Telegraph Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1934 No. 24, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, address an operational gap in the existing regulations concerning the delivery of telegram copies to senders. Enacted by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, these regulations aim to enhance the service provision within the postal and telegraphic system by allowing senders to request and pay for copies of their telegrams. The policy objective is to provide a more comprehensive service to users by enabling them to obtain physical copies of their telegrams for their records, with a stipulated additional charge of threepence per telegram copy supplied.

Scope and Application

The Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, as amended by Statutory Rules 1934, No. 24, applies to the activities of the Commonwealth of Australia, specifically governing the operations of the Post and Telegraph service. This legislation primarily affects individuals and entities engaged in the transmission of telegrams and the provision of postal services within the Commonwealth. The amendment, which introduces a new sub-regulation under Telegraph Regulation 75, allows for the request of a copy of a telegram to be delivered by post, subject to an additional charge. This regulation extends across the national jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, ensuring a standardised approach to the provision of postal and telegraphic services. The scope of the legislation includes any transactions involving the sending of telegrams, with the specified amendment impacting both senders and the service providers. Notably, these regulations do not specify any exclusions or exemptions, and the additional charge is uniformly applied across all applicable cases. Subordinate instruments may further refine the application and enforcement of these regulations, providing detailed procedural and operational guidelines.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this legislative instrument concern the amendment of Telegraph Regulation 75, which introduces a new sub-regulation (10) (Reg. 75(10)). This new provision allows a sender to request, prior to the telephonic transmission of a telegram, that a copy of the telegram be made and delivered to them by post. Importantly, this service incurs an additional charge of threepence per telegram for each copy supplied in accordance with this new sub-regulation. The Act imposes specific obligations and requirements on the parties involved. For instance, telegraph operators must adhere to the new sub-regulation (10) and ensure that they facilitate the copying and postal delivery of telegrams upon a sender's request. Additionally, senders are required to pay the specified additional charge for each copy of the telegram they request. These obligations ensure that the process is transparent and that both parties are aware of their respective duties under the amended regulation. Breaches of these provisions may lead to civil or criminal consequences, although the specific penalties are not detailed in the text provided. However, it is reasonable to infer that failure to adhere to the requirements could result in disputes or legal action, potentially leading to fines or other penalties as prescribed by relevant laws or regulations. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as the applicable legal framework governing such matters at the time.