STATUTORY RULES.
1912. No. 242.
REGULATION UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901–1910.
(Issued provisionally as Statutory Rules 1912, No. 186.)
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the undermentioned amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1910, namely:—
Telephone Regulations,
to come into operation on the twenty-eighth day of December, 1912.
Dated this fourth day of December, One thousand nine hundred and twelve.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
C. E. FRAZER.
Telephone Regulations.
Regulation 52 under this head (Statutory Rules, 1911, No. 215) is amended by repealing Sub-regulation (1) and inserting in its stead the following Sub-regulation:—
(i) Subscribers to Telephone Exchanges may use the trunk lines when required, by paying the trunk line fees prescribed by Regulation 51 for each connexion of three minutes’ duration or fraction thereof, if a sum of money equal to their estimated requirements for one month, but not less than Five shillings, be deposited in advance. Provided, however, that any subscriber, not being a depositor, desiring to speak over a trunk line without attending at a public telephone, may lodge at the General Post Office or at the Exchange to which he is connected, the prescribed fee for a single call, which call must be effected within twenty-four hours of the payment. When accounts are rendered reimbursements must be promptly made. No connexion will be made after notification that the advance has been exhausted until such advance has been renewed.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia By Authority: Albert J. Mullett, Acting Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.17292.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1912, No. 242, which amends the Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1910, was enacted to address the need for a structured approach to the use of trunk lines for subscribers of telephone exchanges. This legislative instrument was made under the authority of the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, to ensure the efficient and orderly operation of telephone services. The primary policy objective of these regulations is to facilitate the use of trunk lines by subscribers while maintaining financial control and ensuring that services are provided in a timely manner. By introducing a system where subscribers must deposit an advance sum or pay a prescribed fee for each call, the regulation aims to prevent abuse of the trunk line services and ensure that resources are available for those who need them.
Scope and Application
The Telephone Regulations, as amended by Statutory Rules 1912, No. 242, pertain to subscribers of telephone exchanges within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations detail the conditions under which subscribers may use trunk lines, including the necessity of paying prescribed trunk line fees for each connection lasting three minutes or a fraction thereof, or by making an advance deposit. The regulations also specify that subscribers who do not make an advance deposit may still use trunk lines by paying a prescribed fee for a single call, provided the call is made within twenty-four hours of payment. These regulations apply nationwide, affecting all telephone subscribers and their use of trunk lines within the Commonwealth, and they extend through the authority of the Governor-General in Council, with the stipulated commencement date of 28 December 1912. The regulations are subject to amendments through subordinate instruments, as evidenced by the repeal and replacement of Sub-regulation (1) in Regulation 52.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of the amended Telephone Regulations (Statutory Rules 1912, No. 242) pertain to the usage of trunk lines by subscribers of telephone exchanges. Regulation 52 has been altered to specify that subscribers can utilise trunk lines by paying prescribed trunk line fees for each connection of three minutes' duration or a fraction thereof (Regulation 52(i)). This payment must be made either in advance by depositing a sum equal to their estimated monthly requirements, with a minimum of Five shillings, or by paying the prescribed fee for a single call when not being a depositor, provided the call is made within twenty-four hours of the payment. Furthermore, it mandates that reimbursements must be made promptly when accounts are rendered and stipulates that no connection will be made after an advance has been exhausted until it has been renewed.
The amended Regulations impose several obligations and requirements on the parties involved. Subscribers to telephone exchanges must either deposit a sum of money in advance, equivalent to their estimated monthly requirements, or pay a prescribed fee for a single call if they are not depositors. This ensures that the services are prepaid, thereby facilitating smooth and uninterrupted communication. The requirement to promptly make reimbursements when accounts are rendered highlights the necessity for timely financial transactions to maintain the operational integrity of the communication services. Additionally, subscribers are obligated to renew their advance deposits once they are exhausted to avoid service interruptions.
The Regulations also include provisions concerning the consequences of non-compliance. While the specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach are not detailed in the provided text, it is implied that failure to adhere to the payment requirements or to renew deposits could result in the suspension of service. This suspension would continue until the subscriber complies with the stipulated financial obligations. Although the exact penalties or legal repercussions are not specified, the enforcement of these provisions is crucial to ensure the smooth functioning of the telephone services and the financial stability of the communication infrastructure.