16
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 1

When the payee is unable to write.
(a.) If the payee be unable to write he must sign the receipt by making his mark, to be witnessed in writing, as, for example,—
Joseph Allen, Witness—John Fuller,
× High Street, Dunedin.
his mark.

The witness, who must be known to the Postmaster, must write his name and address, adding the word “Witness.” It is desirable (though not imperative) that he be not connected with the office, but it is not necessary that he should be personally acquainted with the payee. In no case may the officer who pays the order act as a witness.

Name of remitter to be given by payee.
(b.) Having ascertained that the order is properly receipted, the Postmaster will call upon the applicant to give the name of the remitter, and if the reply be correct, and he has good reason for believing that the applicant is the payee, payment may be made. Money-orders presented by a person other than the payee named in the advice should bear upon them evidence of assignment, in the shape of an indorsement by the payee, in addition to the usual receipt. Should payment be refused on the ground that the applicant is neither the rightful claimant nor his agent, or on account of any irregularity affecting the validity of the order, the case must be immediately reported to the Chief Postmaster for instructions.

Orders presented through a bank for credit of the Public Account may be paid without advice.

44. Money-orders the amounts of which are placed to credit of the Public Account may, upon presentation by the bank, be paid on demand whether the relative advices have been received or not. The orders must, however, be marked by the bank as credited to the Public Account, and paying officers must be careful to place a docket among the Advices of Unpaid Orders noting that payment of such orders has been made without advice. Upon the receipt of the advice of any order so paid it must at once be forwarded to the Controller, Money-order Office, Wellington, stating date of payment. Money-orders paid into a bank by Receivers of Land Revenue may also be paid in accordance with the above directions.

When payee described by official title only, payment may be made to recognised legal agent.

45. In any case in which the payee of a money-order is described by his official title only, or as a club, society, or company, whether trading under the names of the persons comprising it or not, payment may be made on the signature of the manager, secretary, or other recognised legal agent thereof, provided that his official designation be written after his name.

Postmasters may not lodge orders for collection through a bank.

46. Postmasters are strictly forbidden to lodge money-orders with a bank for collection in order thereby to conceal payment to an irregular signature or any other breach of these regulations. In any case in which, although the signature to an order does not agree with the name advised, the Postmaster is satisfied that the person who signed it is entitled to receive payment, it will be sufficient to certify on the order that the identity of the payee has been satisfactorily established.

Payment not to be made on day of issue.

47. Payment of a money-order not issued for transmission by telegraph cannot be made on the day of issue. Government orders are, however, an exception to this rule.

Special authority required for payment of mutilated orders.

48. No money-order which has been cut in halves, or otherwise mutilated or rejoined, may be paid without the express authority of the Controller, Money-order Office, Wellington.

Orders improperly transferred.

49. No money-order of which payment has been transferred in any other manner than that directed in Rules Nos. 70 to 73 may be paid without the express authority of the Controller, Money-order Office, Wellington.

Orders bearing word “Paid” must not be paid without authority.

50. No money-order having the word “Paid” stamped, perforated, or written upon it may be paid without the express authority of the Controller, Money-order Office, Wellington.

Presentation of mutilated, &c., orders to be reported.

51. Whenever a mutilated order, an order which has been improperly transferred, or an order marked “Paid” is presented at his office, the Postmaster must at once, after refusing payment, report the circumstances to the Controller, Money-order Office, Wellington, and await instructions.

No claim after payment.

52. After once paying a money-order, by whomsoever presented, the Department is not liable to any further claim. The Postmaster-General, however, reserves to himself the power to require an officer to make good any amount which, through want of care or neglect of the instructions, may have been paid to a wrong person.

Orders not paid, no liability in respect of.

53. No application can be entertained for compensation for alleged injury through the non-payment of a money-order at the expected time. When a money-order is applied for it must be granted on the clear understanding that no such claim will be allowed.

Orders become void if not paid within specified time.

54. Money-orders issued in New Zealand become void at the expiration of the twelfth month after the month of issue. Thus, an order issued in January becomes void if not paid before the end of the next January. Orders issued in the United Kingdom, and in British colonies and foreign countries, become void also at the expiration of the twelfth month after the month of issue. After that period payment can only be made under special authority, granted by the Chief Office of the country of issue and obtained through the Controller, Money-order Office, Wellington.

Advices of void orders: How to be treated.

(a.) At the close of business on the last day of each month the Postmaster must carefully examine the advices in hand, and forward with his accounts all the advices of inland, colonial, and foreign orders which have become void, particulars of which must be entered at the foot of his Paid Order Statement.

Payment through a bank.

55. When a money-order is paid through a bank it is sufficient, as regards the receipt, that it be crossed (by stamp or in writing) with the name of the bank, and be presented by some person known to be in the employment of that bank. As regards date, number, and amount, the order must be seen to be in agreement with the relative advice before payment is made.

Crossed money-orders.

56. The holder of a money-order payable at a place where there is a bank is always at liberty to direct, by crossing it, that the order be paid through a bank, even though its payment was not originally so restricted, and when such an order is so crossed the question put on the presentation of an ordinary money-order is dispensed with, and the foregoing observances alone enforced; but an order crossed as payable through a bank must not be paid unless presented through a bank, although the advice may not be so crossed, except when there is no bank in the place on which the order is drawn.

(a.) When a money-order issued, or afterwards crossed, for payment through a bank is drawn upon a place where there is no bank it may be paid direct to the payee named in the advice, on the conditions prescribed in Rules 43 to 51.

Payment of orders presented by bank may only be made at the offices upon which they are drawn.

57. Payment of money-orders presented through a bank may only be made at the post-office upon which the order has been drawn and advised. Rule 43 expressly forbids the payment of an order unless the corresponding advice has been received, and this rule may never be departed from without authority, the only exception being orders presented for credit of the Public Account. (See Rule No. 44.)

Fractional parts of a penny.

58. Should an order be presented for payment which has been improperly drawn for an amount including the fractional part of a penny—say, for £1 14s. 6½d. or £2 13s. 7¼d.—the Postmaster must pay and claim the amount, less the fraction, and note the order immediately under the amount entered in figures at the issuing office, thus: “Amount paid, £1 14s. 6d.,” or “Amount paid, £2 13s. 7d.”

Difference between order and advice.

59. When an order is presented and is found to differ from the advice the Postmaster must refuse payment unless the payee be well known to him, and the difference is slight and evidently accidental and not affecting the amount. Should the discrepancy be in the amount he must refuse payment, and send the Form Acct. No. 91 to the issuing Postmaster. Upon the return of the form with a statement of the amount actually payable, the Postmaster must pay that amount, and note the order immediately under the amount entered in figures at the issuing office, thus: “Amount paid as per authority attached, £ [Here insert the amount paid].” He must pin the Form Acct. No. 91 to the order, and send both to the Chief Postmaster with the statement in which the order is claimed.