STATUTORY RULES.
1913. No. 247.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1910-1912.
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 1901-1912, namely :—
Telephone Regulations.
Part VI.—Telephone Junction and Trunk Lines.
should come into immediate operation, and make the amended Regulations to come into operation forthwith as provisional Regulations.
Dated this tenth day of September, 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. | | 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 | | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
,, 20 „ „ 25 „................ | 0 | | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
,, 25 „ „ 35 ,,................ | 0 | | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
,, 35 „ „ 50 ,,................ | 0 | | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
,, 50 „ „ 75 ,,................ | 1 | | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
,, 75 „ „ 100 ,,................ | 1 | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
,, 100 „ „ 150 ,,................ | 1 | | 1 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
,, 150 „ „ 200 ,,................ | 2 | | 1 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
,, 200 „ „ 250 ,,................ | 2 | | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
,, 250 „ „ 300 ,,................ | 3 | | 2 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
,, 300 „ „ 350 ,,................ | 3 | | 2 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 5 |
,, 350 „ „ 400 ,,................ | 4 | | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
C.13233.—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 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 Statutory Rules 1913 No. 247, titled Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, were enacted by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, to address urgent matters concerning telephone junction and trunk lines. These provisional regulations aimed to amend the existing Telephone Regulations by updating the classification and charging structure for trunk lines that connect separate towns or exchanges not previously specified. The urgency of these amendments was such that they came into immediate operation as provisional regulations. This legislative instrument reflects the early efforts to standardise and formalise the burgeoning telecommunications infrastructure in Australia, ensuring that services were both accessible and financially regulated.
The primary objective of these regulations was to provide a structured and equitable system for charging users based on the distance of trunk line usage and the time of the call, thereby establishing a clear financial model for the expanding telephone services. These regulations were enacted to fill a gap in the existing legislative framework, ensuring that the rapidly developing telecommunications sector was governed by consistent and transparent rules.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912, specifically concerning the amended Telephone Regulations, apply to all telephone junction and trunk lines that join two separate towns or exchanges not specified in the previous regulations. This legislation pertains to the Commonwealth jurisdiction, and its primary focus is to regulate the charges for the use of telephone trunk lines based on their length and the time of day the conversation takes place. The rates are differentiated for conversations between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., and between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m., with additional charges for conversations exceeding the initial three minutes. The special rates are also established for the use of the trunk line between Sydney and Melbourne. It is noteworthy that these provisional regulations are subject to change and may be further amended through subordinate instruments as necessary.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the amended Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912 focus on the classification and pricing of telephone trunk lines. Specifically, Regulation 51 (subsection 1) states that lines connecting two separate towns or exchanges, other than those mentioned in the preceding regulation, are classified as trunk lines. These lines are subject to specific charges based on the distance and time of the conversation, with different rates applying between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. The charges are calculated according to the actual length of the trunk line used, with rates varying for each segment of distance up to 400 miles. Additionally, the charges for the trunk line between Sydney and Melbourne are explicitly defined, with different rates for conversations during daytime and nighttime hours, as well as for press conversations when the line is otherwise not in use.
The amended Regulations impose clear obligations and requirements on the parties involved. Operators of telephone trunk lines must ensure that they accurately classify the lines as trunk lines and apply the specified charges based on the distance and time of the conversation. This includes distinguishing between daytime and nighttime rates and ensuring that the correct charges are levied for each conversation. Operators must also adhere to the specific rates set for the Sydney-Melbourne trunk line, particularly for press conversations when the line is not otherwise engaged. The Regulations require precise record-keeping and billing practices to ensure compliance with the specified charges.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the amended Regulations can lead to various civil and criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the text of the Regulations, it is implied that breaches of the prescribed charges and classification requirements could result in enforcement actions. These may include fines, penalties, or other sanctions as provided by the broader legislative framework governing the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1912. The precise nature and extent of these penalties would be determined in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.