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

Overview

Statutory Rules 1913 No. 92, the Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, was enacted in 1913 to address administrative and procedural gaps in the postal and telegraph services. This legislative instrument was introduced to provide immediate operational regulations concerning general postal services, payment of postage by receivers, and public telephones. The regulations were issued by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, due to their urgency, and were intended to come into immediate operation to streamline and ensure the smooth functioning of the postal and telegraph services across the Commonwealth of Australia.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910, as outlined in Statutory Rules 1913, No. 92, apply to postal services and public telephones within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations primarily affect individuals and entities involved in the transmission of official correspondence, particularly within the states of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania, by permitting certain postal articles to be sent without prepayment of postage if addressed to specified officials. Additionally, the regulations address the financial requirements for the operation of public telephones, allowing for their operation based on a guarantee to cover any shortfall in the estimated revenue. The scope of the Act is national, affecting all states and territories within the Commonwealth, with specific provisions tailored to the mentioned states regarding the prepayment of postage for official correspondence. There are no explicit exclusions mentioned in the text, but the application is limited to the specified officials and scenarios detailed within the regulations. The Act also provides for the potential extension of its application through subordinate instruments, allowing for adjustments based on operational needs and financial considerations.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of these Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1910 pertain to the payment of postage and the operation of public telephones. Under the General Postal Regulations, new provisions (1) through (4) specify that postal articles addressed to government statisticians or collectors of statistics in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania may be sent without prepayment of postage, with the recipient responsible for paying the postage at prepaid rates upon delivery. For public telephones, Regulation 47 (Statutory Rules 1912, No. 65) is amended to state that if the estimated revenue is less than the required amount, public telephones will be opened only if the concerned parties guarantee to pay the Postmaster-General the difference annually. These Regulations impose certain obligations on the parties involved. Specifically, they require that postage be paid by the recipient upon delivery for official correspondence addressed to government statisticians or collectors of statistics in the specified states. Furthermore, they establish a financial obligation for individuals or entities operating public telephones, who must guarantee payment of the shortfall between the actual and required revenue if the estimated revenue is insufficient. The Regulations also outline potential consequences for non-compliance. While the text does not explicitly state offences, penalties, or consequences, it is implied that failure to adhere to these provisions could result in legal action. For instance, non-payment of postage as required under the amended General Postal Regulations could lead to civil action for the unpaid postage. Similarly, failure to meet the financial guarantee for public telephones could result in the Postmaster-General withholding the operation of the telephones until the shortfall is rectified. These consequences underscore the importance of compliance with the specified obligations.