STATUTORY RULES.
1914. No. 165.
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REGULATION UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901–1913.
(Issued provisionally as Statutory Rules 1914, No. 120)
I, THE DEPUTY OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, do hereby make the undermentioned amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1913 to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twelfth day of November, One thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
A. L. STANLEY,
Deputy of the Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. G. SPENCE,
Postmaster-General.
Amendment of the Telephone Regulations, 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 349.)
Sub-regulation (6) of Regulation 27 is repealed, and the following Sub-regulation is inserted in its stead:—
(6) Extension services constructed and maintained by the users entirely on their own premises or land may be connected with the Exchange system, subject to the services being constructed and maintained in every way to the satisfaction of the Deputy Postmaster-General, and on payment of the charges prescribed in Parts XIV. and XV. of these Regulations; but the Postmaster-General will accept no responsibility for any defect arising on any part of such extension services, or caused through their connexion with the Exchange system. The approval of the Deputy Postmaster-General shall in all cases be obtained before any such extension service is connected with the Exchange system. The provisions of this sub-regulation shall, however, apply only to country district lines erected under the provisions of Part XIV. or XV. of these Regulations, unless otherwise allowed by the Postmaster-General.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.15430.—Price 3d.
Overview
Statutory Rules 1914, No. 165, issued under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1913, represents a regulatory amendment designed to address gaps in the management and oversight of telephone services in Australia. Enacted by the Deputy of the Governor-General, with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, this legislative instrument aims to refine the existing framework governing the connection of user-constructed extension services to the telephone exchange system. The regulation specifically seeks to clarify the conditions under which such services can be connected and the responsibilities of both the users and the Postmaster-General, ensuring that any defects within these services remain the responsibility of the users while maintaining the quality and integrity of the public exchange system. The policy objective underpinning this amendment is to provide clear guidelines and accountability in the expansion and maintenance of telephone services, thereby facilitating better service delivery and consumer protection within the telecommunication sector.
Scope and Application
The amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1913 pertains to the establishment and maintenance of extension services by users within their own premises or land, which are to be connected to the Exchange system. This applies to entities or individuals who have installed such services in country districts, as outlined in Parts XIV and XV of the Regulations. The connection to the Exchange system is subject to approval by the Deputy Postmaster-General and compliance with the prescribed charges detailed in Parts XIV and XV. Importantly, the Postmaster-General does not assume any liability for defects in these extension services, whether they arise from the services themselves or due to their connection with the Exchange system. This regulation extends to the entire Commonwealth of Australia, with the Postmaster-General retaining the discretion to allow exceptions to the outlined provisions. The regulation comes into effect immediately, underscoring its urgency and relevance to ongoing telecommunications infrastructure within the country.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of these regulations (Section 27(6)) concern the connection of extension services constructed by users to the exchange system. These services must be built and maintained on the user's own premises or land and must meet the standards approved by the Deputy Postmaster-General. It is important to note that the Postmaster-General will not assume responsibility for any defects in these services or those caused by their connection to the exchange system. Additionally, the approval of the Deputy Postmaster-General must be obtained before any connection is made. These provisions apply specifically to country district lines established under Parts XIV or XV of the Regulations, unless otherwise specified by the Postmaster-General.
The obligations imposed by these regulations primarily concern the users of the telephone services. They must ensure that any extension services are constructed and maintained according to the standards set by the Deputy Postmaster-General and that they comply with the prescribed charges. Users must also seek and obtain the approval of the Deputy Postmaster-General before connecting these services to the exchange system. The regulations make it clear that the Postmaster-General will not take on any liability for defects or issues arising from these extension services.
In terms of consequences for non-compliance, the regulations do not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties. However, failure to meet the standards set by the Deputy Postmaster-General or to obtain the required approval could potentially result in the denial of connection to the exchange system. There is also an implicit understanding that users must adhere to the prescribed charges to avoid any financial penalties or disputes. Given the historical context of the document, it is likely that any significant non-compliance could have led to legal actions or administrative penalties as deemed appropriate by the Postmaster-General at the time.