STATUTORY RULES.
1912. No. 211.
PROVISIONAL REGULATION 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 Regulation under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905, namely:—
Wireless Telegraphy Regulations.
Ocean Forecasts and Weather Reports,
should come into immediate operation, and make the amended Regulation to come into operation forthwith as a Provisional Regulation.
Dated this seventeenth day of October, One thousand nine hundred and twelve.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
C. E. FRAZER.
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY REGULATIONS.
The Regulations under this head (Statutory Rules 1911 No. 128) are amended by inserting after the Regulation under the head of “Charges’’ the following Regulation:—
“Ocean Forecasts and Weather Reports.
Ocean forecasts sent by the Commonwealth Meteorologist will be transmitted from radiotelegraph stations owned, operated, and maintained by or on behalf of the Postmaster-General to vessels at sea, and weather reports received at such radiotelegraph stations from vessels at sea, and addressed to the Commonwealth Meteorologist, will be transmitted, on payment of the following charges:—
For each communication not exceeding 20 words, 2s.; for each additional word, 1d.; plus the ordinary land line charges.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Acting Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.15661.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, enacted in 1912 under the authority of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905, were introduced to regulate the transmission of ocean forecasts and weather reports via radiotelegraphy. This provisional regulation was necessitated by the urgent need to standardise and formalise the dissemination of maritime weather information to vessels at sea, ensuring that critical meteorological data could be communicated efficiently and reliably. The regulation was enacted by the Governor-General in Council, reflecting the Commonwealth's commitment to facilitating maritime safety and operational efficiency through timely weather updates. The policy objective, as stated, was to establish a structured payment system for these communications, thereby ensuring that the dissemination of such vital information was both accessible and financially manageable for maritime stakeholders.
Scope and Application
The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1912, as amended by Statutory Rules 1912 No. 211, apply to the transmission of ocean forecasts and weather reports between radiotelegraph stations and vessels at sea under the auspices of the Commonwealth Meteorologist. These regulations govern the transmission of ocean forecasts from radiotelegraph stations owned, operated, and maintained by or on behalf of the Postmaster-General to vessels at sea, as well as the transmission of weather reports from vessels at sea to the Commonwealth Meteorologist, subject to the specified charges. The application of these regulations extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, affecting entities involved in maritime communications and weather reporting. Notably, these regulations do not specify any exclusions or exemptions, but charges are stipulated for the transmission of ocean forecasts and weather reports, thereby imposing a financial burden on the entities and individuals utilising these services.
Key Provisions
The Wireless Telegraphy Regulations, particularly as amended by Statutory Rules 1912 No. 211, introduce a specific provision concerning ocean forecasts and weather reports (Regulation 1). These regulations mandate that ocean forecasts sent by the Commonwealth Meteorologist will be transmitted via radiotelegraph stations owned, operated, and maintained by or on behalf of the Postmaster-General to vessels at sea (Regulation 1(1)). Additionally, weather reports received at these stations from vessels at sea, addressed to the Commonwealth Meteorologist, will be transmitted back to him (Regulation 1(2)). This regulation explicitly outlines the transmission protocol for meteorological communications between the Commonwealth Meteorologist and maritime vessels.
The obligations imposed by these regulations primarily involve the transmission and payment processes. The Commonwealth Meteorologist must ensure that ocean forecasts are sent in a timely and accurate manner, while vessels at sea must ensure that weather reports are received and sent back via the designated radiotelegraph stations (Regulation 1). The Postmaster-General or his representatives are obligated to maintain and operate the radiotelegraph stations for this purpose (Regulation 1). Furthermore, vessels at sea must be prepared to pay the specified charges for the transmission of these messages, which are set at 2 shillings for each communication not exceeding 20 words, with an additional penny for each additional word, plus the ordinary landline charges (Regulation 1(3)).
The regulations do not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance within the text provided. However, the necessity to pay the specified charges suggests that failure to do so could lead to non-delivery of the service or other administrative consequences. The regulations are certified to come into immediate operation as a Provisional Regulation, indicating the urgency and importance of these provisions for maritime safety and communication efficiency (Statutory Rules 1912 No. 211).