STATUTORY RULES.

1929. No. 80.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1923.

I, THE DEPUTY OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923, to come into operation on and from the seventeenth day of July, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-nine.

Dated this twenty-second day of July, 1929.

D. R. S. de CHAIR

Deputy of the Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

W. G. GIBSON

Postmaster-General.

Picturegram Regulations.

Part I.—Preliminary.

Short title.

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

Parts.

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

Part I.—Preliminary.

Part II.—Conditions of acceptance, transmission and delivery of picturegrams.

Part III.—Rates.

Part IV.—Special facilities.

Part V.—Miscellaneous.

Definitions.

3. In these Regulations unless the contrary intention appears:

“Officer” means an officer of the Postmaster-General’s Department.

“Picturegram” means any picture or document accepted at a Telegraph Office for transmission by photo-electric process for delivery or issued from a Telegraph Office for delivery as a picturegram.

“ ‘A’ grade quality” means great fineness of photographic detail in the reproduced copy of a picturegram;

“ ‘B’ grade quality” means medium fineness of photographic detail in the reproduced copy of a picturegram.

 

Part II.—Conditions of Acceptance, Transmission and Delivery of Picturegrams.

Acceptance of picturegrams subject to Post and Telegraph Act and these Regulations.

4. Picturegrams shall be accepted subject to the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1923 as amended from time to time and to these Regulations.

Offices at which picturegrams may be accepted.

5. Picturegrams shall be accepted only at such telegraph offices and during such hours as the Postmaster-General from time to time authorizes.

Matter which may be accepted for transmission as picturegrams.

6. (1). Subject to these Regulations, any kind of pictures and documents may be accepted for transmission as picturegrams including news photographs; photographs of persons, places and things; X-ray photographs; finger prints; drawings; fashion plates; cartoons; advertisements containing printed, typewritten or written matter; formulæ; cheques; prospectuses; bond issues; shorthand notes; trial balances; annual statements; seasonal greetings; agreements and other legal documents; news reports; and any printed, typewritten or written matter or any combination thereof.

(2) An officer may refuse to receive or transmit any picturegram containing indecent, obscene, offensive or scandalous matter.

(3) Printed, typewritten or written matter tendered for transmission as a picturegram may be expressed in any language or symbolic form.

(4) Any coloured picture or document which is capable of satisfactory reproduction in black and white may be accepted for transmission as a picturegram.

(5) No matter shall be accepted for transmission as a picturegram unless it is free from folds, creases or any foreign matter that would prevent satisfactory reproduction.

(6) Pictures or documents shall not be accepted for transmission unless they are flexible enough to be bent around the transmitting cylinder. Pictures or documents with a stiff mounting may, however, be accepted for transmission on the sender paying the prescribed fee for a photographic copy for transmission.

(7) The medium upon which any picture is superposed or any document lodged for transmission as a picturegram shall be either square or rectangular in shape. Any medium or document not conforming to this condition shall be mounted upon a suitable backing of square or rectangular shape. Where any picture or document is affixed to a mounting the size of the picturegram shall be determined from the over-all dimensions of the mounting.

(8) The dimensions of any picture or document lodged for transmission shall not exceed 18 inches by 12 inches.

(9) Any document containing press news or other written telegraph matter shall not be accepted for transmission as a picturegram if—

(a) its dimensions exceed 10 inches by 7 inches; and

(b) the number of letters, figures, or characters in any line exceed 18 per linear inch or 160 letters per square inch.

(10) Each picturegram shall for the purpose of identification during transmission, bear a departmental serial number. If there is no space on the picture or document for such number to be inserted without obliterating a portion of the picture or the text of the document, the picture or document shall be mounted on a suitable backing to provide space for the number.

(11) Any officer thereto authorized by the Postmaster-General may decline the acceptance, for transmission as a picturegram, of any matter which is in his opinion incapable of satisfactory reproduction by photo electric process.

(12) The sender of any picturegram shall indicate the quality of reproduction desired.

(13) Any officer thereto authorized by the Postmaster-General may decline the acceptance for transmission as a “B” grade quality picturegram of any picture or document which is in his opinion incapable of satisfactory reproduction with “B” grade quality reproduction.

 

Originals of picturegrams to be retained by the Postmaster-General.

