Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1913 (Amendment) (Provisional)

Legislation au C1914L00111 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1914. No. 111.

PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT 1905.

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 Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905, namely:—

Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1913.

(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 351.)

Regulations 5, 7, 11, 24, and 24a

should come into immediate operation and make the amended Regulations to come into operation forthwith as Provisional Regulations.

Dated this third day of August, One thousand nine hundred and fourteen.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

J. H. McCOLL.

Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1913.

(Statutory Rules 1913, No. 351.)

Regulation 5 is repealed, and the following Regulation is inserted in its stead:—

5. (1) An Experimental Licence may be granted in respect of a land station only.

(2) An Experimental Licence shall be in such form and, subject to these Regulations, shall contain such terms and conditions as the Postmaster-General thinks fit to include therein.

(3) An Experimental Licence shall remain in force until revoked, or until surrendered by the licensee, but shall be revocable at will by the Postmaster-General.

(4) The wireless telegraphy appliances included in an Experimental Licence shall be used only for experimental purposes, and so as not to interfere with the working of any land station or ship station, and the licensee shall in working the appliances obey all directions issued by the Postmaster-General.

(5) Only one land station may be included in any one Experimental Licence, and no person shall be granted more than one Experimental Licence.

(6) A person who is the holder of an Experimental Licence may, with the permission of the Postmaster-General, and on payment of the fee prescribed by paragraph (d) of Regulation 7 (1), transfer the station in respect of which the licence has been granted from one address to another without, the issue of a fresh licence.

Regulation 7 is repealed, and the following Regulation is inserted in its stead:—

7. (1) The fees for licences shall be as follows:—

(a) For a General Licence for ship stations or for any renewal thereof—Five shillings for each ship included in the licence.

(b) For a Supplementary Licence for ship stations or for any renewal thereof—Five shillings for each ship included in the licence.

(c) For an Experimental Licence for land stations.—Twenty-one shillings for each year or part of a year during which the licence is in force.

(d) For transfer of a station in respect of which an Experimental Licence has been granted from one address to another—Five shillings.

(2) The fees prescribed by this Regulation shall be payable in advance.

Regulation 11 is repealed, and the following Regulation is inserted in its stead:—

11. (1) A General Licence or Supplementary Licence may be renewed by writing thereon or attaching thereto a memorandum stating the period for which it is renewed.

(2) The memorandum of renewal must be signed by the Postmaster-General or by some officer authorized by him.

(3) The renewal may be made at any time within one month before or one month after the expiry of the licence.

(4) The memorandum is to be written on both parts of the licence, but in the case of the licensee’s part it shall be in the form of a receipt for the renewal fee signed by the Postmaster-General or by some officer authorized by him, which receipt is to be attached by the licensee to his part.

Regulation 24 is repealed, and the following Regulation is inserted in its stead:—

24. The rates for messages transmitted to or received from ship stations shall be as follows:—

(1) For ordinary messages—

(a) Coast station transmitting or receiving charge, 6d. per word.

(b) Ship station transmitting or receiving charge, not exceeding 4d. per word.

(2) For press messages—

(a) Coast station transmitting or receiving charge, 1½d. per word.

(b) Ship station transmitting or receiving charge, not exceeding 4d. per word, as determined by the ship authorities concerned.

	Within the State in which the Wireless Station is situated.			Other States.
	s.	d.		s.	d.
Not exceeding 25 words...................	0	6	…	1	0
Exceeding 25 words, but not exceeding 50 words...	0	9	…	1	6
Exceeding 50 words, but not exceeding 100 words..	1	6	…	3	0
Every additional 50 words, or portion of 50 words ..	0	6	…	1	0

(3) For official messages to or from ships of the British or Australian Navies—

(a) Coast station transmitting or receiving charge, 1d. per word.

(b) There shall be no ship station charge.

(4) For messages consisting of reports to Lloyd’s agents concerning marine casualties and overdue vessels:—

(a) Coast station charge, 6d. per word.

(b) Land line charge, 1d. per word.

The charges for these messages shall be collected from the addressee.

The following Regulation is inserted after Regulation 24:—

24a. (1) Radiotelegrams conveying Christmas or New Year greetings may be lodged at any telegraph office in the Commonwealth for transmission to New Zealand or to vessels registered in Australia or New Zealand. In addition to the address and signature, such radiotelegrams may contain a text consisting of any one of the following phrases:—

(a) “Christmas greetings.”

