STATUTORY RULES.
1935. No. 77.
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 fourteenth day of August, 1935.
(Sgd.) ISAAC A. ISAACS.
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Telegraph Regulations.†
Collection of phonogram charges.
Regulation 77 of the Telegraph Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting from Sub-regulation (1.) thereof the word “half-yearly” and inserting in its stead the word “periodical”;
(b) by omitting Sub-regulation (2.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—
(2.) Brief particulars consisting of the date of lodgment, number of words, classification, charge, names of addressee, sender, and telegraph office of destination (or telegraph office of origin in the case of messages telephoned to the subscriber) in respect of each telegram covered by the charges included in the account may be furnished to the telephone subscriber on request upon payment of a fee of One shilling for each statement containing details of not more than twenty telegrams and sixpence for each additional twenty telegrams or portion thereof. A certified copy of any telegram referred to in the statement may be obtained in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 68 of these Regulations.
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1935.
† Statutory Rules 1927, No. 142, as amended by Statutory Rules 1928, Nos. 35, 88, 97; 1929, Nos. 15, 128; 1930, Nos. 1, 5, 42, 81, 114, 129; 1931, Nos. 70, 132, 136; 1933, Nos. 102, 127; and 1934, Nos. 24, 113, and 137.
By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.
3111.—6/12.7.1935.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1935 No. 77, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1934, address a specific issue concerning the collection of phonogram charges in the context of telegram services. Enacted by the Governor-General in the Federal Executive Council, the regulation seeks to amend the Telegraph Regulations by modifying the periodicity and detail of the charges and information to be provided to telephone subscribers. This legislative instrument aims to streamline the process and ensure transparency in the billing and record-keeping of telegram services, reflecting a policy objective to adapt to the evolving needs of communication services during that era. The regulation introduces a more flexible and detailed approach to billing, allowing subscribers to obtain specific information about their telegram usage upon request, thereby enhancing accountability and customer service in the delivery of telegraph services.
Scope and Application
This Statutory Rule, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1934, pertains specifically to the amendment of the Telegraph Regulations, focusing on the collection of phonogram charges. The legislation applies to the entities and individuals involved in the transmission and billing of telegrams within the Commonwealth of Australia. The rule is geographically bound to the Commonwealth, ensuring a uniform approach across Australia in regulating telegraphic communications. This regulation modifies existing provisions to change the frequency of charge collection from half-yearly to a more flexible periodical basis, and specifies the detailed information to be provided to telephone subscribers upon request, including the date of lodgment, number of words, classification, charge, and names of sender and addressee, among other details. Additionally, it sets forth the fees for the provision of these details and certified copies of telegrams. The regulation does not explicitly mention any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but its implementation is subject to the overarching provisions of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1934. Furthermore, the regulation may be subject to further specification or amendment through subordinate instruments as necessitated by evolving practices or technological advancements in the telecommunications sector.
Key Provisions
The principal operative sections of the Statutory Rules 1935 No. 77 relate to the amendment of the Telegraph Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1934. Specifically, Regulation 77 is altered to change the frequency of phonogram charge collection from "half-yearly" to "periodical" (Reg. 77(a)). Additionally, the sub-regulation regarding the provision of brief particulars of telegrams to telephone subscribers is revised to include details such as the date of lodgment, number of words, classification, charge, and the names of the addressee and sender (Reg. 77(b)). This amendment allows subscribers to request these particulars upon payment of a specified fee and provides an option to obtain a certified copy of any telegram.
The amended Telegraph Regulations impose specific obligations on the entities they govern. The amendment mandates that detailed particulars of telegrams, as outlined, must be furnished to telephone subscribers upon request, provided the prescribed fee is paid. This includes the requirement that telegraph offices must maintain records of the specified details for each telegram and be prepared to provide certified copies of telegrams in accordance with Regulation 68. The regulation also outlines the fees for these services, stipulating One shilling for statements containing details of up to twenty telegrams and sixpence for each additional twenty telegrams or portion thereof.
The Statutory Rules 1935 No. 77 do not explicitly detail specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches of the amended Telegraph Regulations. However, under the broader framework of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1934, non-compliance with regulations governing the postal and telegraph services could potentially lead to administrative actions, fines, or other penalties as prescribed by the Act. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as the specific provisions of the overarching Act.