Post and Telegraph Regulations Act 1973

No. 108 of 1973

AN ACT

To amend certain Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1971.

[Assented to 29 September 1973]

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1.  This Act may be cited as the Post and Telegraph Regulations Act 1973.

Commencement

2.  This Act shall come into operation on 1 October 1973.

Amendment of Regulations

3. (1) The Postal Regulations are amended as set out in Schedule 1.

(2) The Postal and Telegraphic Services (General) Regulations are amended as set out in Schedule 2.

(3) The Telegraph Regulations are amended as set out in Schedule 3.

(4) The Telephone Regulations are amended as set out in Schedule 4.

(5) Nothing in this section prevents the amendment or repeal by a regulation under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1973 of any Regulations as amended by this section.

Application.

4. (1) Without limiting the application of the amendments of regulation 258 of the Postal Regulations made by this Act, sub-section 3(1) has no effect in relation to a postal article posted before the commencement  of this Act.

(2) Sub-section 3(1) has no effect in relation to a postal order issued before the commencement of this Act.

SCHEDULE 1    Section 3(1)

1. Regulation 3 of the Postal Regulations is amended by omitting the definition of “Territory”  and substituting the following definition:—

“‘periodical’ means a copy of a number of a publication registered at a General Post Office as a periodical, together with any supplement or other material that, in accord­ance with these Regulations, is to be deemed to form part of that number;

2. Regulation 4 of the Postal Regulations is repealed and the following regulation substituted :—

Air mail.

“ 4. (1) This Regulation applies to a parcel posted for delivery in Australia.

“(2) Subject to sub-regulations (4) and (5), the sender of a parcel may, upon payment of the prescribed fee, in addition to the postage and other charges otherwise payable in respect of the parcel, obtain the conveyance of the parcel by air over so much of the route to be taken by the parcel as is provided with an air mail service.

“(3) The prescribed fee, for the purposes of sub-regulation (2), is Sixty cents for each 500 grams or part of 500 grams of the weight of the parcel, irrespective of the number of air routes within Australia over which the parcel is to be conveyed.

“(4) The Postmaster-General may, from time to time, for the purposes of this Regulation by writing under his hand, determine—

(a) places between which parcels will be conveyed by air at the rates of postage specified in sub-regulation (5); and

(b) the air route distance between those places.

“(5) The postage payable for the conveyance by air of a parcel between places determined in accordance with sub-regulation (4) is—

(a) where the air route distance between those places, as so determined, does not exceed 800 kilometres—

(i) Twenty cents for each 500 grams or part of 500 grams of the weight of the parcel; or

(ii) One dollar twenty cents,

whichever is the higher;

(b) where the air route distance between those places, as so determined, exceeds 800 kilometres but does not exceed 1,600 kilometres—

(i) Forty cents for each 500 grams or part of 500 grams of the weight of the parcel; or

(ii) One dollar twenty cents,

whichever is the higher;

(c) where the air route distance between those places, as so determined, exceeds 1,600 kilometres but does not exceed 2,400 kilometres—

(i) Fifty cents for each 500 grams or part of 500 grams of the weight of the parcel; or

(ii) One dollar twenty cents

whichever is the higher; or

(d) where the air route distance between those places, as so determined, exceeds 2,400 kilometres—

(i) Eighty cents for each 500 grams or part of 500 grams of the weight of the parcel; or

(ii) One dollar fifty cents,

whichever is the higher.”.

3.  Regulation 18 of the Postal Regulations is repealed and the following regulation substituted:—

Limits of dimensions.

“18. A postal article classified as an article (other than a parcel) not comprised within items 1, 2 and 3 in Part I of Schedule 1 to the Rates Act shall not—

(a) have a length that exceeds one metre; or

(b) be such that the sum of its length and greatest girth exceeds two metres.”.