(b) “New Year greetings.”

(2) The total charge for such radiotelegrams shall be:—

(a) For those addressed to New Zealand, 4s.

(b) For those addressed to vessels registered in Australia or New Zealand, 3s.

(3) Radiotelegrams containing the text “Christmas greetings” must be lodged on or before 23rd December, and those containing the text “New Year greetings” or “Compliments of the season” must be lodged on or before 28th December.

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

C.9785.—Price 3d.

Overview

The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1913 were introduced as a provisional legislative instrument to amend existing regulations under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905. Enacted by the Governor-General on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia, these regulations aimed to provide a more streamlined and efficient framework for the governance of wireless telegraphy in Australia, particularly in response to technological advancements and operational needs of the time. The regulations included modifications to the types of licences available, the fees associated with these licences, and the procedures for licence renewal and transfer, as well as rates for message transmission charges. This amendment sought to address the rapid development in wireless technology and ensure that the regulatory environment kept pace with these changes, facilitating smoother operations for both land and ship stations.

Scope and Application

The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1913, as amended by Statutory Rules 1914, No. 111, pertain to the regulation of wireless telegraphy within the Commonwealth of Australia. The scope of these regulations extends to the issuance and management of licences for the use of wireless telegraphy appliances, specifically distinguishing between General, Supplementary, and Experimental Licences. The regulations apply to persons and entities operating wireless telegraphy land and ship stations. The Postmaster-General, acting on behalf of the Commonwealth, has the authority to grant, revoke, or modify these licences, along with imposing fees and conditions. The geographical reach of these regulations is national, applying across the entire Commonwealth. The regulations also specify fees for different types of licences and renewals, as well as rates for messages transmitted to or received from ship stations, and additional charges for special occasions such as Christmas or New Year greetings. The amended regulations provide for the immediate operation of certain provisions to address urgent matters, and the application and scope may be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1913, amended under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905, introduce significant changes and provisions concerning wireless telegraphy operations. Regulation 5 specifies that Experimental Licences are to be granted for land stations only, outlining that such a licence can include only one land station per licensee, and no individual can hold more than one Experimental Licence. The form and terms of these licences are determined by the Postmaster-General, and they must be used strictly for experimental purposes without interference with other stations. These licences are revocable at the Postmaster-General's discretion and can be transferred from one address to another with permission and a prescribed fee. Regulation 7 details the fees for various types of licences and their renewals, including General and Supplementary Licences for ship stations and Experimental Licences for land stations, as well as fees for station transfers. Regulation 11 outlines the renewal process for General and Supplementary Licences, allowing for renewals within one month before or after the licence expiry, with a signed memorandum required for the renewal to be valid. Regulation 24 sets forth the rates for messages transmitted to or received from ship stations, distinguishing between ordinary, press, and official messages, with specific charges for each category. Regulation 24a introduces a special provision for radiotelegrams conveying Christmas or New Year greetings, specifying the allowable phrases, the total charge for transmission, and the deadlines for lodgement. These Regulations impose several obligations on the parties involved. Licence holders must adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of their licences, ensuring that their wireless telegraphy appliances are used solely for experimental purposes and do not interfere with other stations. They must also comply with any directions issued by the Postmaster-General. Licence holders seeking to transfer their stations must obtain permission from the Postmaster-General and pay the prescribed fee. Furthermore, renewal of General and Supplementary Licences must be done within the specified timeframe, and the memorandum of renewal must be appropriately signed and attached. Additionally, the stipulated rates for message transmission must be adhered to, with specific charges for different types of messages and their destinations. Failure to comply with the provisions of these Regulations can result in various consequences. While the specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the provided text, it is implied that breaches of the terms and conditions of licences, non-compliance with operational directives, or failure to pay prescribed fees could lead to revocation of the licence or other administrative actions by the Postmaster-General. Unauthorized use of wireless telegraphy appliances or interference with other stations could potentially incur further penalties, although the exact nature of these penalties is not specified in the provided excerpt.

Area of Law: Telecommunications Law
Instrument: Regulation
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Licensing & Registration; Fees & Charges; Regulatory Standards
Catchwords: Experimental Licence; Fees; Radiotelegrams

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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