STATUTORY RULES
(Issued provisionally as Statutory Rules 1913, No. 247.)
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 1901-1912, namely :—
Telephone Regulations,
Part VI.—Telephone Junction and Trunk Lines,
to come into operation on the 27th day of December, 1913.
Dated this third day of December, One thousand nine hundred and thirteen.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency's Command,
AGAR WYNNE.
Telephone Regulations.
Part VI.—Telephone Junction and Trunk Lines.
Regulation 51 under this head (Statutory Rules, 1912, No. 65) is amended by repealing sub-regulation (1) and inserting the following sub-regulation in its stead :—
51. (1) Lines joining two separate towns, or lines joining exchanges other than those specified in the last preceding Regulation, are classed as trunk lines, and their use shall be charged for as provided hereunder, the charges being calculated upon the actual length of trunk line used :—
—— | Between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. | Between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. |
First three minutes. | Every additional three minutes. | First three minutes. | Every additional three minutes. |
| s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. |
For each conversation on lines not exceeding 15 miles..... | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Exceeding 15 but not exceeding 20 miles | ........... | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
„ 20 „ „ 25 „ | ........... | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
„ 25 „ „ 35 „ | ........... | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
„ 35 „ „ 50 „ | ........... | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
„ 50 „ „ 75 „ | ........... | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
„ 75 „ „ 100 „ | ........... | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
„ 100 „ „ 150 „ | ........... | 1 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
„ 150 „ „ 200 „ | ........... | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
„ 200 „ „ 250 „ | ........... | 2 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
„ 250 „ „ 300 „ | ........... | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
„ 300 „ „ 350 „ | ........... | 3 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 5 |
„ 350 „ „ 400 „ | ........... | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
The charges for the use of the telephone trunk line between Sydney and Melbourne shall be :—
For conversations between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., 5s. per three minutes or part of three minutes.
For conversations after 7 p.m. and before 8 a.m., 2s. 6d. per three minutes or part of three minutes.
For Press conversations when the line is not otherwise engaged, 2s. 6d. per three minutes or part of three minutes.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Telephone Regulations, Part VI, which were amended in 1913, provide specific guidelines for the classification and charging of telephone junction and trunk lines. Enacted by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, these regulations aim to standardise and regulate the use of telephone lines connecting different towns and exchanges across Australia. The underlying objective of these regulations is to establish a fair and systematic method for charging users based on the distance and duration of their calls, ensuring equitable and transparent communication services. This legislative instrument addresses the need for clear regulations in an emerging telecommunications sector, thereby facilitating orderly growth and management of telephone services in Australia.
Scope and Application
The amended Telephone Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, issued as Statutory Rules 1913, No. 247, specifically address the classification and charging of trunk lines used for telephone communication. This regulation applies to lines connecting two separate towns or exchanges not otherwise specified, and it categorises these lines as trunk lines. The use of these lines is subject to charges based on the actual length of the trunk line used, with different rates applied for conversations occurring between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. The regulation further outlines detailed charge schedules based on the distance of the trunk line, ranging from conversations on lines not exceeding 15 miles to those exceeding 350 miles, with specific pricing for each distance bracket. Additionally, there are specified charges for conversations between Sydney and Melbourne, applicable at different times of the day, as well as for press conversations when the line is otherwise not engaged. This legislation applies nationally, governed by the Commonwealth, and aims to standardise and regulate the pricing structure for telephone trunk lines.
Key Provisions
The key operative sections of this amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912 pertain to the classification and charging of trunk lines (reg. 51). Regulation 51, as amended, delineates trunk lines as those joining two separate towns or exchanges not specified in preceding regulations. The use of these trunk lines is subject to charges calculated based on the actual length of the line used. The charges are differentiated based on the distance of the line and the time of the conversation. For instance, conversations between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. are charged at varying rates per three minutes depending on the length of the line, with rates increasing for longer distances. Conversations between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. attract different rates, as do press conversations when the line is not otherwise engaged. The specific rates are tabulated in the regulation, with examples such as 2 shillings for the first three minutes on a line not exceeding 15 miles during the day.
The obligations imposed by this Act on the parties it governs primarily revolve around the accurate classification of telephone lines and adherence to the prescribed charge schedules. Users of trunk lines are required to ensure that they are correctly billed according to the distance of the line used and the time of the conversation. Service providers, on the other hand, are obligated to apply the correct charges as per the stipulated rates and maintain records to support billing. This includes providing clear and accurate information to users about the charges applicable to their use of trunk lines.
In terms of consequences for non-compliance, the Regulation does not explicitly state civil or criminal penalties for breaches. However, it is reasonable to infer that any non-compliance with the prescribed charges could lead to disputes over billing and potential legal actions for recovery of unpaid amounts or for wrongful charges. The Regulation’s focus is primarily on ensuring that the correct charges are applied, and it does not delineate specific penalties for breaches of these requirements. Users who fail to pay the correct charges could face demands for payment from the service provider, while service providers who incorrectly charge users could face disputes and potential litigation from affected parties.