Telegraph Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1954L00005 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1954. No. .

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1950.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950.

Dated this nineteenth day of January, 1954.

W. J. Slim

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Postmaster-General.

 

Amendments of the Telegraph Regulations.†

Method of counting.

1. Regulation 25 of the Telegraph Regulations is amended by omitting paragraph (a) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph :—

“(a) in the address—

(i) the name of the telegraph office of destination; or

(ii) a telephone number (including a number consisting partly of figures and partly of letters) of a telephone subscriber together with the name, if any, of a telephone exchange that precedes the number;”.

Counting of plain language telegrams.

2. Regulations 26 of the Telegraph Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the words “ A group ” and inserting in their stead the words “ Subject to the last preceding regulation, a group ”.

Method of delivery of telegrams.

3. Regulation 50 of the Telegraph Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulations (3.) and (4.) and inserting in their stead the following sub-regulations :—

“ (3.) Where a person charged with the delivery of a telegram is unable to gain access to the premises where the telegram is to be delivered or no person is present at the premises where a telegram is to

 

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1954.

† 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; 1940, Nos. 50, 87 and 102; 1942, No. 550; 1943, Nos. 215 and 242; 1944, No. 91; 1945, No. 10; 1946, No. 139; 1948, No. 23; 1949, Nos. 19 and 91; 1950, No. 91; 1951, Nos. 23, 73 and 90; and 1952, Nos. 6, 35 and 78.

2774.—Price 3d. 9/21.10.1953.


be delivered, the person charged with the delivery of the telegram may, unless the addressee has directed otherwise—

(a) leave a notice at the premises advising the addressee of the attempt to deliver the telegram ; or

(b) if he is satisfied, after inquiry in the vicinity, that the addressee is not absent for a lengthy period, leave the telegram under the door of the premises.

“ (4.) Where a person charged with the delivery of a telegram is unable to find a person at the premises where the telegram is to be delivered who is prepared to take delivery of the telegram, the person charged with the delivery of the telegram may, unless the addressee has directed otherwise, leave a notice at the premises advising the addressee of the attempt to deliver the telegram.

“ (5.) Where a person charged with the delivery of a telegram is, for any reason, unable to deliver the telegram and is not authorized, by virtue of paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (3.) of this regulation, to leave the telegram under the door of the premises where the telegram is to be delivered—

(a) he shall return the telegram to the telegraph office from which the telegram is to be delivered ; and

(b) unless the telegram has in the meantime been claimed by the addressee or a person authorized by the addressee to take delivery of the telegram on his behalf, or the addressee has directed otherwise, an attempt shall be made to deliver the telegram when next a person charged with the delivery of telegrams is passing the premises where the telegram is to be delivered.”.

Press telegrams and broadcasting telegrams.

4. Regulation 63 of the Telegraph Regulations is amended by omitting paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (4.) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph :—

“(b) Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., an ordinary telegram may be transmitted in precedence of a press telegram or a broadcasting telegram;”.

 

By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1954 No. 005, Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, were enacted to address and amend existing regulations concerning the delivery and transmission of telegrams within Australia. Made by the Governor-General in accordance with the Federal Executive Council, these regulations sought to modernise the existing framework to better align with contemporary practices in communication, particularly regarding the handling of telegrams. The primary objective, as outlined in the text, was to streamline the process of telegram delivery, provide clarity in addressing methods, and establish a more efficient procedure for the transmission of press and broadcasting telegrams. These amendments reflect an effort to enhance the operational efficiency of the postal and telegraph services during a time when telegrams were a primary means of long-distance communication.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 apply to the delivery and transmission of telegrams within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations govern the method of addressing telegrams, counting telegrams for the purpose of determining charges, and the method of delivering telegrams. The amendments pertain specifically to the Telegraph Regulations and aim to streamline the process of addressing and delivering telegrams, including the ability to leave notices at the recipient’s premises under certain conditions. Additionally, the regulations specify the precedence of ordinary telegrams over press and broadcasting telegrams during certain hours. The amendments extend the application of these provisions to ensure clarity and efficiency in the handling of telegrams across the Commonwealth, with the possibility of further adjustments or clarifications through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950 (Regulations) primarily modify the Telegraph Regulations, specifically focusing on the method of counting telegrams, delivery procedures, and the precedence of press and broadcasting telegrams. Regulation 25(a) is amended to clarify that telegram addresses must include either the name of the telegraph office of destination or a telephone number of the recipient, along with any preceding telephone exchange name. Regulation 26 is adjusted to ensure that groups of words in telegrams are counted subject to the preceding regulation. Furthermore, Regulation 50 introduces new provisions for the delivery of telegrams, allowing for notices to be left at the recipient's premises if delivery cannot be completed due to the recipient's absence or unavailability, with certain conditions. Lastly, Regulation 63 modifies the precedence of telegrams, allowing ordinary telegrams to be transmitted before press or broadcasting telegrams between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Regulations impose several obligations on the parties involved in the delivery and transmission of telegrams. For example, those responsible for delivering telegrams must attempt to deliver the telegrams personally or leave a notice if the recipient is unavailable. They must also adhere to the specified method of counting telegrams for billing purposes and ensure that telegrams are transmitted in the correct precedence when necessary. Additionally, these provisions require that any telegrams that cannot be delivered should be returned to the telegraph office, with further delivery attempts made subsequently. Breaches of these Regulations could result in various consequences. While specific penalties are not detailed within the text of these Regulations, violations of postal and telegraph regulations generally could lead to administrative actions, fines, or other penalties as prescribed by the overarching Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950. Non-compliance with delivery requirements could also result in service disruptions and dissatisfaction among users, potentially leading to further regulatory scrutiny or corrective actions.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.