Telegraph Regulations

Statutory Rules 1927, No. 142.(b)

Part I.—Preliminary.

Short title.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Telegraph Regulations.

Parts.

2. These Regulations are divided into Parts, as follows:—

Definitions.

3. In these Regulations, unless a contrary intention appears—

“Commonwealth telegram” means a telegram transmitted in accordance with Part II. of these Regulations, the accepting office and the office of destination of which are both situated within the Commonwealth and its Territories (including any Territory governed by the Commonwealth under a Mandate);

“International telegram” means a telegram transmitted to or received from a telegraph office outside the Commonwealth and its Territories.

“Counter officer” means any officer whose duty it is to receive at any telegraph office telegrams for transmission.

“Paid service advice” means a telegraph message, exchanged between telegraph officials who are authorized to send them, containing instructions or information relating to telegrams

(a) Made under the Post and Telegraph, Act 1901-1923 on 3rd November. 1927; deemed to have come into operation on 17th October, 1927; since repealed and substituted by S.R. 1927, No. 144, infra p. 714.

(b) Made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 on 14th December, 1927; deemed to have come into operation on 31st December, 1927.

Telegraph Regulations

which have been transmitted, sent at the request of the sender or addressee or the representative of the sender or addressee, on payment of the prescribed charges.

“The Act” means the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, as amended from time to time.

Conditions of acceptance of telegrams.

4. Subject to the Act and these Regulations telegrams are in all cases accepted for transmission in accordance with the provisions of the International Telegraph Convention.

Part II.—Commonwealth Telegrams.

Hours of Business.

5. Telegraph offices shall be open to the public during the hours authorized from time to time by the Postmaster-General.

Extra rates after ordinary business hours and on Sunday, Christmas Day, and Good Friday.

6. Double the prescribed rates shall be charged on telegrams (Press telegrams excepted) tendered for transmission on Sunday, Christmas Day, and Good Friday; and on other days, between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. in those States in which offices open for business at 9 a.m., and between the corresponding hours in other States, for transmission to offices where business is transacted during those hours.

Transaction of business after usual office hours.

7. (1) Arrangements may be made to keep any official office open for the transmission or receipt of telegrams after the ordinary business hours, upon notice being given to the Postmaster or officer in charge at least one hour before the ordinary time of closing, and upon payment of a fee of One shilling and sixpence for each thirty minutes or portion thereof, during which it is desired the office shall be kept open. If more than one office is so kept open, these fees shall be payable in respect of each office:

Provided that in any town in which a morning newspaper is published daily, or tri-weekly on alternate mornings, and where the newspaper regularly receives press telegrams, the telegraph office shall be kept open for the transmission and receipt of press business up to midnight without charge if, during the time in each week the office is kept open specially for press business, the number of words contained in the press telegrams received by the newspaper, averages three hundred words or more per hour:

Provided further that the proprietor of a newspaper shall not be called upon to pay any fee for keeping a telegraph office open on any Sunday, or public holiday, in cases where the telegraphic business of such newspaper on that day amounts to One pound ten shillings in value, and where the opening of only one office is required:

Provided also that in cases where the value of the telegraphic business of a newspaper on any Sunday or public holiday would, if combined with the fee charged for keeping a telegraph office open, exceed One pound ten shillings, only such portion of the fee shall be charged as will bring the value of the telegraphic business and the fee combined up to One pound ten shillings. If the opening of more than one office is required, the fees prescribed by this Regulation shall be paid in respect of each additional office.

(2) All telegrams transmitted shall be paid for at the prescribed rates.

POST AND TELEGRAPH—

(3) An office shall not be opened under this Regulation on more than one occasion on any day, at the request of any one person.

(4) In cases of a specially urgent nature, where it is not possible to give the notice stipulated in sub-regulation (1) of this Regulation, telegrams may be transmitted after the office, has been closed for the day, provided the attention of the officer in charge of the office with which it is desired to transact business can be obtained. The charges for this service shall be the same as indicated in sub-regulation (1) of this Regulation. Offices closed during luncheon hours may be reopened for the transmission of telegrams of an urgent nature on payment of an opening fee of One shilling and sixpence for thirty minutes or portion thereof, in addition to the urgent rates for the telegram.

(5) Only the person who pays for keeping an office open after the ordinary business hours is entitled to transact business during such special attendance. Should any other person desire to transact business at such times, he may do so on payment of the above-mentioned charges:

Provided that if any office be kept open for the receipt of press telegrams for more than one newspaper, only one charge shall be made and such charge shall be divided equally between the newspapers concerned.

(6) Similar arrangements may be made at a semi-official or non-official office, where the person in charge is willing to give the necessary attendance on payment of a fee not exceeding One shilling and sixpence for each thirty minutes, or portion thereof, during which it is desired that the office shall be kept open, in addition to the charges prescribed for the transmission of telegrams.

When telegraph office is closed telegrams may be dropped into post or telegraph office letter box.

8. (1) At any time when a telegraph office is closed, prepaid telegrams may be dropped into a post-office letter box, or, where provided, a special box at a telegraph office.

(2) Such telegrams, accompanied by the telegraph charges, either in cash or postage stamps, shall be enclosed in sealed envelopes marked “Telegram for Transmission” and shall be transmitted when business is resumed. The signature and the address of the sender shall appear on each telegram in accordance with Regulation 20 of these Regulations.

(3) If the full amount payable for the transmission of a telegram be not enclosed, the telegram shall be forwarded to its destination, but the addressee shall be required to pay, before delivery, the amount short paid together with the cost of the necessary instruction to the delivering office to collect the amount of short payment. If the addressee of the telegram refuses to pay any charges due thereon, the sender shall pay them.

Telegrams for transmission may be forwarded free by post to nearest Telegraph or Telephone Office.

9. (1) Telegrams for transmission posted at a post-office which is not also a telegraph or telephone office, or in a posting receptacle, with the telegraph charges, either in cash or postage stamps, enclosed therewith, shall be forwarded by first mail to the nearest telegraph or telephone office, and transmitted thence by telegraph or telephone to their destination. The signature and address of the sender must appear on each telegram in accordance with Regulation 20 of these Regulations.

Telegraph Regulation.

(2) If the full amount payable for the transmission of the telegram be not enclosed, the telegram shall be forwarded to its destination, but the addressee shall be required to pay, before delivery, the amount short paid, together with the cost of the necessary instruction to the delivering office to collect the amount of the short payment. If the addressee of the telegram refuses to pay the charges due, the sender shall pay them.

(3) A telegram posted in accordance with this Regulation shall be enclosed in an envelope (on which postage is not payable) marked “Telegram only” and be addressed to the officer in charge at the nearest telegraph or telephone office.

Manner in which telegrams to be written.

