Telegraph Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1951, No. 73, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, was enacted to amend various charges and fees associated with telegraph services, bringing them up to date with current economic conditions. The regulations came into effect on 9th July 1951 and were designed to address the problem of outdated fee structures within the Telegraph Regulations, ensuring that the charges more accurately reflected the costs of providing these services. The policy objective was to maintain the operational efficiency of the telegraph services while also ensuring that the fees were fair and reasonable for users.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1951, No. 73, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, amends various regulations within the Telegraph Regulations to adjust certain fees and rates associated with telegram services. This legislative instrument specifically targets entities and individuals who use or provide telegraph services within the Commonwealth of Australia, as it seeks to modify fees for various telegram services such as acknowledgment of delivery, registered code addresses, multiple telegrams, supply of copies of telegrams, and delivery of telegrams to subscribers. Notably, the changes include adjustments to the cost of telegrams, the supply of copies of telegrams, and the delivery of telegrams to subscribers, reflecting a comprehensive update to the pricing structure. These amendments came into operation on the ninth day of July, 1951, and aim to ensure that the financial aspects of telegram services are in line with the current economic context.

Key Provisions

The Statutory Rules 1951, No. 73 amends several provisions of the Telegraph Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950. The regulations, which come into effect on 9 July 1951, primarily address changes to financial rates and fees associated with telegram services. Section 2 modifies Regulation 21 by increasing the rate from "Two pounds two shillings" to "Three pounds three shillings" and from "Five" to "Six" and from "Ten" to "Twelve" in sub-regulation (2). Section 3 updates Regulation 56, changing the acknowledgement fee from "One penny" to "Threepence." Section 4 amends Regulation 58, raising the charge for multiple telegrams from "Fivepence" to "Ninepence" in sub-regulation (5) and from "Tenpence" to "One shilling and sixpence" in sub-regulation (6). Section 5 modifies Regulation 58b by increasing the fee for telegram copies from "Fivepence" to "Ninepence" in paragraph (d) and from "Sixpence" to "Tenpence" in paragraph (e). Section 6 updates Regulation 64 to reclassify Commonwealth Electoral and Referendum telegrams as press telegrams under the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902-1951. These amendments impose new financial obligations on those utilising telegraph services. For example, the increased fees for telegrams, acknowledgements, and multiple telegrams will now require customers to pay more for these services. Additionally, Regulation 72 updates registered code addresses' charges, with "Ten shillings and sixpence" being replaced by "One pound one shilling" and "Two pounds two shillings" by "Three pounds three shillings." The rate for telephoning telegrams to subscribers is increased from "Threepence" to "Fourpence" in Regulation 75, while the delivery fee for telegrams to subscribers is increased from "Twopence" to "Sixpence" in Regulation 76. Failure to comply with the financial obligations outlined in these regulations may result in civil or criminal consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the text, it is likely that the breach of these financial requirements could lead to legal action under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950. The maximum penalties for such breaches would depend on the specific nature of the infringement and the applicable laws at the time.