7. (1) Subject to this regulation, the originals of picturegrams lodged for transmission shall remain the property of the Postmaster-General.

(2) The sender may request that, after transmission, the original of any picturegram be returned to him, and, on payment by the sender of a fee of five shillings, the Postmaster-General shall return the original to the sender. The Postmaster-General shall, however, before returning the original to the sender, make a photographic copy of such original picturegram and retain the copy for the period prescribed in the Post and Telegraph Act, 1901-1923.

Supplementary instructions.

8. The sender may request that any instructions such as “private”, “confidential”, “to be opened at once” or the like be written on the outside of the envelope of his picturegram. Such instructions shall be written before the address if the address forms part of the picturegram for transmission, otherwise the sender shall pay the cost of an official telegram of advice to the picturegram office of destination.

Address of picturegrams.

9. (1) Subject to these Regulations the sender may elect to send the address as part of the picturegram for transmission.

(2) Where the address does not form part of the picturegram for transmission, the address, together with the sender’s name, and the departmental instructions, where required, “Issue negative”, “Collect charges from addressee” up to ten words shall be transmitted by an unpaid service telegram of advice. Where the number of words exceeds ten and in all cases where supplementary information relating to the picturegram is included the cost of the telegram to the office of delivery shall be borne by the sender or addressee.

(3) The address shall contain all information necessary to avoid delay and ensure delivery.

(4) A code address registered under the Telegraph Regulations may be employed in the address of a picturegram.

(5) Where the address appears on the picturegram for transmission, it shall be shown clearly at either the top or bottom of the picturegram, preceded by the word “address”.

Sender’s signature and address

10. (1) The sender’s signature, if not appearing on the face of the picturegram for transmission, shall appear on the back of the picturegram as a guarantee of its authenticity and as subscribing to the conditions under which it is sent.

(2) The sender’s address shall, unless such address is well known to the Department’s officers, also appear on the picturegram, either on the face or on the back thereof.

Order of transmission.

11. (1) Subject to these Regulations picturegrams shall, as for as practicable, be transmitted in the order in which they are received.

(2) The Postmaster-General may suspend the transmission on any one channel of a batch of picturegrams, lodged by one person at any one time, after thirty minutes have been devoted to the transmission thereof and when other picturegrams are awaiting transmission at the end of that time. The picturegrams which have been received during that interval may be transmitted before the transmission of such batch is resumed.

(3) Government picturegrams may, in circumstances approved by the Postmaster-General, be transmitted before other picturegrams.

Delivery of picturegrams.

12. The delivery of picturegrams shall be subject to the same conditions as are prescribed for the delivery of telegrams in the Telegraph Regulations.

 

Method of paying charges.

13. The charges on picturegrams shall be prepaid by means of postage stamps, which may be obtained at any pieturegram office. The sender shall affix the stamps to the authorized pieturegram form, which shall be attached to the back of the picturegram by the Counter Officer in the presence of the sender.

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

Provided further that a picturegram addressed to a newspaper or news agency may be sent by an authorized correspondent with a request that the charges be collected from the newspaper or news agency to which it is addressed. In such cases the word “collect” prefixed by the amount to be collected shall appear before the address on the picturegram or, alternatively, it shall be included in the telegram of advice referred to in sub-regulation (2) of regulation 9. In the event of the newspaper or news agency, to which the picturegram is addressed, refusing to pay the charges, the sender shall pay the amount due.

Receipts for picturegrams.

14. When required by the sender, at the time of lodgment, a receipt showing the amount paid for any picturegram handed in at a picturegram office shall be given without charge.

 

Part III.—Rates.

Schedules of Rates.

15. The rates for the transmission of picturegrnms shall be as follows:—

(a) rates for transmission.

(I.) “A” Grade Quality.