10. Telegrams tendered for transmission shall be written or typewritten in a plain and legible manner and, wherever practicable, on the proper form.

Supply of telegram forms.

11. (i) A charge shall not be made for forms on which telegrams are written at a telegraph office.

(2) Pads of telegram forms may be obtained by the public at the price of sixpence per one hundred forms.

(3) Banks, public departments, and similar institutions may provide their own telegram forms, but such forms shall be in accordance with those provided by the Department. A proof of the telegram form desired shall be submitted for the approval of the Secretary of the Department.

Order of parts of telegram.

12. The different parts of which a telegram may consist shall be written in the following order:—

(i) Paid supplementary instructions;

(ii) Address;

(iii) Text; and

(iv) Signature.

Telegram without text not accepted.

13. A telegram consisting merely of the address, i.e., without text, shall not be accepted for transmission.

Sign “& "not accepted for transmission.

14. The sign “&” shall not he accepted for transmission in a telegram. The word “and” shall, in all cases, be written in full.

Figures may be included.

15. (1) Figures may be included in the text as well as in the address and signature of telegrams.

(2) Ordinal numbers such as 1st, 25th, or 50th, and sums of money such as 7½d., 9d., 1/10½d., or 12/6/8, may be written in figures and letters in the text of telegrams as shown abbreviated in this regulation.

Supplementary Instructions.

16. (1) Any supplementary instructions which the sender may wish to give relative to delivery, such as the guarantee of porterage, prepayment of reply, or acknowledgment of delivery, shall be written before the address of the telegram and shall be counted and charged for as part of the telegram.

(2) The sender may have any instructions, such as “private” “ confidential ”, “ to be opened at once ” or the like written on the outside of the envelope of a telegram. Such instructions shall be written before the address and shall be counted and charged for as part of the telegram.

.

POST AND TELEGRAPH—

Addresses of telegrams.

17. (1) The address of a telegram shall contain all information necessary to avoid delay and ensure delivery. In any case where a telegram is insufficiently addressed, no responsibility attaches to the Department for delay or non-delivery.

(2) An address consisting of only two words, representing the addressee and the office of destination, shall not be accepted, except in the case of press telegrams and telegrams addressed to “Police,” “Postmaster,” and “ Stationmaster,” unless the sender guarantees that the word representing the addressee is a registered code address.

(3) When a telegram is intended to he delivered to one person care of another person, the word “care” shall be written in the address immediately after the name of the addressee.

(4) When a telegram is addressed to a person at a registered code address other than the person who has registered such address (or to an official in the employ of the person who has registered such address, addressed by his official title such as “Cashier,” “Accountant,” or, in the case of a company or institution, “President,” “Secretary”), the word “care” or its equivalent shall appear immediately before the registered code address, otherwise the telegram shall not be accepted for transmission.

(5) The address shall include the name of a telegraph office.

(6) When a telegram is addressed to a town having a name borne by towns in two or more States, the name of the State (except in the case of telegrams intended for Perth, Western Australia) shall be included in the address and charged for when the telegram is intended for an interstate office.

(7) Telegrams relating to horse racing or betting on races or sports shall not be accepted at any telegraph office if addressed to any post office, poste restante or telegraph office to be called for, or if addressed care of any person employed in an official capacity at any such post office, poste restante, or telegraph office.

Text of telegrams.

18. The text of telegrams may be written—

(a) In plain language;

(b) In code;

(c) In cipher; or

(d) In a mixture of plain language, code, cipher or of any of them.

Mixture in one group of figures and letters having a secret meaning not to be included

19. Figures may be included in the text of plain language or code telegrams as well as in cipher telegrams, but the mixture, in one group, of figures and letters having a secret meaning shall not be included.

Sender's signature and address.

20. (1) The name of the sender of a telegram may be transmitted either in full, or in abbreviated form, or may be replaced by a code address, but, if so desired, need not be transmitted. The signature of the sender or his representative shall appear on either the face or the back of each telegram tendered for transmission as a guarantee of its authenticity and as subscribing to the conditions under which it is transmitted.

(2) Stamped, type-written, or carbon-copied names shall not be accepted as signatures to telegrams.

.

Telegraph Regulations.

(3) The sender’s address shall, unless such address is well known to the Department’s officers, also appear on the telegram form, either after the sender’s signature on the face of the telegram or on the back thereof.

Registered code addresses.

21. (1) A code address and relative full address for Commonwealth telegrams may be registered at any Telegraph Office in the Commonwealth on payment of an annual fee of Two pounds two shillings, which fee shall cover the period from 1st April to 31st March next following.

(2) When registration is effected after 1st April payment to 31st March next following shall be at the rate of Five shillings per month, with a minimum charge of Ten shillings, but in no case shall the charge exceed Two pounds two shillings.

(3) The concession mentioned in the last preceding sub-regulation shall not be allowed to a person, firm, or company who or which previously registered the code address but failed to renew the registration. In such a case the code address shall be re-registered only on payment of the full fee of Two pounds two shillings in advance for the balance of the year ending 31st March next following the payment.

(4) The fee shall be charged in respect of each code address and relative full address registered at any one office.

(5) The fee mentioned in sub-regulation (1) of this regulation shall also cover the registered code address for International telegrams as provided in sub-regulation (5) of regulation 72 of these Regulations.

(6) A code address registered in any State for International telegrams shall not be used in such State for Commonwealth telegrams, unless both registrations are effected by the same person or firm.

(7) The following conditions shall apply to the registration of code addresses, viz.:—

(a) The address shall consist of two words only, namely, the code indicator and the name of the office of destination;

(b) the word forming the code indicator shall be easy to read and easy to telegraph. Proper names shall only be registered in cases where it is considered locally that the registration of such name is not likely to give rise to confusion. A proper name containing more than ten letters may be registered as a code indicator, but shall be counted at the rate of one word for every ten letters or part thereof. In no case shall a proper name be registered for a person, firm, or company of a different name;

(c) the word forming the code indicator shall not consist of a number, or of the name of a profession, trade, country, State, town, telegraph station, well-known street, or registered newspaper, except in the case of an abbreviated address registered by the proprietor of such newspaper;

(d) the Postmaster-General shall reject words which, either in writing or in telegraph symbols, so closely resemble other registered words as to be liable to be mistaken for them. Persons applying for the registration of code addresses should submit several words, from which a selection may be made;

POST AND TELEGRAPH—

(e) all addresses registered for delivery within a city postal area shall contain the name of that city. The name of a district in the postal area of a town shall not be substituted for the name of the town;

(f) the Postmaster-General reserves to himself the right to cancel any registered code address. In such a case a part of the registration fee proportionate to the unexpired period for which payment has been made shall be returned, or a new address substituted for the one cancelled; and

(g) in the event of a change in the title of a firm for which a registered code address is recorded, the consent, in writing, of all the partners of the firm shall be produced before the records are altered.

