Telegraph Regulations 1927 (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1930, No. 129, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, were introduced to address the need for facilitating the distribution of press telegrams to entities other than the direct addressees. This regulation was enacted by the person administering the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and came into effect immediately. The key policy objective behind this regulation was to enhance the dissemination of news by allowing press telegrams to be delivered to newspapers or news agencies upon request, thereby increasing the reach and timeliness of news distribution. This was achieved by amending the Telegraph Regulations to include a provision for the delivery of additional copies of press telegrams, subject to the Postmaster-General’s approval, and setting a charge for these additional copies.

Scope and Application

The statutory rules enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 apply to the operations of the Commonwealth government in relation to postal and telegraph services. These rules pertain specifically to the amendment of Telegraph Regulations, particularly Regulation 58, to include the facility for delivering additional copies of press telegrams to newspapers or news agencies other than the intended recipients, subject to the Postmaster-General’s approval. This amendment allows for an expansion of the dissemination of press telegrams, enabling broader public access to news content. The regulation mandates that the sender or the addressee must have previously requested this service, and it introduces a specific charge for each additional copy, calculated at fivepence for every fifty words or fraction thereof. The amendment does not explicitly state exclusions, exemptions, or specific thresholds, but it does highlight that the service is contingent on prior requests and the approval of the Postmaster-General. The application of these rules is national, extending across the entire Commonwealth of Australia, as they are made under the authority of the Commonwealth government.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Statutory Rule (Statutory Rules 1930, No. 129) pertain to an amendment of the Telegraph Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923. Specifically, Regulation 58 is amended with the addition of Regulation 58a (section 58a). This new regulation permits the delivery of additional copies of press telegrams to newspapers or news agencies upon request from either the sender or the addressee, subject to the Postmaster-General’s approval. This facility is supplementary to the existing multiple telegram service. The cost for these additional copies is set at fivepence for each fifty words or fraction of fifty words in each copy. The obligations imposed by this regulation on the parties involved include the requirement for either the sender or the addressee to make a prior request for the additional copies of the telegram to be delivered to a newspaper or news agency. Furthermore, these additional deliveries are contingent upon the approval of the Postmaster-General. The regulation mandates that the charge for these additional copies be calculated at a rate of fivepence per fifty words or fraction thereof. In terms of potential consequences for non-compliance, the Statutory Rules themselves do not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches. However, under the overarching Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, unauthorised or improper use of the postal and telegraph services could lead to various penalties. These might include fines or other sanctions as determined by the relevant authorities. The exact penalties would be in accordance with the broader provisions of the Act and any applicable regulations or guidelines.