Schedule 1—continued

4.  Regulations 28, 29, 30 and 31 of the Postal Regulations are repealed and the following regulation substituted:—

“28. A postal article classified as a newspaper or periodical shall not—

(a) have a length that exceeds one metre; or

(b) be such that the sum of its length and greatest girth exceeds two metres.”.

5.  Regulation 32 of the Postal Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (2).

6. Regulation 37 of the Postal Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (2).

7.  Regulation 43 of the Postal Regulations is repealed.

8.  Regulation 46 of the Postal Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (3) the word “ and ”;

(b) by inserting after paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (3) the following word and paragraph:—              “ ; and

(ba) application for its registration is made not later than 30 September 1973,”;

(c) by adding at the end of sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (c) of sub-regulation (3) the word “or”;

(d) by omitting from sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (d) of sub-regulation (3) the word “or” (last occurring);

(e) by omitting paragraph (e) of sub-regulation (3);

(f) by omitting from sub-regulation (5) all the words after the word “motorists” and substituting the words “organization or an organization of employees”;

(g) by inserting after sub-regulation (5) the following sub-regulations:—

“(5a) A publication referred to in paragraph (c) of sub-regulation (3) shall not be registered in the part of the register kept for the registration of Category A periodicals unless—

(a) the publication is, and at all times from and including 20 August 1973 has been, printed and published in a country area within the meaning of that paragraph; or

(b) a substantial proportion of the copies of each number of the publication are posted by the proprietor, printer or publisher of the publication to bona fide subscribers in a country area within the meaning of that paragraph.

“(5b) Where—

(a) a publication of a kind referred to in paragraph (e) of sub-regulation (3) as in force before the commencement of the Post and Telegraph Regulations Act 1973; or

(b) a publication that, by virtue of sub-regulation (5a), is not to be registered as a Category A periodical,

was, immediately before the commencement of this sub-regulation, registered as a Category A periodical, its registration is not affected by the omission of that paragraph by that Act or affected by the provisions of sub-regulation (5a) but, if it is still so registered immediately before 1 March 1974, its registration shall, on that date, be transferred to the part of the register kept for the registration of Category B periodicals.”;

(h) by inserting after sub-regulation (6) the following sub-regulations:—

“(6a) A publication shall not be registered in the part of the register kept for the registration of Category B periodicals if—

(a) being a publication other than a publication to which paragraph (c) of sub regulation (3) applies, it is published in more than three numbers per week: or

(b) it is published by an organization of employers or an organization of persons engaged in, or connected with, a profession or professions.

“(6B) Where a publication to which sub-regulation (6a) applies was, immediately before the commencement of this sub-regulation, registered as a Category B periodical, its registration is not affected by the provisions of that sub-regulation but, if it is still so registered immediately before 1 March 1974, its registration shall, on that date, be

Schedule 1—continued

transferred to the part of the register kept for the registration of Category C periodicals.” ; and

(i) by omitting from sub-regulation (8) the words ”, of his own motion or upon application  being made under either of the next two succeeding sub-regulations,”; and

(j) by omitting sub-regulations (9) and (10).

9.  Regulation 59 of the Postal Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (1) the word “prepaid” and substituting the word “paid”;

(b) by omitting sub-regulation (2) and substituting the following sub-regulation:—

“(2) The amount of postage, registration fees (if any) and fees (if any) payable under Part XIIIa  of these Regulations on such postal articles, posted at one time, shall not be less than—

(a) in the case of articles posted in accordance with an arrangement made under section 21 of the Act—Five dollars; or

(b) in any other case—Ten dollars;

(c) by omitting from sub-regulation (4) the word “prepayment” and substituting the word “payment”; and

(d) by omitting sub-regulations (7) and (8) and substituting the following sub-regulations:—

“(7) Sub-regulations (2), (5) and (6) of this regulation do not apply in relation to newspapers or periodicals posted by the proprietors or publishers of the newspapers or periodicals or by newsvendors.