(8) A person, firm, or company who or which has paid the prescribed fee for the registration of a registered code address under this regulation may have such address notified in the Commonwealth Post Office Guide upon payment of an additional fee of Two shillings and sixpence per annum.

What constitute plain language.

22. (1) The text of any telegram or part thereof written in words having an intelligible connected meaning in English, or in one or more of the other admitted languages, namely, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Latin, or Japanese, if written in roman characters and guaranteed to be without secret meaning, shall be deemed to be written in plain language:—

(2) If, in a telegram written in English, a sender submits words which are not contained in Webster’s English Dictionary, and there is any doubt on the part of the counter officer that such words are English dictionary words, the sender shall be required to show that such words appear in another English dictionary, otherwise such words shall be counted as code.

What constitutes code.

23. The text of any telegram or part thereof written in—

(a) Words in any admitted language having no connected meaning; or

(b) Artificial words, pronounceable according to the usage of any of the admitted languages,

shall be deemed to be written in code.

What constitutes cipher.

24. The text of any telegram or part thereof written in—

(a) Groups of letters not being words in plain language or code; or

(b) Groups of Arabic figures having a secret meaning,

shall be deemed to be written in cipher.

Method of charging.

25. All words and symbols that the sender writes on any telegram for transmission shall be charged for:

Provided, however, that dashes which serve only to separate the different words or groups of a telegram shall not be transmitted, and signs of punctuation, apostrophes and hyphens shall not be transmitted unless expressly desired and paid for.

Telegraph Regulation

Method of counting.

26. The following shall be counted as one word in plain language, code and cipher telegrams—

(a) In the address (not in the text or the signature of the telegram)—

(i) the name of the telegraph office of destination; and

(ii) in the case of a telegram addressed to a telegraph office in the State of New South Wales, South Australia, or Western Australia, the name of such State;

(b) Underline;

(c) Parenthesis (the two signs which serve to form);

(d) Inverted commas (the two signs placed at the commencement and end of the one and the same passage); and

(e) Every isolated character, letter or figure as well as every sign of punctuation, apostrophe, or hyphen which the sender desires to be transmitted.

Counting of plain language telegrams.

27. In plain language telegrams any word containing not more than fifteen characters shall be counted as one word, and any word containing more than fifteen characters shall be counted as one word for each fifteen characters or part thereof.

Counting of code telegrams.

28. In code telegrams any word containing not more than five characters shall be counted as one word, and any word containing more than five characters shall be counted as one word for each five characters or part thereof.

Counting of cipher telegrams.

29. In cipher telegrams any group of letters or figures shall be counted as one word for each five letters or figures or part thereof.

Counting of telegrams partly in plain language and partly in code or cipher.

30. If a telegram is partly in plain language and partly in code or cipher, any word in plain language shall be counted at the rate of fifteen letters to a word and any code word or cipher group shall be counted at the rate of five letters or five figures to a word.

Counting of words coupled with hyphens.

31. Words which are usually written as one word or coupled by hyphens shall be counted as one word, and those which are written without any hyphen shall be counted as two or three words, as the case may be. Thus, “O’Connell” shall be counted as one word; “King of the Ring” (name of racehorse) four words; “Sir Joshua” (name of racehorse) two words; “City of Adelaide” (name of ship) three words:

Provided that the prefix “St.” shall be deemed to be part of the word which it precedes; thus “St. James” shall be counted as one word.

Certain ordinal and cardinal numbers and sums of money when written as one word to be counted as one word.

32. Each of the following words, when written as one word, or when the two parts of the word are joined by a hyphen, shall be counted as one word, namely:—

(a) Cardinal numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine (inclusive);

(b) Ordinal numbers from twenty-first to ninety-ninth (inclusive); and

(c) the words half-penny, onepenny, twopenny, twopence, threepenny, threepence, fourpenny, fourpence, fivepenny, fivepence, sixpenny, sixpence, sevenpenny, sevenpence, eightpenny, eightpence, ninepenny, ninepence, tenpenny, tenpence, elevenpenny, and elevenpence.

POST AND TELEGRAPH—

The letters “G.P.O.” and; “P.O.” when used in address to be counted as one word.

33.. The letters “G.P.O.” and “P.O.” when used in the address of any telegram to indicate a General Post Office, and Post Office, respectively, or when used by the sender of the telegram as his address, shall be counted as one word. The term “Post Office ” shall also be counted as one word.

Counting of name of office or State in text or signature.

34. Each word forming the name of the office of origin or destination or the name of a State shall be counted as one word when appearing in the text of or after the signature of a telegram.

Irregular combinations of words not allowed.

35. Combinations or alterations of words contrary to the usage of the language, and combinations or alterations dissimulated by reversing the order of letters or syllables shall not be allowed.

Counting of the expressions “fob” “ cife.”

36. The expressions “fob,” “cife,” if written as one word shall be treated as code, but if the letters are written separately they shall be counted and charged at the rate of one word for each letter.

Counting of figures.

37. Wherever occurring in a telegram, each group of figures containing not more than five figures shall be counted as one word and each group containing more than five figures shall be counted at the rate of one word for each five figures or portion thereof.

Counting of groups containing figures and letters and signs.

38. (1) Where ordinal numbers such as 1st, 25th, or 50th, and sums of money such as 7½d., 9d., 1/10½, or 12/6/8, are written in figures and letters in the texts of telegrams as abbreviated in this sub-regulation, each group shall be counted at the rate of five characters to the word, thus, “1st” counts as one word, and “1/10½” (seven characters) as two words.

(2) Letters added to figures in an address denoting the number of a house, a private post-office box, or a telephone number, shall also be counted as figures in the group in which they occur.

(3) In all other cases where a figure or group of figures is preceded or followed by a letter, the letter shall be counted as a separate word; thus, “95a” shall be counted as two words.

(4) The commercial sign “£,” representing pounds, may be used before a figure or group of figures but it shall be counted and charged for as one word.

Method of paying charges.

39. (1) Except as provided in Part IV. of these Regulations, the charges on telegrams shall be prepaid by means of postage stamps which may be obtained at any post or telegraph office. A stamp which has been obliterated shall not be used in any circumstances. The sender or his representative shall affix the stamps to the telegram form and the counter officer shall cancel the stamps in the presence of the person from whom the telegram is received:

Provided that at offices where approved cash registers are used, the charges on telegrams may be prepaid in cash.

(2) Where an overpayment is made on a telegram, and stamps have been affixed thereto, the stamps shall not on any account be removed, but if application is made the amount involved may be refunded.

Receipts for telegrams.

40. A receipt showing the amount paid for any telegram handed in at a telegraph or telephone office shall be given to the sender, when required by him, at the time of lodgment, on payment of a fee of One penny.

