POST AND TELEGRAPH RATES.

No. 23 of 1949.

An Act to amend the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1941.

[Assented to 30th June, 1949.]

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 and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1949.

(2.) The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1941 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1949.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and forty-nine.

War postage.

3. Section six a of the Principal Act is repealed.

4. Section eight of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—

Braille and Moon postal articles free.

“8. All Braille and Moon postal articles, and such other postal articles for the use of the blind as are prescribed, shall, if posted as prescribed, be conveyed without charge.”

First Schedule.

5. The First Schedule to the Principal Act is repealed and the following Schedule inserted in its stead:—

“FIRST SCHEDULE.

Part I.
Newspapers and periodicals registered at a General Post Office Posted by—	Twopence half-penny per sixteen ounces or part of sixteen ounces on the aggregate weight of newspapers or periodicals posted by any one person at any one time
(a) the proprietors thereof to bona fide subscribers, and to newsvendors and agents for the purpose of sale; and
(b) newsvendors and agents to bona fide subscribers, and to other newsvendors and agents for the purpose of sale, without condition as to the number contained in each addressed wrapper
Part II.
Letters and Letter Cards.............................	Twopence half-penny for the first ounce or part of an ounce, and twopence for each additional ounce or part of an ounce
Post Cards......................................	Twopence each
Second Class Mail Matter—
(a) Commercial papers, patterns, samples and merchandise, as prescribed	One penny half-penny per two ounces or part of two ounces
(b) Printed matter (including printed papers, circulars and catalogues, and books, periodicals and newspapers not registered at a General Post Office), as prescribed	One penny half-penny per four ounces or part of four ounces
Third Class Mail Matter (comprising books registered at a General Post Office and periodicals and newspapers registered at a General Post Office posted otherwise than as specified in Part I. of this Schedule), as prescribed	One penny half-penny per six ounces or part of six ounces
Hansard, that is, reports of Parliamentary debates printed and published by the authority of the Commonwealth or of a State	One penny half-penny per twelve ounces or part of twelve ounces”.

Second Schedule.

6.—(1.) The Second Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by omitting Part I. and inserting in its stead the following Part:—

“Part I.—Ordinary Telegrams.

—	Between offices which are not more than fifteen miles apart.	Between offices which are more than fifteen miles apart.
Including address and signature—
Not exceeding fourteen words..............	One shilling and threepence	One shilling and sixpence
Each additional word....................	One penny....	One penny

Double the foregoing rates shall be charged for the transmission of—

(a) urgent telegrams; and

(b) telegrams on the public service when required, under section ninety-five of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1946, to be transmitted before other telegrams.

The rates specified in this Part are exclusive of porterage charge.”

(2.) The Second Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by omitting paragraph (b) of Part II. and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

“(b) Other telegrams, accepted for transmission subject to the prescribed conditions—

—	Between offices which are in the same State.	Between offices which are not in the same State.
Including address and signature—
Not exceeding twenty-five words............	One shilling...	Two shillings
Exceeding twenty-five but not exceeding fifty words	One shilling and fivepence	Two shillings and ninepence
Exceeding fifty but not exceeding one hundred words	Two shillings and eightpence	Five shillings and threepence
Every additional fifty words or portion of fifty words	One shilling...	Two shillings”.

(3.) The Second Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by omitting Part IV. and inserting in its stead the following Part:—

“Part IV.—Letter Telegrams, as Prescribed.

Telegrams, accepted for transmission subject to the prescribed conditions— including address and signature, One shilling and sixpence for the first thirty words and one half-penny for each additional word.”.