“(8) The preceding provisions of this regulation do not apply in relation to mail matter posted by authorized users of franking machines under the regulations relating to franking machines.”.

10.  Regulation 60 of the Postal Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (2) the words “on a particular day” and substituting the words “at a particular time”.

11.  Regulation 63 of the Postal Regulations is amended by inserting in sub-regulation (4), after the word “newspapers” (wherever occurring), the words “and periodicals”.

12.  Regulation 91c of the Postal Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1) the words “item 5 in Part I. of the First Schedule” and substituting the words “item 4 in Part I of Schedule 1”;

(b) by omitting sub-regulations (3) and (4) and substituting the following sub-regulation:—

“(3) Where the Postmaster-General has made a determination under sub-regulation (2) in relation to two places, a person who sends a postal article to which this regulation applies from one of those places to the other may, upon compliance with such conditions as the Postmaster-General determines and, in the case of a parcel, upon payment of a fee of Thirty cents in addition to the amount of postage and other charges otherwise payable for the transmission of the parcel between those places, obtain the transmission of the article by means of the priority paid mail service.”.

13.  Regulation 97 of the Postal Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (2) the words “forwarded to the Dead Letter Office for return to the sender” and substituting the words “returned to the sender”; and

(b) by omitting sub-regulation (2a).

14.  Regulation 99 of the Postal Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (2) and substituting the following sub-regulations:—

“(2) An application for redirection shall specify the period for which redirection is required.

Schedule 1—continued

“(3) An application for redirection shall not be complied with until the payment by the applicant of a fee of—

(a) in the case where mail to the applicant will be addressed to an address at which he carried on business for profit or to the address of a Department or authority of Australia or of a State—Three dollars for each month or part of a month during which redirection is applied for; or

(b) in any other case—One dollar for each month or part of a month during which redirection is applied for.

“(4) The redirection of mail may be discontinued at any time—

(a) at the request of the person who applied for the redirection; or

(b) where the Postmaster-General has reasonable grounds to believe that the redirection is being used in connexion with any illegal activity—by order of the Postmaster-General.

“(5) Where the redirection of mail is discontinued at the request of the person who applied for the redirection, that person is entitled to a refund of so much of the fee relating to the redirection as is attributable to each whole month after the redirection is discontinued, not being one of the three months immediately following the commencement of the period of redirection.

“(6) Subject to these Regulations, where the redirection of the mail of a person who changed his address is discontinued, mail received for delivery to him at his former address shall—

(a) where he changed his address temporarily—be delivered at that address; or

(b) where he changed his address permanently—be returned to the sender.

“(7) Nothing in this regulation prevents a person who has been granted an application for redirection from making a further application for redirection, including redirection that is to commence on the expiration of a period of redirection.”.

15.  After regulation 99 of the Postal Regulations the following regulation is inserted:—

Holding of mail.

“99a. (1) Without limiting regulation 102, the Postmaster-General may grant an application to hold at a post office mail addressed to a person at an address specified in the application.

“(2) Subject to sub-regulation (3), an application for the holding of mail shall be signed by the person to whom the mail is addressed.

“(3) The head of a household may sign an application for the holding of mail addressed to the members of the household at the address of the household but that application shall not be complied with in respect of mail addressed to a member of the household who advises the Postmaster-General that he does not wish the application to be complied with.

“(4) An application for the holding of mail shall specify the period during which the mail is to be held.

“(5) An application for the holding of mail shall not be complied with until the payment by the applicant of a fee of—

(a) in the case of mail addressed to an address at which the applicant carried on business for profit or to the address of a Department or authority of Australia or of a State—Three dollars for each month or part of a month during which the holding is applied for; or

(b) in any other case—One dollar for each month or part of a month during which the holding is applied for.

“(6) The holding of mail may be discontinued at any time at the request of the person who applied for the holding.