Size of picture to be transmitted.	Rate per picture.
(i) Within the limits of 4 inches by 4 inches......................	Thirty-five shillings.
(ii) Exceeding the limits of 4 inches by 4 inches but not exceeding the limits of 7 inches by 5 inches...............................	Forty-five shillings.
(iii) Exceeding the limits of 7 inches by 5 inches but not exceeding the limits of 7 inches by 10 inches.............................	Sixty shillings
(iv) Exceeding the limits of 7 inches by 10 inches but not exceeding the limits of 12 inches by 18 inches...........................	Sixty-seven shillings and sixpence.
(II) “B” Grade Quality.
(i) Within the limits of 4 inches by 4 inches......................	Thirty shillings.
(ii) Exceeding the limits of 4 inches by 4 inches but not exceeding the limits of 7 inches by 5 inches................................	Thirty-five shillings.
(iii) Exceeding the limits of 7 inches by 5 inches but not exceeding the limits of 7 inches by 10 inches.............................	Forty shillings.
(iv) Exceeding the limits of 7 inches by 10 inches but not exceeding the limits of 12 inches by 18 inches...........................	Forty-seven shillings and sixpence.
(n) other charges.
(i) Photographic copy, for transmission, of a picture or document having a mounting unsuitable for purposes of transmission	Five shillings.
(ii) Multiple picturegrams: For each copy after the first....	Five shillings.
(iii) Reduction of any picturegram, where necessary, prior to transmission.............................................................................	Five shillings
(iv) Reduction of any picturegram, prior to transmission, and subsequent enlargement at picturegram office of delivery	Seven shillings and sixpence

 

 

Part IV.—Special Facilities.

Cancellation of picturegrams.

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

(2) In cases where the service 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, an official telegram of advice shall, if prepaid by the sender, be sent to the office of destination and, if the picturegram has been delivered to the addressee prior to the receipt of the advice, the sender shall be informed that the attempt to cancel the picturegram has failed. In the absence of any contrary indication in the request for cancellation, if the picturegram 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 picturegram shall advise the office of origin by telegraph; otherwise the reply shall be sent by post.

(5) Where from any cause a picturegram 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, and he may cancel the service.

Acknowledgment of delivery.

17. (1) The sender of a picturegram 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.

(2) If an acknowledgment of delivery be required by telegraph the sender shall write before the address the supplementary instruction “Acknowledgment Delivery” if the address forms part of the picturegram for transmission; otherwise the sender shall pay the cost of an official telegram to the picturegram office of delivery. In either ease the cost of the telegram of advice from the picturegram office of delivery shall be paid by the sender.

(3) If an acknowledgment of delivery be required by post card the sender shall write before the address the supplementary instruction “Postal Acknowledgment Delivery” if the address forms part of the picturegram for transmission; otherwise the sender shall pay the cost of an official telegram to the picturegram office of delivery.

Multiple picturegrams.

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

(2) The addresses of a multiple picturegram shall not form part of the picturegram or document for transmission. The sender of a multiple picturegram shall pay the cost of an official telegram of advice to the picturegram office of destination in addition to the rates proscribed by regulation 15 of these Regulations.

(3) Each copy of a multiple picturegram shall be issued with only the address which belongs to it and without any remark such as “copy” or “multiple” that would indicate that the picturegram was being sent to more than one person.

(4) The charge for a multiple picturegram shall be the charge for a single picture for the first copy and the prescribed additional charge for each copy after the first.

 

Part V.—Miscellaneous.

Picturegrams available for inspection.

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

(2) A picturegram 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 picturegram 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 prescribed search fee.

(4) The search fee shall be one shilling where sufficient particulars are furnished to enable the picturegram to be traced without extended search, but if those particulars are not furnished, the fee shall be two shillings and sixpence, or one shilling for each day’s picturegrams examined, whichever sum is the greater.

(5) The sender, addressee, or representative of the sender or addressee may at any time during the period of preservation obtain a certified photographic copy of a picturegram as handed in on payment of a fee of five shillings.

(6) If desired, the copy may be transmitted by photo-electric process, in which case the prescribed rates for the transmission of picturegrams shall be paid.

Production of picturegrams.

20. The provisions of the Telegraph Regulations relating to the production of telegrams, shall also apply to the production of picturegrams in cases other than those covered by the preceding regulation.

Non-responsibility of Postmaster-General for delays, non-delivery. &c.

21. (1) The Postmaster-General shall not be responsible nor shall any claim for compensation be entertained, for any errors or mistakes in transmission or delay in delivery of picturegrams or for non-transmission or non-delivery or mis-delivery of picturegrams, 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 picturegram is lost or mutilated in transit, and therefore becomes useless so far as the sender is concerned, the Postmaster-General may refund the amount paid for transmission.

By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.