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

Overview

Statutory Rules 1913 No. 17, the Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, was enacted in 1913 to address urgent administrative needs within the postal and telegraph services in Australia. This legislative instrument was issued by the Governor-General, acting on advice from the Federal Executive Council, due to the immediate necessity for the regulations to come into force. The policy objective of these provisional regulations was to streamline and update certain operational aspects of postal and telegraph services, ensuring that they could be efficiently managed and adapted to the growing demands of the time. These regulations aimed to provide flexibility and efficiency in the prepayment of postage on large quantities of mail matter and the payment of telegraph charges within the Commonwealth. By establishing provisional regulations, the government could quickly implement necessary changes without the lengthy process of formal legislative enactment, thereby addressing operational gaps and enhancing the functionality of postal and telegraph services.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, as certified by the Governor-General, apply to the entire Commonwealth of Australia, targeting both individuals and entities involved in postal services and telecommunications. These regulations specifically address the prepayment of postage for large quantities of mail matter and introduce amendments to the payment methods for telegrams within the Commonwealth. The application extends to any person or entity posting large quantities of mail, requiring them to pay a prepayment fee in cash and obtain a certificate of posting, with a specific provision for paying telegram charges in cash at offices equipped with approved cash registers. The scope of these regulations is comprehensive within the national jurisdiction, ensuring consistency in postal and telegraphic services across the Commonwealth. However, there are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the provided text, and the regulations do not explicitly mention any thresholds for the quantities of mail or specific classes of telegrams they apply to. The urgency of these provisional regulations suggests they are subject to potential amendments or replacement by more formal statutory rules in the future.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910 include provisions related to prepayment of postage for large quantities of mail matter and the payment of charges for telegrams within the Commonwealth. Specifically, Regulation 2 under the General Postal Regulations (Gazette No. 26, 5th June 1902, page 244) now allows a person posting large quantities of articles to obtain a certificate of posting upon payment of a fee of one penny. The officer who issues the certificate must affix a penny postage stamp, which must be cancelled. Furthermore, Regulation a under the Telegraphic Regulations (Gazette No. 26, 5th June 1902, page 256) is amended to permit charges on telegrams lodged at offices with approved cash registers to be paid in cash. These regulations impose specific obligations on parties dealing with large quantities of mail or telegrams within the Commonwealth. For large mail quantities, the sender must ensure they pay the required fee and obtain a certificate from the officer, who must affix and cancel a postage stamp as proof of payment. For telegrams, if an office has approved cash registers, charges can be paid in cash directly. These provisions aim to streamline payment processes and provide clear guidance on how to handle large volumes of mail and telegrams. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to various consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, non-compliance with postal and telegraphic regulations could result in fines or other administrative actions under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910. The regulations serve as a framework for ensuring that proper procedures are followed, and any deviation from these could potentially lead to legal repercussions for the parties involved. It is important for entities and individuals to adhere to these regulations to avoid any potential penalties or disruptions in postal and telegraphic services.