POST AND TELEGRAPH RATES.

No. 13 of 1902.

An Act relating to Postal and Telegraphic Rates.

[Assented to 9th September, 1902.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall commence on a day to be fixed by proclamation.*

Incorporation.

3. This Act shall be incorporated and read as one with the Post and Telegraph Act 1901.

*Proclaimed to commence 1st November, 1902. See Gazette, 26th September, 1902.

Definition.

4. In this Act unless the contrary intention appears—

“Rate” means the fee or charge for the performance of any postal or telegraphic service.

Rates to be paid on Government correspondence.

5. Telegrams, letters, and postal articles transmitted or posted on behalf of the King, the Commonwealth Government, or any State Government shall, unless exempted by some Act, be subject to the postal and telegraphic rates for the time being in force. Subject to such regulations as the Governor-General may prescribe telegrams may be transmitted without charge on behalf of the Meteorological Department of or subsidized by a State until the establishment of a Commonwealth Meteorological Department.

Newspaper rates.

6. The rates for the conveyance of newspapers posted within the Commonwealth shall be as set out in the First Schedule to this Act.

Telegraphic rates.

7. The rates for the transmission of telegrams within the Commonwealth shall be as set out in the Second Schedule to this Act.

Braille and Moon postal articles free.

8. All Braille and Moon postal articles shall be conveyed without charge under Departmental regulations.

Limits of town and suburban telegraph rates.

9. The power of the Governor-General under section ninety-seven of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 to make regulations shall include the power to make regulations for prescribing the limits within which the rates for town and suburban telegrams and letters shall have effect, and for prescribing charges for the porterage of telegrams.

SCHEDULES.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

Newspapers.

On all newspapers posted for delivery within the Commonwealth (without condition as to the number contained in each addressed wrapper), by registered newspaper proprietors, or by newsvendors, or returned by an agent or newsvendor to the publishing office	One penny per twenty ounces on the aggregate weight of newspapers so posted by any one person at any one time.
On all other newspapers posted within the Commonwealth for delivery therein	For each newspaper. — One halfpenny per ten ounces, or fraction of ten ounces, avoirdupois weight.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

Part I.—Ordinary Telegrams.

	Town and Suburban, within prescribed limits, or within fifteen miles from the sending station.	Other places within the State, except Town and Suburban.	Inter-State, i.e., from any one State to any other State.
Including address and signature—
Not exceeding sixteen words...	Sixpence.......	Ninepence......	One shilling
Each additional word......	One penny.............	One penny.............	One penny

On telegrams from and to Tasmania the charges to be those mentioned above with cable charges added.

Double the foregoing rates to be charged for the transmission of telegrams on Sunday, Christmas Day, and Good Friday, and for “urgent” telegrams.

The foregoing rates are exclusive of porterage charges.

Part II.—Press Telegrams.

	Within any State.	Inter-State, i.e., from any one State to any other State.	Relating to Parliamentary, Executive, Departmental, and other Commonwealth Proceedings as may be prescribed.
Not exceeding 25 words.....	Sixpence.......	One shilling
Exceeding 25, but not exceeding 50 words	Ninepence......	One shilling and sixpence
Exceeding 50, but not exceeding 100 words	One shilling and sixpence	Three shillings
Every additional 50 words or portion of 50 words	Sixpence.......	One shilling
Within the Commonwealth.
Not exceeding 25 words................................			One shilling
Exceeding 25, but not exceeding 100 words...................			One shilling and sixpence
Every additional 50 words or portion of 50 words...............			Sixpence

The foregoing rates are exclusive of porterage charges.

On telegrams from and to Tasmania the charges to be those mentioned above with cable charges added.