STATUTORY RULES.
1928. No. 35.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1923.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the undermentioned amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 to come into operation on and from 1st May, 1928.
Dated this twenty-fourth day of April, 1928.
STONEHAVEN
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. G. GIBSON
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Telegraph Regulations.
(Statutory Rules 1927, No. 142.)
1. Regulation is amended by omitting sub-regulation (6) and inserting the following in lieu thereof:—
(6) When it is desired to open an office, other than the local telegraph office, in order that a telegram may be transmitted to its destination before the usual time of re-opening, the telegram must bear, before the address, the supplementary instruction “OFPAID” (for “Opening Fee Paid”) which shall be counted and charged for as one word. Where more than one office, other than the local office, has to be specially opened to transmit the telegram to its destination, the amount paid to open offices (other than the local office) shall also be shown, for example—”3/-OFPAID”. This instruction shall be counted and charged for as two words.
2. Regulation 20 is amended by omitting sub-regulation (1) and inserting in lieu thereof the following:—
(1) The name of the sender of a telegram may be transmitted either in full or in abbreviated form, or may be replaced by a code address, but if so desired need not be transmitted. Provided that in the case of a reply paid telegram either the sender’s name and address or an indication which in the opinion of the sender is sufficient to represent his identity and address to the addressee shall be included in the signature. The signature of the sender or his representative shall appear on each telegram tendered for transmission as a guarantee of its authenticity and as subscribing to the conditions under which it is transmitted.
3. Regulation 38 is amended by inserting the words “a postal district” before the word “or” in sub-regulation (2).
By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.
587.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1928, No. 35, amended the Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, which were enacted to govern the operations of the postal and telegraph services in Australia. These regulations were brought into force on 1 May 1928 by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The primary aim of these amendments was to refine the processes for telegraphic communications, particularly in relation to charges and the transmission of sender information, thereby ensuring clarity and efficiency in the service provided. The enactment reflects the need to address operational aspects and user requirements within the evolving telecommunications landscape of the time.
Scope and Application
The amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 apply to individuals and entities transmitting telegrams through the Commonwealth's postal and telegraph services. The regulations primarily govern the operational aspects of telegram services, including the procedures for opening additional offices for telegram transmission outside of standard hours, the format and requirements for the sender's name or code address, and the conditions under which telegrams can be sent. Geographically, the regulations apply across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring a uniform approach to telegram transmission services. Notably, the amendments introduce specific instructions for telegrams that require offices to be opened outside the usual hours, charging for these services as specified words in the telegram. Additionally, the regulations clarify the requirements for sender identification, allowing for the use of abbreviated forms or code addresses while ensuring that a form of identification is included for reply-paid telegrams. The amendments also adjust the scope of certain districts within the postal services, illustrating the broad reach of these regulations across the national infrastructure. Subordinate instruments may further extend or restrict the application of these regulations as necessary.
Key Provisions
The amended regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 introduce specific changes to the process of sending telegrams. Firstly, Regulation 1 has been altered to mandate that any telegram sent through a non-local telegraph office that requires the office to open before the standard reopening time must include the instruction "OFPAID" (for "Opening Fee Paid") before the address. This instruction will be counted and charged as one word. If multiple non-local offices need to be opened to facilitate the telegram's delivery, the total amount paid for opening these offices must also be displayed, such as "3/-OFPAID". This additional information is to be counted and charged as two words. Secondly, Regulation 20 has been modified to allow the sender’s name to be transmitted in full, abbreviated form, or via a code address, with the option of omitting it altogether. However, for reply-paid telegrams, either the sender’s full name and address or an indication that sufficiently represents their identity and address must be included in the signature. The sender’s signature, or that of their representative, must appear on each telegram to ensure authenticity and to signify their acceptance of the transmission conditions.
The amended regulations impose certain obligations on parties involved in the transmission of telegrams. Firstly, any telegram intended to be sent through a non-local office before its standard opening time must include the "OFPAID" instruction. This ensures that the fee for the early opening is clearly communicated and charged appropriately. Secondly, for reply-paid telegrams, the sender must provide either their full name and address or an equivalent identifier within the signature. This requirement ensures that the recipient can adequately respond to the sender. Additionally, the signature serves as a guarantee of the telegram's authenticity and signifies the sender’s agreement to the transmission terms.
Failure to comply with the amended regulations may result in various consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the regulations themselves, breaches of such statutory rules can typically lead to fines or other administrative actions under the broader legislative framework. For example, non-compliance with transmission requirements might result in the rejection of the telegram, or additional charges might be incurred for the services rendered. The precise penalties would be determined based on the specific circumstances of the breach and the applicable laws governing postal and telegraph services at the time.