Telegraph Regulation

Transmission of lengthy telegrams may be suspended.

41. In order to prevent the monopoly of any line by any one sender, the Department may suspend the transmission of any message when thirty minutes have been devoted to the signalling thereof, and any telegrams which may have accumulated during that interval may be transmitted before the transmission of such telegram is resumed.

Inquiries concerning telegrams and rectification of telegrams.

42. (1) Except as hereinafter provided, telegraphic inquiries of any nature concerning telegrams, and the replies thereto, shall be paid for by the person requesting that such inquiries be made.

(2) The addressee or the sender of a telegram may have the whole or any part of it repeated on payment of the cost of the telegram requesting the repetition and of the reply.

Provided that where the addressee of a telegram requests a repetition with the object of having errors or supposed errors in the telegram rectified, and such addressee is known to the Postmaster or Officer in charge, he may have the whole or part of the telegram repeated upon signing an undertaking to pay the cost of the telegram requesting the repetition and the reply thereto in the event of no error having been made by the telegraph service. Upon demand, the person signing the undertaking shall pay the charges guaranteed to be paid.

(3) If the repetition shows that an error was made in the transmission of the original telegram any money paid for the repetition shall be refunded.

(4) Refund of any charges paid for the repetition shall not be made if in the transmission of the original telegram no error was made, or if the error made was due to a word being written by the sender in a doubtful manner.

(5) Refund shall not be made in respect of any rectifying telegram which, instead of being exchanged between the telegraph offices as a paid service advice, was exchanged direct between sender and addressee.

Cancellation of telegrams.

43. (1) On making written application, and on proving his identity, the sender of a telegram may, if it is practicable, have his telegram cancelled.

(2) In cases where the telegram is cancelled before the commencement of transmission, the amount paid shall be refunded; but if the transmission has commenced, the sum shall not be refunded.

(3) Where the transmission has been completed a paid service advice shall, if prepaid by the sender, be sent to the office of destination, and if the telegram has been delivered to the addressee prior to the receipt of the advice of cancellation, the sender shall be informed that the attempt to cancel his telegram has failed. In the absence of any contrary indication in the request for cancellation, if the telegram has been delivered to the addressee, the latter shall be informed of the request for cancellation.

(4) If the sender has paid for a telegraphic reply to the request for cancellation, the office which cancels the telegram shall advise the office of origin by telegraph; otherwise the reply shall be sent by post.

If practicable, sender to be notified when transmission of telegram is delayed.

44. Where from any cause a telegram cannot be transmitted within a reasonable time, and the delay is considered likely to destroy its value, the sender shall, if practicable, be notified of such delay; it will then be optional with him to cancel the telegram.

POST AND TELEGRAPH—

Delivery of telegrams.

45. (1) Subject to this regulation telegrams shall be delivered free of charge within a radius of 3 miles from a Chief Telegraph Office, and within a radius of 1½ miles from any other office from which a delivery of telegrams is made, and at which a telegraph messenger is employed for that purpose. Beyond such radii, delivery expenses shall be charged:

Provided that telegrams for delivery to addressees beyond a radius of 3 miles but within 3½ miles from a Chief Telegraph Office shall be delivered on payment of a charge of 3d. for each delivery, irrespective of the number of telegrams for the same addressee delivered at the one time.

(2) For telegrams to be delivered on shipboard a charge for boat hire, if necessary, may be made.

(3) Delivery of a telegram cannot be undertaken in any case in which natural obstacles or other difficulties intervene.

(4) Receipts need not be obtained from the addressees of Commonwealth telegrams except those bearing the supplementary instruction “Acknowledgement Receipt.”

Delivery arrangements at offices where no messenger is employed.

46. Where a messenger is not employed at the office of destination, telegrams shall remain at that office until called for. If special arrangements for delivery are desired and can be made, the actual cost of such delivery shall be charged.

Telegrams to be delivered by post to bear supplementary Instructions “By Post.”

47. Telegrams which are to be delivered by post from the telegraph office of destination shall bear the supplementary instruction “By Post” before the address. This instruction shall be counted and charged for as part of the telegram.

Where porterage is required and has not been paid or guaranteed telegram may be posted.

48. If it is found, when a telegram reaches the telegraph office of destination, that the place to which the telegram is to be delivered is beyond the prescribed radius from the office, and no porterage has been guaranteed or paid, the telegram may be posted from the office of destination.

Where porterage is paid or guaranteed by sender, supplementary instructions to that effect to be included in telegram.

49. In any case where porterage is paid or guaranteed on a telegram the amount so paid or guaranteed shall be included in the telegram, before the address, as a supplementary instruction; for example, “2s. 6d. Porterage Paid,” “2s. Porterage Guaranteed.” Each of these instructions shall be counted as three words and shall be charged for as part of the telegram.

Method of delivery of telegrams.

50. (1) Telegrams shall be delivered according to their address—

(a) to the addressee or (except when instructions to the contrary have been given) to some person at the residence of the addressee; or

(b) to the addressee or his duly appointed representative—

at the post office; or

at the telegraph office.

Provided that, as prescribed in Part IV. of these Regulations, telegrams may be delivered to the addressee by telephone.

Telegraph Regulation

(2) Telegrams for railway passengers stall be delivered into the care of the stationmaster.

(3) In the case of telegrams to be delivered from the Chief Telegraph Office or the Branch Offices in capital cities, or the principal telegraph offices in cities outside the metropolitan area, if access cannot be gained at the address given, or if the messenger is unable to find any person who is prepared to take delivery of the telegram, a notice shall be left at the address, and the telegram shall be returned to the telegraph office, to be delivered to the addressee or his nominee upon application, unless the addressee has lodged an order that the telegram is to be disposed of in some other way. If not applied for in the meantime the telegram shall be sent out a second time when a messenger passes the address given.

(4) In the case of telegrams to be delivered from offices other than those mentioned in the last preceding Sub-regulation, if there is no attendance at the office or residence to which the telegram is addressed, the messenger shall leave the telegram under the door provided he is satisfied, after inquiry in the vicinity, that the addressee is not absent for any lengthy period, and provided further that the addressee has not lodged an order that the telegram is to be disposed of in some other way.

Undelivered Telegrams—Rectification of address.

51. (1) When a telegram cannot be delivered, the office of destination shall advise the sending office of the cause of non-delivery, which advice, if practicable, shall be communicated to the sender.

(2) The sender may complete, rectify, or confirm the address only by means of a paid service advice.

(3) If after confirmation of the address, the telegram is delivered, the sender shall be entitled to a refund of the cost of the telegram confirming the address.

Undelivered Telegrams to be destroyed after six weeks.

52. (1) Any telegram which cannot be delivered to the addressee before the end of six weeks shall be destroyed.