“(7) Where the holding of mail is discontinued, the person who applied for the holding is entitled to a refund of so much of the fee relating to the holding as is attributable to each whole month after the holding is discontinued, not being one of the three months immediately following the commencement of the period of holding.

Schedule 1—continued

“(8) Subject to these Regulations, where the holding of mail addressed to a person at an address is discontinued, the mail held for, and not collected by, him shall be delivered at that address.

“(9) Nothing in this regulation prevents a person who has been granted an application for the holding of mail from making a further application for the holding of mail, including a holding that is to commence on the expiration of a period of holding.”.

16.  Regulation 100 of the Postal Regulations is amended by inserting after the word “lodging-house,” the word “caravan park,”.

17.  Regulation 102 of the Postal Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting sub-regulation (1) and substituting the following sub-regulations:—

“(1) A postal article other than a newspaper or periodical may bear on the cover an endorsement requesting that, if undeliverable, it be returned to the sender.

“(1a) The endorsement shall be in the following form:—‘If undeliverable, return to’”;

(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (2) the words “The request for return shall specify a number of days not fewer than seven nor more than 30.”; and

(c) by omitting sub-regulation (3).

18.  Regulation 103 of the Postal Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (1) the word “An” (first occurring) and substituting the words “Subject to regulation 99a, an”;

(b) by inserting in sub-regulations (3) and (4), after the word “newspapers”, the words “or periodicals”;

(c) by inserting in sub-regulation (5), after the word “newspaper”, the words “or periodical”; and

(d) by omitting from sub-regulation (5) the words “the ordinary rate for newspapers” and substituting the words “the rate specified in item 4 in Part I of Schedule 1 to the Rates Act”.

19.  Regulation 123b of the Postal Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting sub-regulation (1) and substituting the following sub-regulation:—

“(1) Envelopes for philatelic purposes may be supplied by Philatelic Sections upon payment of an amount for each envelope of—

(a) in the case where the quantity of envelopes supplied is less than one thousand—Nine cents; or

(b) in any other case—Seven cents”; and

(b) by omitting from sub-regulations (2) and (3) the word “shall” and substituting the word “may”.

20.  Regulation 131 of the Postal Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (1) and substituting the following paragraphs:—

“ (b) at a post office or place specified under sub-regulation (5) as a post office or place to which this paragraph applies:—

Schedule 1—continued

(b) by adding at the end thereof the following sub-regulation:—

“(5) The Postmaster-General may, from time to time, by instrument in writing, specify a post office or place (other than a post office or place in relation to which paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1) applies) as being a post office or place to which paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (1) applies.”.

21.  After regulation 137 of the Postal Regulations the following Regulation is inserted:—

Fees for balance of year.

“137a. (1) Subject to sub-regulation (2), a person who, on 1 October 1973, is the tenant of a private box, not being a box the tenancy of which commences on that day, shall, within fourteen days after being notified by the Department of his obligation so to do, pay, in respect of his use of the box for the six months commencing on that day, one-half of the difference between the annual fee payable in respect of the use of the box under regulation 131 or 134 as amended by the Post and Telegraph Regulations Act 1973 and the annual fee that was so payable under those regulations immediately before being so amended.

“(2) Where a person who, on 1 October 1973, is the tenant of a private box does not wish to continue that tenancy by reason only of the fee payable in respect of the box under sub-regulation (1), he may, within the time in which that fee is to be paid, relinquish that box, and, if he does so, he shall not be liable for payment of that fee and, notwithstanding regulation 137, he shall be refunded such part of any fees paid by him in respect of the box as is attributable  to each whole month after the box is relinquished.”.

22.  After regulation 148 of the Postal Regulations the following regulation is inserted:—

Fees for balance of year.

“148a. (1) Subject to sub-regulation (2), a person who, on 1 October 1973, is the holder of a private bag service or a locked bag service, not being a service that commences on that day, shall, within fourteen days after being notified by the Department of his obligation so to do, pay, in respect of the service for the six months commencing on that day, one-half of the difference between the annual fee payable for the service under regulation 143 or 145 as amended by the Post and Telegraph Regulations Act 1973 and the annual fee that was so payable under those regulations immediately before being so amended.

