STATUTORY RULES.
1914. No. 121.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS 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 Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, namely:—
Telephone Regulations of 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 349.)
Regulations 24 and 51.
should come into immediate operation, and make the amended Regulations to come into operation forthwith as provisional Regulations.
Dated this twenty-fourth day of August, One thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
R. M. FERGUSON.
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
J. H. McCOLL.
TELEPHONE REGULATIONS OF 1913.
(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 349.)
1. Regulation 24 is amended by repealing sub-regulation (1) and inserting the following sub-regulation in its stead:—
24. (1) Persons occupying offices in the same building, or occupying the same private residence, may jointly subscribe under the one Exchange number, on payment (in addition to rental as for one person at the respective rates prescribed by these Regulations) of £1 in advance for the first year or part thereof, and at the rate of £1 per annum thereafter. The fee of £1 per annum covers the insertion of the additional subscriber’s name in the Telephone List. The additional subscriber’s service may be discontinued at one month’s notice.
C.11439.—Price 3d.
2. Regulation 51 (as amended by Statutory Rules 1911, No. 88) 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 | 5 |
„ 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 | 0 | 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 3 minutes or part of 3 minutes.
For conversations after 7 p.m. and before 8 a.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 3 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.
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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 1914, No. 121, titled "Provisional Regulations Under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913," were enacted to address the urgent need for amendments to the existing Telephone Regulations of 1913. This legislative instrument, certified by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, was established to rectify certain inefficiencies and inaccuracies in the regulatory framework governing telecommunications. Specifically, the amended regulations sought to streamline the process for multiple subscribers under one exchange number and to revise the charges for trunk line telephone services between various towns. The policy objective underpinning these changes was to ensure a more efficient and equitable system for the provision and billing of telecommunications services across Australia.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1913, specifically the Telephone Regulations of 1913, pertain to persons and entities involved in telephone services within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations primarily address the subscription and use of telephone lines, particularly focusing on the subscription arrangements for persons in shared residences or office buildings and the charging structure for trunk line communications between different locations. The regulations cover the fees associated with subscribing to a telephone service under a shared exchange number, which includes an initial payment of £1 in addition to the standard rental fees, and a subsequent annual fee of £1 for listing additional subscribers in the telephone directory. Furthermore, the regulations detail the tariff for using trunk lines for communication between different towns and exchanges, distinguishing between daytime and nighttime charges, as well as providing specific rates for press communications when the line is not in use for other purposes. The geographic scope of these regulations applies nationally across Australia, ensuring uniformity in telephone service provision and billing across the Commonwealth. There are no exclusions or exemptions explicitly stated within the scope of these provisional regulations.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of the amended Telephone Regulations of 1913 include modifications to the joint subscription of telephone services by occupants of the same building or residence, as well as the reclassification and pricing of trunk line telephone services between different towns and exchanges. Regulation 24 (1) allows individuals who occupy the same office building or residence to jointly subscribe to a single telephone exchange number, with an additional payment of £1 per annum per subscriber after the first year, to cover the inclusion of their names in the telephone list. Regulation 51 (1) defines trunk lines as those connecting separate towns or exchanges not specified in the previous regulation, and sets forth the charges for their use, differentiated by the distance of the line and the time of day. The charges are calculated based on the length of the conversation, with different rates applying for conversations during business hours and after hours, as well as special rates for press-related calls when the line is otherwise unoccupied.
These regulations impose several obligations on the parties they govern. For example, joint subscribers must pay the specified fees to maintain their telephone service and ensure their names are listed in the telephone directory. Additionally, the regulations specify the rates for trunk line calls, which must be adhered to by the telephone service providers when billing customers. These regulations also necessitate that the telephone service providers accurately record the length of conversations for billing purposes and apply the correct charges based on the distance of the line and the time of the call.
Failure to comply with the provisions of these regulations can result in civil and criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the regulations, non-compliance could potentially lead to fines or legal action for those who do not adhere to the prescribed charges or fail to pay the required fees. The severity of the penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, and could potentially lead to legal proceedings if the matter is not resolved through other means.