Telephone Regulations (Amendment) (Provisional)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1916, No. 127, titled "Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913", was enacted to address the need for urgent amendments to the existing telephone regulations. This legislative instrument was issued under the authority of Sir Arthur Stanley, the Governor of the State of Victoria and its Dependencies, acting as the Deputy for the Governor-General, with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The regulation was introduced in response to the immediate operational needs as declared by the Postmaster-General, William Webster. The policy objective behind this amendment was to provide reduced rates for telephone services to charitable institutions that are focused on the relief of poor or afflicted persons in Australia, and are either fully or partially funded by public subscription and approved by the Postmaster-General. The reduced rates were intended to support these institutions in their vital work within the community.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913 applies specifically to charitable institutions dedicated to the relief of poor or afflicted persons in Australia. These institutions must be supported wholly or partly by public subscription and require approval from the Postmaster-General to qualify for the reduced rates. The regulation mandates that these approved charitable institutions will be charged only half the rates specified in the regulations for lines and any additional instruments they may require. Additionally, calls made over lines that connect with exchanges are also subject to the reduced rate outlined in Regulation 5. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, as it is a Commonwealth legislative instrument. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions in the regulation itself, though the requirement for approval by the Postmaster-General serves as an implicit control mechanism. The regulation is intended to provide financial relief to deserving institutions by reducing their communication costs, thereby enabling them to allocate more resources towards their charitable activities.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Provisional Regulation, under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, are contained in Regulation 30 (subsections 1 and 2). Section 30(1) states that charitable institutions, which are dedicated to the relief of poor or afflicted persons in Australia, and which are supported wholly or partly by public subscription, may be approved by the Postmaster-General to be charged only half the standard rates for telephone lines and any additional instruments. Section 30(2) specifies that calls made over these lines, connecting with telephone exchanges, will also be charged at half the rates outlined in Regulation 5. The obligations imposed by this Act on the parties or entities it governs are primarily concerned with the approval process for charitable institutions seeking to benefit from reduced rates. The Postmaster-General is tasked with the responsibility of approving such institutions, ensuring they meet the criteria of being dedicated to the relief of poor or afflicted persons, and being supported wholly or partly by public subscription. This approval process is essential to qualify the institutions for the discounted rates on telephone services and additional instruments. Offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches of this Regulation are not explicitly detailed within the text of the Provisional Regulation itself. However, it is reasonable to infer that any misuse or fraudulent claim of eligibility for the reduced rates could potentially be subject to the general provisions of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, which might include fines or other legal repercussions. The specific penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as any relevant additional legislation or guidelines in place at the time of the alleged offence.