“(2) Where a person who, on 1 October 1973, is the holder of a private mail bag service or a locked bag service does not wish to continue that service by reason only of the fee payable in respect of the service under sub-regulation (1), he may, within the period in which that fee is to be paid, relinquish the use of that service and, if he does so, he shall not be liable for payment of that fee and, notwithstanding regulation 148, he shall, upon application, be refunded such part of any fees paid by him in respect of the service as is attributable to each whole month after the service is relinquished.”.

23.  Regulation 186 of the Postal Regulations is repealed and the following regulation substituted:—

Weight and dimensions.

“186. A parcel shall not—

(a) have a weight that exceeds twenty kilogrammes;

(b) have a length that exceeds one metre; or

(c) be such that the sum of its length and greatest girth exceeds two metres.”.

24.  Regulation 213 of the Postal Regulations is repealed and the following regulation substituted:—

General rates of postage on parcels.

“ 213. Subject to regulation 213a, the postage payable in respect of a parcel addressed to a place within Australia is at the rate ascertained in accordance with the following table:—

Schedule 1—continued

25. (1) Regulation 213a of the Postal Regulations is amended by inserting in sub regulation (1), after the word “that”, the words “do not weigh more than 10 kilogrammes and”.

(2) Regulation 213a of the Postal Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulations (2),

(2) and (4) and substituting the following sub-regulations:—

“(2) Where the number of parcels to which this regulation applies, irrespective of the weights of, and the scale applicable to, the individual parcels, is more than five hundred but not more than five thousand, the postage payable on a parcel is at the rate ascertained in accordance with the following table:—

“(3) Where the number of parcels to which this regulation applies, irrespective of the weights of, and the scales applicable to, the individual parcels, is more than five thousand but not more than twenty thousand, the postage payable on a parcel is the rate ascertained in accordance with the following table:—

Schedule 1—continued

26.  Regulation 213b of the Postal Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting paragraphs (i) and (j) of sub-regulation (4) and substituting the following word and paragraph:—

“or (i) posted in the Northern Territory and addressed to a place in Queensland, South Australia or Western Australia.”;

(b) by omitting paragraphs (g) and (h) of sub-regulation (5) and substituting the following word and paragraph:—

“or (g) posted in the Northern Territory and addressed to a place in New South Wales or Victoria.”;

(c) by omitting paragraphs (f ) and (g) of sub-regulation (6) and substituting the following word and paragraph:—

“or (f) posted in the Northern Territory and addressed to a place in Tasmania.”;

(d) by omitting from sub-regulation (9) the words “, the Territory of New Guinea, the Territory of Papua ”; and

(e) by omitting sub-regulation (10) and substituting the following sub-regulation:—

“(10) Where the weight of a parcel exceeds 500 grams or a multiple of 500 grams by less than 500 grams, the excess shall be treated as 500 grams for the purpose of calculating the postage payable on the parcel in accordance with regulation 213 or 213a”.

27.   Regulation 226 of the Postal Regulations is repealed and the following regulation substituted:—

Charges for money orders.

“ 226. For the purposes of sub-section (3) of section 75 of the Act—

(a) the charge for the issue of a money order payable in Australia is—

(i) if the amount for which the money order is issued does not exceed Thirty dollars—Fifty cents;

(ii) if the amount for which the money order is issued exceeds Thirty dollars but does not exceed Two hundred dollars—Seventy cents; or

(iii) if the amount for which the money order is issued exceeds Two hundred dollars—

a charge calculated at the rate of Seventy cents for the first One hundred dollars,

and One dollar twenty-five cents for each additional One hundred dollars or part of One hundred dollars, in the amount for which the money order is issued; and

(b) the charge for the issue of a money order payable outside Australia is—

(i) a charge calculated at the rate of Ten cents for each Two dollars or part of Two dollars in the amount for which the money order is issued; or

(ii) Sixty-five cents,

whichever is the higher.”.