Provided that telegrams to be delivered by post shall be subject, as to delivery and preservation, to the Postal Regulations.

(2) The Postal Regulations shall not apply to telegrams addressed “poste restante” or “post office”; the delivery and preservation of such telegrams shall be governed by these Regulations.

Urgent rate Telegrams.

53. (1) Urgent-rate Commonwealth telegrams shall be accepted from the public on payment of double the ordinary rate.

(2) Such telegrams shall take precedence, in transmission and delivery, of any other telegrams, except Government telegrams under sub-section (1) of section 95 of the Act, urgent-service telegrams, and urgent-rate International telegrams.

(3) The authorized special forms and envelopes shall be used for urgent-rate telegrams.

Replies may be prepaid.

54. (1) The sender of a telegram may prepay the cost of a reply. In such cases the sender shall write before the address the supplementary instruction “Reply paid,” which shall be counted and charged for as part of the telegram.

POST AND TELEGRAPH—

(2) The prepaid reply shall be charged for at the same rate (that is, ordinary or urgent) as the original telegram. The sender of an urgent rate reply-paid telegram may, however, require that the reply he sent at ordinary rate, by inserting the words “reply paid ordinary” as the supplementary instruction in the original telegram and prepaying the proper charges. Similarly the sender of an ordinary rate reply-paid telegram may require that the reply be sent at urgent rate by inserting the words “reply paid urgent” as the supplementary instruction in the original telegram and prepaying the proper charges.

(3) On delivery to the addressee, a reply-paid telegram shall be accompanied by a reply voucher equal to the amount prepaid for the reply.

(4) A reply voucher need not necessarily be used for a reply but may be used to prepay or partly prepay the charges on any single telegram or lettergram for transmission to any place within the Commonwealth within three months from the date of issue.

(5) If the sender of the reply telegram refuses to pay any excess upon the amount prepaid, excess words may be sent only in accordance with the provisions of regulation 60 of these Regulations.

(6) If the addressee of a reply-paid telegram refuses or fails to use the reply-form, the amount paid for the reply shall, if the unused reply-form remains in the possession of the Department, or is produced by the sender, be refunded to the sender of the original telegram at the expiration of three months from its date of issue, or at an earlier date if an application for refund is made by the sender.

(7) A telegram containing the words “reply paid” or the indication “R.P.” shall not be accepted for transmission unless the charges for a reply have actually been prepaid by the sender of the telegram.

Sender may request repetition from office of destination.

55. (1) With the object of adding to the precautions taken to ensure accuracy in transmission, a sender of a telegram may request, at the time of lodgment, that it be repeated back to him by the office of destination.

(2) Where this service is desired the telegram shall bear the supplementary instruction “Repetition” in the preamble. This instruction shall be counted and charged for as part of the telegram.

(3) The additional charge for repetition shall be one-half the charge for an ordinary rate telegram of the same length between the office of origin and the office of destination.

(4) The repetition of such telegrams shall be treated as paid service advices.

Acknowledgment of delivery.

56. (1) The sender of any telegram may, at the time of lodgment, request that advice of the date and time of its delivery be transmitted to him either by telegraph or by means of a post card. When the telegram is forwarded to its final destination by post, this notification shall indicate the date and time of posting.

(2) If an acknowledgment of delivery be required by telegraph the sender shall write before the address the supplementary instruction “Acknowledgment Delivery” (which instruction shall be counted and charged for as part of the telegram) and pay an additional amount equal to the charge for an ordinary rate telegram between the office of origin and the office of destination. The telegraphic Acknowledgment of Delivery shall be treated as a paid service advice.

Telegraph Regulation

(3) If an acknowledgment of delivery be required by post card the sender shall write before the address the supplementary instruction “Postal Acknowledgment Delivery” ( which instruction shall be counted and charged for as part of the telegram), and pay an additional fee of One penny.

Redirection of Telegrams.

57. (1) On the written request of the addressee or his representative a telegram may be redirected and retransmitted from one office to another office within the Commonwealth on the addressee or his representative giving a written undertaking to pay the prescribed charges.

(2) Where notice that redirection is required has been given prior to the receipt of the telegram, the charges for retransmission shall be at the usual rates for telegrams from the office retransmitting the telegram to the new office of destination, less Threepence.

(3) Where notice that redirection is required has not been given prior to the receipt of the telegram, the charges for retransmission shall be at the usual rates for telegrams from the office retransmitting the telegram to the new office of destination.

(4) When application is made for the redirection of a telegram the addressee or his representative may, in addition to furnishing the prescribed undertaking, be required to deposit with the postmaster or officer in charge an amount sufficient to cover the cost of the estimated number of telegrams to be redirected.

(5) A telegram addressed to a hotel or house at which lodgers are received may, on the written request of the addressee or the proprietor of such hotel or house, and on the addressee or proprietor undertaking to pay the retransmission charges, be redirected and retransmitted to another office within the Commonwealth if the addressee has left such hotel or house. The proprietor of such hotel or house shall, for the purpose of this regulation, be deemed to be the representative of the addressee.

(6) The charges prescribed for retransmission shall be paid before the telegram is delivered.

(7) If at the residence of the addressee of a telegram a new address is given which requires delivery from another office, and the addressee has not furnished an undertaking to pay the charges for the telegraphic retransmission, and the person furnishing the new address refuses to give such an undertaking, a copy of the telegram shall be posted to the addressee at the new address and the telegram shall be held for the prescribed period.

(8) A person may request, in writing, that telegrams addressed to him be redirected and forwarded by post to another address within the Commonwealth. No postage shall be charged on such telegrams.

(9) A telegram intended for delivery from an office within the metropolitan area of a capital city or within the town area of any town, and wrongly addressed to any office within that area shall be retransmitted and delivered without any additional charge.

(10) If retransmission is not involved, no extra charge shall be made for redirection of a telegram from one address to another.

(11) Notices of removal, and instructions, in writing, respecting the delivery of telegrams at hours when the addressee’s place of business is closed shall be registered free of charge.

POST AND TELEGRAPH—

Multiple telegrams.

58. (1) A multiple telegram may be addressed either to several persons in the same locality, or in different localities served by the same telegraph office, or to one person, firm or company at several addresses in the same locality, or in different localities served by the same telegraph office.

(2) Multiple telegrams shall bear a supplementary instruction, for example, “4 addresses,” before the address. This supplementary instruction shall be counted and charged for as one word.

(3) In the address of multiple telegrams the figures 2, 3, 4 or as the case may be, shall be written by the sender immediately before the second and subsequent addresses respectively, and such figures, which are to be transmitted, shall not be counted or charged for.

(4) The name of the office of destination is needed only once in multiple telegrams—at the end of the address.

