STATUTORY RULES.
1940. No. .
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REGULATION UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1934.*
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1934.
Dated this Twenty second
day of May , 1940.
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Postmaster-General.
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Amendment of the Telegraph Regulations.†
Lettergrams (Letter-telegrams).
Regulation 62 of the Telegraph Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting sub-regulations (2); and
(b) by omitting sub-regulations (12) and (13) and inserting in their stead the following sub-regulations:—
“(12.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, a lettergram shall be posted at the office of destination for delivery by the earliest post after the date of posting.
(13.) Lettergrams may be accepted for transmission by telegraph to a lettergram office—
(a) for onward despatch by the earliest post after the date of lodgment to any place within the Commonwealth; or
(b) for telephoning, upon payment of the appropriate trunk line fee in addition to the prescribed lettergram charges, to another office having limited lettergram facilities, for delivery from that office by the earliest post after the date of lodgment.
(13a.) A lettergram shall be regarded and dealt with as a letter from the time it is posted in accordance with the provisions of sub-regulations (12) and (13) of this regulation.”.
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1940.
† Statutory Rules 1927, No. 142, as amended by Statutory Rules 1928, Nos. 35, 88 and 97; 1929, Nos. 15 and 128; 1930, Nos. 1, 5, 42, 81, 114 and 129; 1931, Nos. 70, 132 and 136; 1933, Nos. 102 and 127; 1934, Nos. 24, 113 and 137; 1935, No. 77; 1938, No. 63; 1939, Nos. 14 and 84; and 1940, No. 50.
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By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.
2543.—8/26.4.1940.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1934 was enacted by the Australian Parliament to provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of postal and telegraph services within Australia. This Act aimed to address issues related to the efficiency, reliability, and oversight of these essential communication services. The 1940 Statutory Rules represent amendments to the Telegraph Regulations under this Act, specifically modifying the procedures for the handling and delivery of lettergrams (letter-telegrams). The policy objective of these amendments is to streamline the processes and improve the accessibility of telegraphic communication services across the country, ensuring that lettergrams are delivered or transmitted more effectively. The amendments were made by the Governor-General in accordance with the Federal Executive Council's advice, highlighting the legislative authority's commitment to enhancing communication infrastructure.
Scope and Application
The Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1934, dated 22 May 1940, amends the Telegraph Regulations concerning the handling of lettergrams. This regulation applies to any lettergram posted for delivery within the Commonwealth of Australia, encompassing individuals and entities that utilise the postal service for such communications. The amendment focuses on the conditions under which lettergrams may be posted or transmitted by telegraph, clarifying the procedures for their dispatch to various destinations, including the option of having them telephoned to offices with limited lettergram facilities, subject to additional fees. The regulation ensures that lettergrams are treated as letters from the moment they are posted, streamlining the process and ensuring consistency in handling across different postal services within the Commonwealth.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the regulation are found in Regulation 62, which concerns lettergrams (letter-telegrams). This regulation has been amended to update the rules for posting and handling of lettergrams. Specifically, sub-regulations (2), (12), and (13) have been omitted and replaced with new sub-regulations. The new sub-regulation (12) specifies that a lettergram must be posted at the office of destination for delivery by the earliest post after the date of posting. Sub-regulation (13) allows for the acceptance of lettergrams for telegraph transmission to a lettergram office for onward despatch by the earliest post after the date of lodgment to any place within the Commonwealth, or for telephoning upon payment of the appropriate trunk line fee and prescribed lettergram charges to another office with limited lettergram facilities. Sub-regulation (13a) states that a lettergram shall be regarded and dealt with as a letter from the time it is posted in accordance with sub-regulations (12) and (13).
The obligations and requirements imposed by this regulation primarily concern the posting and handling of lettergrams. Under the new sub-regulations, lettergrams must be posted at the destination office for delivery by the earliest post after posting. Lettergrams can be accepted for telegraph transmission to a lettergram office for onward despatch by the earliest post, or for telephoning to another office with limited lettergram facilities, upon payment of the appropriate fees. The regulation also specifies that from the time of posting, a lettergram should be dealt with as a letter.
In terms of consequences for breach, the regulation does not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences. However, failure to comply with the requirements of the regulation could result in the non-delivery or delayed delivery of lettergrams. Additionally, failure to pay the appropriate fees for telegraph transmission or telephoning could result in the refusal of service. It is important to note that any breach of the regulation could potentially lead to administrative or procedural consequences within the postal service, but the specific penalties are not outlined in the regulation itself.