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

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1905, No. 58, which established the General Postal Regulations: Payment of Postage by the Receiver, was enacted in 1905 by the Governor-General in Council, under the urgent provisions of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901. This legislative instrument was introduced to address a specific problem regarding the payment of postage for certain books, allowing the receiver to settle the postage costs instead of the sender. This arrangement was particularly for books from the "Library of Famous Literature" series, sent to a specified address in Sydney and forwarded from anywhere within the Commonwealth. The policy objective was to facilitate the distribution of these books by alleviating the burden of prepayment on the senders. The enactment of these Provisional Regulations was necessary due to the urgency of the matter, as evidenced by the Governor-General's certification of immediate operation. The regulation specifies that for books concerning the "Library of Famous Literature," addressed to G. Catto Maclaren in Sydney and sent from any location within the Commonwealth, the postage can be paid by the receiver upon delivery. This arrangement was made in consultation with the Postal Authorities and required the books to be enclosed in covers bearing a particular printed endorsement indicating that the postage was payable by the addressee. This legislative measure thus aimed to streamline the postal process for a particular category of mail, facilitating the dissemination of literature within Australia.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, specifically the General Postal Regulations concerning the payment of postage by the receiver, apply to the transmission of certain books known as the “Library of Famous Literature.” These books are addressed to a specified recipient, G. Catto Maclaren, located in Sydney. The regulation allows the recipient to pay the postage upon delivery instead of the sender prepaying it. This applies to books forwarded from any location within the Commonwealth of Australia, provided they are enclosed in covers with the designated address and a specific printed indorsement indicating the arrangement with the Postal Authorities. This arrangement exempts the sender from the requirement of affixing postage stamps and instructs against gumming down the envelope flap. The regulation is issued under the authority of the Governor-General, effective immediately, and extends across the entire Commonwealth.

Key Provisions

The General Postal Regulations (section 1) under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 (section 2) provide specific provisions for the payment of postage by the receiver rather than prepayment by the sender. Regulation 3 stipulates that postage for certain books, specifically those concerning the "Library of Famous Literature," addressed to G. Catto Maclaren at 26 Exchange Corner, 63 Pitt Street, Sydney, may be paid by the receiver. This applies to books forwarded from any location within the Commonwealth, provided they are enclosed in covers bearing the specified address and a printed endorsement stating that the postage is payable by the addressee on delivery in Sydney. Additionally, the sender must not affix stamps and should not gum down the flap of the envelope. These regulations impose specific obligations on both the sender and the receiver of the books. The sender must ensure the books are enclosed in covers with the correct address and printed endorsement. The receiver, upon receiving the books, is responsible for paying the postage as indicated. The regulations provide a clear arrangement between the parties involved, ensuring that the sender is not burdened with prepaying the postage, while the receiver is aware of their responsibility to settle the postal charges upon delivery. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in certain consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, non-compliance could lead to administrative actions, such as fines or other sanctions, as typically enforced under postal regulations. The precise penalties would depend on further provisions of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 and any relevant administrative guidelines or subsequent amendments to the regulations. The text does not provide explicit details on the maximum penalties for breaches of these provisional regulations, but it is likely that they would be consistent with other postal and telegraph regulations of the time.