28.  After regulation 240 of the Postal Regulations the following regulation is inserted:—

Advice of payment.

“240a. Upon application in writing by the remitter or the payee of a money order and upon the payment of a charge of Twenty-five cents, the remitter or the payee, as the case may be, shall be notified in writing when the money order is paid.”.

29  Regulation 247 of the Postal Regulations is amended by omitting the table and sub­stituting the following table:—

Schedule 1—continued

30.  Regulation 258 of the Postal Regulations is repealed and the following regulation substituted:—

Payments for carriage of mail on vessels.

“258. (1) For the purposes of sub-section (7) of section 67 of the Act, the rate in respect of the carriage of mail on a vessel to a port or place within Australia is Twenty-nine dollars three cents per tonne.

“(2) For the purposes of sub-section (7) of section 67 of the Act, the rates in respect of the carriage of mail on a vessel to a port or place without Australia are as set out in the following table:—

“(3) Sub-regulations (1) and (2) apply to and in relation to the carriage of mail taken on board a vessel on or after 1 July 1973.

“(4) For the purposes of sub-section (7) of section 67 of the Act, where, during the period from and including 1 January 1973 to and including 30 June 1973, mail was taken on board a vessel for carriage to a port or place without Australia, the rates in respect of the carriage are as set out in the following table:—

Schedule 1—continued

31. The Postal Regulations are further amended as set out in the following table:—

Schedule 1—continued

____________

SCHEDULE 2 Section 3(2)

AMENDMENTS OF THE POSTAL AND TELEGRAPHIC SERVICES (GENERAL) REGULATIONS

Regulation 8 of the Postal and Telegraphic Services (General) Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting sub-regulations (2), (2a) and (5); and

(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (4a) the figures (2), (2a) ”.

_____________

SCHEDULE 3 Section 3(3)

AMENDMENTS OF THE TELEGRAPH REGULATIONS

1. Regulation 11 of the Telegraph Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (2).

2. Regulation 55 of the Telegraph Regulations is repealed.

3. Regulation 58 of the Telegraph Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (7).

4. Regulation 58a of the Telegraph Regulations is amended by omitting the words “press telegrams” and substituting the words “telegrams addressed to a newspaper or newsagency”.

Schedule 3—continued

5. Regulations 63, 64, 65 and 67 of the Telegraph Regulations are repealed.

6. The Telegraph Regulations are amended as set out in the following table:—

AMENDMENTS OF THE TELEPHONE REGULATIONS

1.  Regulation 8 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1) the words “or for the transfer of any such existing service”.

2.  Regulation 16 of the Telephone Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (1) the words “until he has obtained a transfer in the proper form” and substituting the words “until he has become the subscriber to the service”; and

(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (2) the words “before obtaining a transfer of the service” and substituting the words “before he becomes the subscriber to the service”.

3.  Regulation 17 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (3).

4 (1) Regulation 29 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1) the definitions of “class I. telephone service”, “class II. telephone service” and “class III. telephone service” and substituting the following definitions:—

“‘class I telephone service’ means a telephone service connected to an exchange at which a continuous telephone service is provided;

‘class II telephone service’ means a telephone service other than a class I telephone service;

(2) Regulation 29 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the table in sub-regulation (2) and substituting the following table:—

(3) Regulation 29 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (3) and substituting the following sub-regulation:—

“(3) Where—

(a) a class II telephone service becomes a class I telephone service; or

(b) a class I telephone service becomes a class II telephone service,

the Director-General may direct that the telephone service shall, for the purposes of this Regulation, be deemed to continue to be a class II telephone service or a class I telephone service, as the case may be, until a date fixed by the Director-General.”.

