STATUTORY RULES.
1910. No. 46.
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 Regulations under the Past and Telegraph Act 1901, namely:—
Telegraphic Regulations.
Telegrams beyond the Commonwealth—Abbreviated Telegraphic Addresses.
Telegrams within the Commonwealth—Press Telegrams; Electoral Telegrams;
should come into immediate operation, and make the amended Regulations to come into operation forthwith as Provisional Regulations.
Dated this thirty-first day of May, One thousand nine hundred and ten.
DUDLEY,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
JOSIAH THOMAS.
Telegraphic Regulations.
Telegrams beyond the Commonwealth—Abbreviated Telegraphic Addresses.
The proviso added by Statutory Rules 1909, No. 123, to Regulation 17 under this head (Statutory Rules 1905, No. 36) is repealed, and the following proviso substituted in lieu thereof:—
“Provided that where a person or firm desires to register for the first time an abbreviated address after the 1st April in any year, for the remainder of the year ending the 31st March next following, the annual fee of 10s. 6d. shall be proportionately reduced, but so that in no case shall the charge be less than 2s. 6d., and so that each part of a month shall be taken to be a month. Provided further that the concession mentioned in the preceding proviso shall not be allowed to a person or firm who has previously registered, but failed to renew the registration, in which case the abbreviated address shall only be re-registered on payment of the full fee of 10s. 6d. in advance for the balance of the year ending the 31st March next following the payment.”
Telegraphic Regulations.
Telegrams within the Commonwealth—Press Telegrams.
Regulation 5A under this head (Statutory Rules 1904, No. 81) is amended by omitting therefrom the words “Commonwealth or.”
Electoral Telegrams.
The Regulation under this head (Statutory Rules 1906, No. 81) is amended by omitting therefrom the words “and subject to the conditions.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by J. Kemp, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.7979.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, enacted in 1910, were introduced to address the urgent need for amendments to the existing telegraphic regulations. The Act was established by the Parliament of Australia to provide a framework for the regulation of postal and telegraphic services within the Commonwealth. The primary policy objective was to streamline and update the regulatory processes to better accommodate the growing use of telegraphic services both within and beyond the Commonwealth. These Provisional Regulations specifically aimed to adjust the fees for abbreviated telegraphic addresses and clarify the conditions under which press and electoral telegrams could be sent, ensuring a more efficient and fair system for all users. The urgency of these amendments necessitated their immediate implementation, as certified by the Governor-General with the advice of the Federal Executive Council.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 govern the procedures and charges associated with the registration of abbreviated telegraphic addresses for telegrams both within and beyond the Commonwealth. These regulations apply to individuals and firms seeking to use abbreviated telegraphic addresses for their communications, whether they are sending telegrams within Australia or internationally. The regulations detail the proportional reduction of annual fees for first-time registrations made after the first of April, ensuring that charges are reduced but not below a minimum threshold of 2s. 6d. Additionally, the regulations specify that individuals or firms who have previously registered but failed to renew their registration will be required to pay the full fee for any re-registration. Furthermore, the regulations amend previous rules to remove certain conditions that previously applied to press and electoral telegrams, thereby potentially streamlining the process for these specific types of communications. These provisional regulations are in effect across the Commonwealth and will be subject to further amendments as necessary.
Key Provisions
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, outlined in Statutory Rules 1910, No. 46, address the registration of abbreviated telegraphic addresses and the handling of telegrams within and beyond the Commonwealth. Regulation 17 (Statutory Rules 1905, No. 36) has been modified to specify that individuals or firms registering an abbreviated address for the first time after 1 April will pay a proportionately reduced annual fee of no less than 2s. 6d. for the remainder of the year. However, those who have previously registered but failed to renew their registration must pay the full fee of 10s. 6d. if they wish to re-register. These changes are effective from the date of the Regulations and are intended to address the urgency of the matter.
The obligations imposed by these Regulations require persons or firms to adhere to the stipulated fees for registering abbreviated telegraphic addresses. If an individual or firm wishes to register for the first time after 1 April, they must pay a proportionately reduced fee, ensuring that the charge does not fall below 2s. 6d. Conversely, if a previously registered entity fails to renew their registration, they must pay the full fee to re-register their abbreviated address. This regulation ensures that the registration process remains efficient and properly funded while accommodating new registrations within a fiscal year.
Non-compliance with the fee structure or failure to renew registration as specified could result in administrative penalties. Specifically, entities that fail to renew their registration and then attempt to re-register without paying the full fee may face consequences such as delays in communication services or other administrative repercussions. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, the intent is to maintain a structured and financially viable system for managing telegraphic addresses.
Overall, these Regulations are designed to streamline the registration process for abbreviated telegraphic addresses and ensure that all parties involved comply with the specified fees. The amendments aim to provide a clear and equitable system for both new and existing registrants, while also addressing the urgency of the matter through immediate implementation.