(5) The charge for an ordinary rate multiple telegram shall be the charge for a single telegram for the first copy, and an additional charge of Fivepence for each fifty words or fraction of fifty words contained in each copy after the first.

(6) The charge for an urgent rate multiple telegram shall be the charge for a single urgent rate telegram for the first copy, and an additional charge of Tenpence for each fifty words, or fraction of fifty words, contained in each copy after the first.

(7) Multiple press telegrams may be transmitted throughout the Commonwealth. The charge for a multiple press telegram shall be the charge for a single press telegram for the first copy, and an additional charge of Fivepence for each fifty words or fraction of fifty words contained in each copy after the first.

Telegrams may be sent to any telegraph office to be posted to places beyond the Commonwealth.

59. Telegrams may be sent to any telegraph office in the Commonwealth, to be forwarded thence by post to any destination beyond the Commonwealth on payment of the postage fee in addition to the charge for telegraphic transmission. When the telegram reaches the office from which it is posted, stamps to cover the postage shall be affixed to the envelope in which the telegram is forwarded.

Collect Telegrams.

60. (1) “Collect” telegrams addressed to places within the Commonwealth may be accepted when the sender is known to the Postmaster or Officer in Charge, and signs an undertaking that, in the event of the addressee failing to pay the charges for the telegram, he will be responsible for the payment of the amount and the cost of the telegraphic advice of non-payment by the addressee.

(2) When the sender is not known to the Postmaster or Officer in Charge, a “collect” telegram may be accepted upon the sender lodging with the Postmaster or Officer in Charge a deposit sufficient to cover the cost of transmission of the telegram and the advice of the addressee’s refusal to pay.

(3) The word “collect” shall appear in the preamble of “collect” telegrams, and shall be counted and charged for as part of the telegram.

Local messages.

61. Messages may be handed in at any telegraph office in the Commonwealth at which messengers are employed, for delivery at any place within the boundaries fixed for the delivery of telegrams within the city, town, &c., in which such office is situated. Such messages shall be charged for and delivered as telegrams.

Telegraph Regulation

Lettergram (Letter telegrams.)

62. (1) Letter telegrams, in this regulation referred to as “lettergrams,” shall be accepted for transmission within the Commonwealth at any hour at telegraph offices which are open after 7 p.m.

(2) Delivery of lettergrams shall be effected by posting at the lettergram office of destination.

(3) Except as provided in Part IV. of these Regulations, the charges for transmission of lettergrams shall be prepaid.

(4) Lettergrams shall bear the word “lettergram” before the address, such word to be counted and charged for as part of the lettergram.

(5) The address shall contain the name of a telegraph office to which lettergrams may be transmitted.

(6) Lettergrams shall be written in the English language and shall have a connected meaning.

(7) If numbers, written in letters or in figures, are used in the text of lettergrams, the number of those words and groups shall not exceed a third of the number of paid words in the text.

(8) Lettergrams shall not be transmitted as “Multiple” lettergrams. A registered code address shall not be used for the address of a lettergram. “Express delivery” of lettergrams at the office of destination shall not be permitted.

(9) The sender of a lettergram may prepay the cost of a reply. In such cases the sender shall write before the address the supplementary instruction “Reply paid” which shall be counted and charged for as part of the lettergram.

(10) The prepaid reply to a lettergram shall be charged for at lettergram rate. The sender may, however, require that the reply be sent at ordinary telegram rate by inserting the words “Reply Paid Ordinary” as the supplementary instruction in the lettergram and prepaying the proper charges. Similarly, the sender may require that the reply be sent at urgent telegram rate by inserting the words “Reply Paid Urgent” as the supplementary instruction and prepaying the proper charges.

(11) In all other respects the form and manner in which lettergrams are written shall be in accordance with the regulations dealing with ordinary telegrams.

(12) Lettergrams shall be delivered as ordinary letters by the first delivery on the day following that on which the lettergram is handed in. From the moment the lettergram is posted at the lettergram office of destination it shall be regarded and handled as a letter.

(13) Lettergrams may also be accepted, for transmission by telegraph to a lettergram office for further despatch by mail within or beyond the Commonwealth. If a lettergram is intended to be forwarded by post beyond the Commonwealth the sender shall pay the postage fee in addition to the lettergram rate.

(14) A subscriber to a telephone exchange at which service is given between the hours of 7 p.m. and midnight may during those hours transmit a lettergram by telephone to the nearest telegraph office which is open for lettergram business, where it shall be treated as a lettergram handed in at that office. In such cases the subscriber shall be required to pay, in addition to the lettergram rate, the relative charges prescribed in Part IV. of these Regulations.

POST AND TELEGRAPH—

Press telegram.

63. (1) For the purposes of this regulation, “press telegram” means a telegram the text of which consists of political, commercial, or general information and news intended for publication in a newspaper.

(2) A press telegram shall comply with the following conditions:—

(a) The telegram shall be sent by a recognized or authorized correspondent, and be addressed to a registered newspaper or recognized agency for supplying telegraphic information to newspapers (in these Regulations referred to as a “news agency”). If addressed to a manager, editor, or other person by name, it shall be charged for at full ordinary rate.

(b) The telegram shall contain only intelligence which is intended for immediate publication in a newspaper, or for immediate exhibition in the news room of the newspaper or recognized news agency to which it is addressed; and

(c) The telegram shall not contain—

(i) Letters to the editor;

(ii) Advertisements;

(iii) Election addresses;

(iv) Anything not intended for immediate publication or exhibition; or

(v) Anything for the publication of which in a newspaper payment or consideration is usually made.

(d) The telegram shall be written in plain language—and in English.

(3) Telegrams containing any public news other than advertisements or matter inserted for payment or consideration, which has appeared in any local newspaper, may be transmitted at press rates to any station at which no newspaper is published, but in such cases the charges shall be prepaid.

(4) The sender of a press telegram may request that the charges be collected from the newspaper or news agency to which it is addressed. In that case the word “Collect” shall appear in the preamble of the telegram and shall be counted and charged for. In the event of the newspaper or news agency to which the telegram is addressed refusing to pay the charges the sender shall pay the amount due.

(5) Any telegram containing the odds on future races shall not be transmitted at press rates to any office in any State in which the publication of such odds in newspapers is prohibited.

(6) Instructions absolutely necessary in connexion with the publication of a press telegram, such as “Turn one,” “To precede,” “To follow,” “Substitute for previous,” “Good-night,” or “Finis,” are allowed as part of the text of the telegram; but inquiries, such as “Can you take 2,000 more,” not necessary in connexion with the publication of the telegram, shall not be allowed in the text of a press telegram.

(7) If in any telegram presented for transmission as a press telegram there appears to be any infringement of the prescribed conditions, the telegram shall be accepted at press rates only on the condition that the sender undertakes, in writing, to pay for the telegram at full ordinary rate if subsequently called upon so to do. Any such telegram shall,

Telegraph Regulation

immediately after transmission, be forwarded by post to the Deputy Postmaster-General, who shall decide whether it shall be charged for as a press telegram or as an ordinary telegram.