Schedule 4—continued

5.  Regulation 29a of the Telephone Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting sub-regulation (1) and substituting the following sub-regulations:—

“(1) Subject to this regulation, a service connexion fee of Sixty dollars is payable by a person who applies for permission to rent or use a telephone service.

“(1a) Subject to this regulation, a service connexion fee of Thirty dollars is payable by a subscriber who applies for the removal, under regulation 69, of a telephone service or other apparatus to other premises.”;

(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (2) the words “reduced to Five dollars” and substituting the words “the amount specified in sub-regulation (2a)”; and

(c) by inserting after sub-regulation (2) the following sub-regulation:—

“(2a) The amount of a service connexion fee payable by a person in accordance with this sub-regulation is—

(a) in the case of a person who is a subscriber—Fifteen dollars; and

(b) in any other case—Thirty dollars.”.

6.  Regulation 32 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1) the words “Three dollars for each quarter of a mile or portion of a quarter of a mile” and substituting the words “Four dollars for each 400 metres or part thereof”.

7.  Regulation 45 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the word “subscriber” and substituting the word “person”.

8. Regulation 72 of the Telephone Regulations is repealed.

9.  Regulation 83 of the Telephone Regulations is amended—

(a) by adding at the end of paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (1) the word “or”; and

(b) by omitting paragraph (c) of sub-regulation (1).

10.  Regulation 84 of the Telephone Regulations is repealed and the following regulation substituted:—

Charitable institutions.

“84. (1) This regulation applies to—

(a) a charitable institution the principal activity of which is the provision of benefits for poor or afflicted persons in Australia and at least one-third of the operating funds of which are derived from donations by the general public; or

(b) a charitable institution that on 30 September 1973 was charged half the rates then prescribed by these Regulations for local calls.

“(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Regulations, the rental payable by a charitable institution for a telephone service, telephone or other apparatus used in the administration of the institution may, with the approval of the Director-General, be at an annual rate equal to two-thirds of the annual rate that would, but for this sub-regulation, be payable under these Regulations.”.

11.  Regulation 87a of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting from sub regulation (2) the words “equal to twice the local call fee” and substituting the words “of Twenty cents”.

12. (1) Regulation 138 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the table in sub-regulation (1) and substituting the following table:—

Schedule 4—continued

(2) Regulation 138 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the table in sub-regulation (2) and substituting the following table:—

13  Regulation 139 of the Telephone Regulations is repealed and the following regulation substituted:—

Charge where automatic trunk call could be made.

“ 139. (1) Where an automatic trunk call within the meaning of Division 3 can be made from a telephone connected to one exchange to a telephone connected to another exchange, a fee of Twenty cents is payable for booking a trunk call to which this Division applies to be made from any telephone connected to the first-mentioned exchange to any telephone connected to that other exchange.

“ (2) A fee payable under sub-regulation (1) in respect of an effective trunk call is in addition to the fee payable under regulation 138 in respect of the call.”.

14  Regulation 141 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the table in sub-regulation (2) and substituting the following table:—

15  Regulation 144b of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the table in sub-regulation (2) and substituting the following table:—

Schedule 4—continued

16. (1) Regulation 147 of the Telephone Regulations is amended by omitting the table in sub-regulation (2) and substituting the following table:—

(2) Regulation 147 of the Telephone Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting sub-regulations (3) and (4) and substituting the following sub-regulation:—

“ (3) Subject to the succeeding sub-regulations, the charge payable by a subscriber for a private line provided by the Department in respect of which he has been a subscriber continuously from and including 30 September 1973 is the charge that would be payable under sub-regulation (2) if the number of kilometres in any relevant distance were multiplied by a factor of 0.99419.”; and

(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (6) the words “ Thirty dollars per annum in respect of each part ” and substituting the words “ Forty dollars per annum in respect of each 1.6 kilometres or part thereof”.

17.      The Telephone Regulations are amended as set out in the following table:—