STATUTORY RULES.
1915. No. 58.
PROVISIONAL REGULATION UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1913.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the undermentioned amended Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913 should come into immediate operation, and make the amended Regulation to come into operation forthwith as a Provisional Regulation.
Dated this twenty-third day of April, One thousand nine hundred and fifteen.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. G. SPENCE,
Postmaster-General.
AMENDMENT OF THE TELEPHONE REGULATIONS 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 349, as amended by Statutory Rules 1914, Nos. 88 and 164.)
Regulation 51 is repealed, and the following Regulation is inserted in its stead :—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 „ | l | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
„ | 100 | „ | „ | 150 „ | 1 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 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 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
„ | 300 | „ | „ | 350 „ | 3 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 5 |
„ | 350 | „ | „ | 400 „ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
C.4102.—Price 3d.
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 3 minutes or part of 3 minutes.
For conversations after 7 p.m. and before 8a.m., 2s. 6d. per 3 minutes or part of 3 minutes.
For press conversations when the line is not otherwise engaged, 2s. 6d. per 3 minutes or part of 3 minutes.
The charges for the use of the telephone trunk line between Melbourne and Adelaide shall be:—
For conversations between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., 4s. 8d. for the first 3 minutes, and 3s. 6d. for every additional 3 minutes.
For conversations after 7 p.m. and before 8 a.m., 2s. 4d. for the first 3 minutes, and 1s. 9d. for every additional three minutes.
For press conversations when the line is not otherwise engaged, 2s, 4d. for the first 3 minutes, and 1s. 9d. for every additional 3 minutes.
Double the ordinary rates shall be charged for trunk line calls (other than press conversations or official calls made in connection with Federal Referenda) on Sundays, Christmas Day, and Good Friday.
(2) No conversation to exceed 6 minutes if any other person is waiting to converse.
(3) When a public telephone is used for the purpose of conversing over a trunk line, the fee for the use of the trunk line only is to be charged.
(4) Where two towns are connected by telephone trunk lines, and are not more than one mile beyond the mileage fixed by this Regulation for the various rates, the additional distance is not to be taken into consideration, and conversations between those places are to be charged for as if they were within the limit.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1915, No. 58, provides for the amendment of the Telephone Regulations 1913 under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913. Enacted by the Governor-General in the Federal Executive Council, this provisional regulation addresses the urgent need to update the rates for the use of telephone trunk lines between major cities and other exchanges. The policy objective is to establish clear and structured charges for trunk line conversations, considering different time periods and the actual length of the trunk line used. The regulation also specifies the maximum duration for conversations to ensure efficient use of the service, especially when other users are waiting.
The regulation sets specific rates for trunk line conversations based on the distance and the time of day, ensuring that the charges are proportional to the service provided. It also includes provisions for charging only the trunk line fee when using public telephones for trunk line conversations and exempts minor additional distances from the mileage-based rate calculation. This amendment aims to bring transparency and consistency in the pricing of long-distance telephone services across Australia.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913 governs the pricing and usage of telephone trunk lines between various cities in Australia, specifically focusing on lines connecting Sydney and Melbourne, as well as Melbourne and Adelaide. This legislation applies to individuals and entities engaging in telephone communications over these specified trunk lines, particularly those connecting towns beyond the defined mileage limits. The regulation sets forth differential rates based on the time of day and duration of the conversation, with special provisions for press conversations and peak periods. It mandates that charges are calculated based on the actual length of the trunk line used and stipulates maximum conversation times to ensure fair usage. Notably, the regulation allows for exemptions where towns connected by trunk lines are within a specified distance, charging them as if they were within the defined limits. The regulation also extends its reach to the entire Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring a uniform application of the specified charges and restrictions across all states and territories.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this Provisional Regulation, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, concern the classification and charging of telephone trunk lines. Regulation 51, in particular, establishes the classification of lines that join two separate towns or exchanges not specified in the previous regulation as trunk lines (subsection 51(1)). It stipulates the method of calculating charges for the use of these trunk lines based on the actual length of the line used. The charges are differentiated by the time of day and the duration of the conversation, with specific rates outlined for different distances and time periods (subsection 51(1)). Additionally, there are provisions regarding the maximum duration of conversations, the fees applicable when using public telephones for trunk line calls, and adjustments to charges for towns connected by trunk lines within certain distance limits (subsections 51(2)-(4)).
The Regulation imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties it governs. Firstly, it mandates that trunk line calls must be charged according to the specified rates based on the distance and duration of the conversation (subsection 51(1)). Secondly, it limits the duration of trunk line conversations to no more than six minutes if another person is waiting to use the line (subsection 51(2)). Thirdly, when a public telephone is used for trunk line calls, only the fee for the trunk line use is to be charged, without additional fees for the use of the public telephone (subsection 51(3)). Finally, it provides that if two towns are connected by trunk lines and are not more than one mile beyond the specified mileage for various rates, the additional distance should not be taken into account, and conversations between these places should be charged according to the nearest fixed limit (subsection 51(4)).
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Regulation may result in various consequences. Although the text does not explicitly state any offences or penalties for breaches, it is implied that non-compliance with the specified charging rates and other requirements could lead to legal repercussions. Given the context of the regulation, penalties could potentially include fines or other administrative actions under the broader legislative framework of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913. However, the exact nature and extent of penalties would depend on further legislative provisions or related legal interpretations.