(8) “Commonwealth press telegrams” mean press telegrams within the Commonwealth relating to parliamentary, executive, and departmental proceedings of the Commonwealth, including reports of proceedings of Federal royal commissions, or parliamentary papers and bills; or summaries thereof, without notes or comments, or any extraneous matter beyond what may be necessary to afford a connective statement of the facts.

(9) Ordinary telegrams shall take precedence of press telegrams in transmission between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Press telegrams received at any one time addressed to a newspaper or news agency between the hours mentioned may be restricted to five hundred words.

(10) Press telegrams shall be lodged in time to permit of transmission being completed by the time at which the offices of origin or destination usually close allowing one minute for each twenty words where transmission is direct, and two minutes for each twenty words where transmission involves repetition through an intermediate office.

(11) Where it is desired that press telegrams shall take precedence of ordinary telegrams, they shall be charged for at the rate prescribed for urgent rate private telegrams.

Commonwealth Electoral and referendum Telegrams.

64. Telegrams concerning Commonwealth Parliamentary Elections despatched after an election, sent by and addressed to any person, and which contain only the names of Commonwealth Electoral Divisions and Subdivisions, the names of candidates and the numbers of votes polled by each candidate, and the number of informal votes, and telegrams despatched after a Referendum and containing only a reference to the Referendum, the names of Divisions and Subdivisions, the number of votes cast in such Divisions and Subdivisions for or against the proposed law, and the number of informal votes, shall be transmitted on payment of the rates prescribed for Commonwealth press telegrams transmitted within the Commonwealth if the telegrams are transmitted from one State to any other State, or the rates prescribed for press telegrams within any State if the telegrams are transmitted within any State.

State electors telegrams.

65. Telegrams containing only the actual results of any State Parliamentary Election may, on the polling day of the election, be sent by, and addressed to, any person at the rates prescribed for press telegrams, provided that—

(a) the telegram contains no comments;

(b) no newspaper is published in the town or place to which the telegram is addressed; and

(c) the charges are prepaid.

Transmission of Shipping intelligence by Telephone.

66. Telephone subscribers may be supplied from the telegraph office, through the telephone exchange, with shipping intelligence on payment of a fee of Sixpence for every three minutes or portion of three minutes for which the services of the officer concerned are occupied in giving the information:

Provided that no charge need be made for supplying shipping intelligence from a telegraph office at which telegrams are not received from the public for transmission.

POST AND TELEGRAPH—

Weather report and rainfall information.

67. (1) Weather forecasts may be transmitted in code language at the rates charged for ordinary telegrams, or may be supplied to any person by telegraphic message daily—Sundays and holidays excepted—on payment in advance of Five pounds per annum:

Provided, however, that in the latter case no such message shall exceed twelve words in length.

(2) Rainfall information in plain language may be transmitted at the rates charged for press telegrams.

Telegram available for inspection—certified copies obtainable.

68. (1) An original or a copy of a telegram may be shown to the sender, addressee, or the authorized representative of the sender or addressee, only after verification of his identity.

(2) A telegram may be inspected by the sender or his representative on the day of lodgment, without charge, on application to the office of lodgment.

(3) The original of a telegram may be inspected by the sender, addressee, or representative of the sender or addressee, at any time during the period of preservation, on payment in advance of the search fee prescribed in the next succeeding sub-regulation.

(4) The search fee shall be One shilling where sufficient particulars are furnished to enable the telegram to be traced without an extended search; but if those particulars are not furnished, the fee shall be Two shillings and sixpence, or One shilling for each day’s telegrams examined whichever sum is the greater. The fee specified shall be charged in respect of each office of which the business is to be examined.

(5) The sender, addressee or representative of the sender or addressee may obtain a certified copy of or extracts from the telegram as handed in on payment of a fee at the rate of Threepence for every fifty words, or portion of fifty words, in addition to the search fee prescribed in the last preceding sub-regulation.

(6) If desired, the copy or extract may be sent by telegraph, in which case the search fee in addition to half the usual telegraph rates shall be charged. The copy or extract shall in transmission be treated as a paid service advice.

Non-responsibility of Department for errors, &c.

69. (1) In accordance with the provisions of the International Telegraph Convention, responsibility shall not be undertaken nor any claim for compensation entertained, for any errors or mistakes in transmission or delay in delivery of telegrams, whether repeated or unrepeated; or for non-transmission, or non-delivery, or mis-delivery of telegrams, from whatever cause such errors or mistakes in transmission, or delay in transmission or delivery, or non-transmission or non-delivery or mis-delivery may arise.

(2) Where a telegram is lost, or mutilated in transit, and therefore becomes useless so far as the sender is concerned, the Postmaster-General may, as an act of grace, and not in consequence of any legal liability, refund the amount paid for transmission.

Production of Telegrams.

70. A telegram may be produced for perusal by a person other than the sender or addressee, on the authority of the Postmaster-General, the Secretary, or a Deputy Postmaster-General, in any case where the production of such telegram is required, in the interests of justice, and a subpoena or a written request for its production has been issued or

Telegraph Regulation

made by a Court presided over by a Judge, the President or Chairman of a Royal Commission, a Chief Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Investigation Branch of the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department, or by the Chairman of an Appeal Board or a Board of Inquiry constituted under the provisions of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1924. The Postmaster-General may, however, refuse to produce a telegram in any case where he has reason to suspect any abuse.

PART III.—INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAMS.

The International system.

71. International telegrams are in all cases accepted subject to the provisions of the International Telegraph Convention and the Service Regulations made in conformity therewith, including the condition that no responsibility attaches to the Telegraph Administrations, or to the private telegraph companies, for delay in transmission, or delivery, or for non-transmission or non-delivery, or for mistakes, from whatever cause they may arise.

Registered code addresses.

72. (1) A code address and relative full address for International telegrams may be registered at the Chief Telegraph Office of any State on payment of an annual fee of Ten shillings and sixpence, which fee shall cover the period from 1st April to 31st March next following.

(2) A code address which has not previously been registered may be registered for one month on payment of Two shillings and sixpence, or for the unexpired portion of the year ending 31st March, on payment of a charge at the rate of Two shillings and sixpence per month or portion thereof, but the charge shall not in any case exceed Ten shillings and sixpence.

(3) The concession mentioned in the last preceding sub-regulation shall not be allowed to a person, firm, or company who or which has previously registered, but failed to renew the registration. In such a case the code address shall be re-registered only on payment of the full fee of Ten shillings and sixpence in advance, for the balance of the year ending the 31st March next following the payment.

