinely produced within Australia can benefit from the special rate, thereby maintaining the integrity of the postal system and supporting local industries. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Regulation may result in significant consequences. Although the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided text, it is reasonable to infer that breaches of postal regulations could lead to fines, legal action, or other administrative penalties as outlined in the broader framework of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910. Such penalties would serve to deter non-compliance and ensure adherence to the regulatory requirements.