STATUTORY RULES.
1955. No. 27.
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REGULATION 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 Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950.
Dated this fourteenth day of April, 1955.
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Postmaster-General.
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Amendment of the Telephone Regulations.†
Regulation 81 of the Telephone Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead :—
Notice concerning message service.
“ 81.—(1.) A subscriber may, together with another subscriber, in writing, request the Department to insert a notice in the Telephone Directory after the name of that first-mentioned subscriber to the effect that, if a call to the telephone of that first-mentioned subscriber is unanswered, a call may be made to the telephone of the other subscriber and a message left with that other subscriber for the first-mentioned subscriber.
(2.) The Department may, on payment of such fee as is determined by the Department, approve, either unconditionally or conditionally, of the insertion of the notice in the Telephone Directory.
(3.) A person shall comply with any condition subject to which the approval of the Department is given under the last preceding sub-regulation and which is applicable to him.
Penalty : Five pounds.”.
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1954.
† Statutory Rules 1927, No. 145 as amended. For previous amendments of the Telephone Regulations see footnote † to Statutory Rules 1954, No. 29.
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Printed for the Government of the Commonwealth by A. J. Arthur at the Government Printing Office, Canberra.
5320.—Price 3d. 9/1.12.1955.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1955 No. 27, enacted under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, addresses the need to amend the existing regulations concerning telephone services, specifically regarding the insertion of notices in the Telephone Directory. This regulation was enacted by the Governor-General in Council, providing a mechanism for subscribers to request the Department to insert a notice in the Directory indicating an alternative contact in the event of an unanswered call. The policy objective is to facilitate more efficient communication by allowing subscribers to designate a secondary contact person, thereby enhancing the utility and reliability of the telephone service. The regulation also outlines the fee structure for such services and the conditions under which the Department may approve the insertion of these notices, along with the associated penalty for non-compliance.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules 1955 No. 27, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1950, provides amendments to the existing Telephone Regulations, specifically concerning the insertion of notices in the Telephone Directory regarding message services. This regulation applies to subscribers of telephone services within the Commonwealth of Australia, allowing them to request the Postmaster-General’s Department to include a notice in the directory, indicating that if a call to their telephone is unanswered, a call may be made to a secondary subscriber for a message to be left. The Department has the authority to approve the insertion of such notices, subject to the payment of a prescribed fee, and may impose conditions that must be met by the subscribers. The regulation includes a penalty of five pounds for non-compliance with any conditions set by the Department. The regulation extends its application across the Commonwealth, impacting both individuals and entities utilising telephone services within Australia.
Key Provisions
The Regulation, under section 81, allows subscribers to request the Department to include a notice in the Telephone Directory regarding their message service arrangements. Specifically, if a call to one subscriber's telephone goes unanswered, a call can be made to another subscriber's telephone, and a message can be left for the first subscriber. This arrangement must be made in writing by both subscribers. The Department has the discretion to approve this notice insertion, either unconditionally or conditionally, and may charge a fee for this service.
Under the Regulation, the Department is empowered to set the fee for approving the insertion of such a notice. Furthermore, if the Department grants conditional approval, the subscribers must adhere to the specified conditions. Failure to comply with these conditions could result in the subscriber being in breach of the Regulation.
Should a person fail to comply with the conditions set by the Department, the Regulation stipulates a penalty of five pounds. This penalty is the sole consequence mentioned in the Regulation for non-compliance with the conditions set forth by the Department for the insertion of the notice in the Telephone Directory.