(4) The fee shall be charged in respect of each abbreviated and relative full address registered at any one office.

(5) In cases where one and the same code address is registered by a person, firm or company for Commonwealth telegrams and for International telegrams, the fee of Two pounds two shillings prescribed in Regulation 21 for the registration of code addresses for Commonwealth telegrams shall cover both registrations.

(6) The conditions prescribed in Sub-regulation (7) of Regulation 21 shall apply to code addresses registered under this regulation.

(7) A person, firm, or company who or which has paid the prescribed fee for the registration of a code address under this regulation may have such address notified in the Commonwealth Post Office Guide upon payment of an additional fee of Two shillings and sixpence per annum.

Order of transmission.

73. In transmission, International telegrams shall be given precedence of Commonwealth ordinary and press telegrams. Deferred International telegrams shall not, however, be given such precedence.

POST AND TELEGRAPH—

Redirection of International telegrams to places within the Commonwealth.

74. The redirection of an International telegram to a new address within the Commonwealth shall be subject to the conditions prescribed in Regulation 57.

PART IV.—PHONOGRAMS—TRANSMISSION OF TELEGRAMS BY TELEPHONE FROM OR TO SUBSCRIBERS.

Telephoning of Telegrams by subscribers.

75. (1) Telephone subscribers may telephone telegrams or lettergrams to a telegraph office for transmission.

(2) Telephone subscribers within a metropolitan telephone area who wish to telephone their telegrams shall telephone them to the Chief Telegraph Office, and in country districts to the nearest telegraph office.

(3) A telephone subscriber shall be responsible for the payment of any charges on telegrams telephoned from his telephone.

(4) Regulation 69 of these Regulations shall apply to telegrams or lettergrams telephoned for transmission under this regulation.

(5) Copies of telegrams received by telephone as transcribed at the telegraph office, shall be regarded as the originals.

(6) The Postmaster-General may refuse or postpone the acceptance of—

(a) any telegram of abnormal length;

(b) a large number of telegrams at one time; or

(c) a telegram containing code or cipher groups,

when tendered for transmission by telephone.

(7) Telegrams may be transmitted over telephone trunk lines when the local Telegraph Office is closed. In such cases the prescribed trunk line fees, calculated on a basis of three minutes for each group of thirty paid words or portion thereof transmitted, shall be charged in addition to the charges prescribed in sub-regulation (9) of this regulation.

(8) Subscribers to a telephone exchange at which service is given between the hours of 7 p.m. and midnight may transmit lettergrams during those hours by telephone to the nearest telegraph office which is open for lettergram business where they shall be treated as lettergrams handed in at that office. Where the use of the trunk line system is necessary, the prescribed trunk line fee, calculated in the manner prescribed in the last preceding sub-regulation, shall be charged in addition to the charges prescribed by the next succeeding sub-regulation.

(9) The charge for any telegram or lettergram received by telephone for transmission shall include—

(a) the rate prescribed for the transmission of the telegram or lettergram;

(b) a fee of Twopence for each telegram; and

(c) the usual telephone call fee, except in the case of subscribers having direct lines to the telegraph office under the provisions of the Telephone Regulations.

Delivery of Telegrams to Subscribers.

76. (1) The Department may, without charge, telephone telegrams and lettergrams to an addressee who is a telephone subscriber or to any person at a telephone subscribers address, provided that any subscriber may decline to accept delivery in this manner.

(2) A confirmatory copy of any telegram so telephoned may be posted to the addressee without charge, or, if so desired by the addressee,

Telegraph Regulation

delivery of the confirmatory copy may be made by messenger to any address within the radius of free delivery of telegrams, at a charge of Twopence per telegram.

(3) (a) Telegrams may be addressed to subscribers in their surnames, together with the Telephone Exchange name and number and telegraph office, for example:—

Smith, Windsor 1678, Melbourne; or

Jones, Telephone 567, Newcastle.

In such cases the addressee shall accept delivery by telephone.

(b) The responsibility for supplying the correct telephone designation rests with the sender of the telegram.

(4) The Department does not undertake to deliver by telephone, telegrams which are not addressed in accordance with the last preceding sub-regulation.

Collection of Phonogram charges.

77. (1) The charges for telegrams and lettergrams received by telephone for transmission and for delivery fees shall be recorded and included in the telephone subscriber’s half-yearly account for telephone rental and other charges. In the case of large users an interim account may be rendered at any time.

(2) A subscriber’s account shall be accompanied by a statement giving brief particulars of any telegram charges included. A copy of any telegram shown in the statement shall be furnished on payment by the subscriber of the fees prescribed in Regulation 68.

PART V.—PRIVATE TELEGRAPH CHANNELS.

Postmaster-General may provide private telegraph channels.

78. (1) The Postmaster-General may if so required arrange for any person, firm or company to be provided with private telegraph channels not connecting with the public telegraph system, for the purpose of exchanging messages relating exclusively to the business of such person, firm or company, and the Postmaster-General may provide the necessary apparatus and power and the service of telegraphists for operating such channels.

(2) Communications which do not relate exclusively to the business of the person, firm or company who is granted the use of the channel, or communications between any person, firm, or company other than the grantee of the channel, shall not be exchanged over a telegraph channel provided under this regulation.

(3) The charges for private telegraph channels provided under this regulation shall, in each case, be fixed by the Postmaster-General.

PART VI.—MISCELLANEOUS.

Protection of telegraph lines from interference

79. (1) A person shall not do any work which may require the removal of or may injure or interfere with any wire or other property of the Postmaster-General without giving to the Deputy Postmaster-General in the State concerned; or to a postmaster in that State, not less than twenty-four hours previous notice in writing of his intention to do the work.

POST AND TELEGRAPH—

(2) In the doing of the work every person shall—

(a) use all reasonable and proper means to avoid any injury to, or interference with, any wire or other property of the Postmaster-General; and

(b) Comply with every reasonable requirement of the Deputy Postmaster-General or postmaster as to the method of doing the work so as to avoid any such injury or interference as aforesaid.

(3) Any expense incurred by the Postmaster-General in protecting his wires or other property from being injured or interfered with by the work, or in removing any such wire or other property to allow of the work being done and subsequently restoring it shall be paid to the Postmaster-General by the person doing the work.

(4) A person who commits a contravention of this Regulation, is guilty of an offence, and shall be liable, on conviction, to a penalty not more than Ten pounds, and not less than Ten shillings.

Repeal.

80. (1) Regulations 310-388 (both inclusive) of the Post and Telegraph Regulations (Statutory Rules 1913, No. 348, as amended to the date of the commencement of this regulation) are repealed.

(2) Regulations 34-46 (both inclusive) of the Telephone Regulations (Statutory Rules 1913, No. 349, as amended to the date of the commencement of this regulation) are repealed.

____________