2404

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 68]

Signature.

When it is not intended or desired that the sender’s signature should be telegraphed, it must be written on the back of the message, together with his address, if required. The message may then be transmitted without a signature or with any signature known to the addressee, such as “Kate,” “Harry,” “Mamma,” which the sender may insert for transmission; but the receiver may have the full signature telegraphed by paying for the necessary telegrams.
Government telegrams must bear the seal or stamp of the authority sending them. This formality, however, may be dispensed with when there is no doubt as to the authenticity of the telegram.

Replies may be prepaid.

The cost of a reply may be prepaid, and a reply form will then be delivered to the addressee, who will be at liberty to send another telegram of the value prepaid, from any telegraph-office, at any time within six weeks. If the form is not used, its value will be refunded upon application being made within six weeks, accompanied by the form itself, to the Controller of Accounts, General Post Office. A reply form need not necessarily be used for a reply, but may be used in payment or part payment of any single telegram. The sender of the original telegram must write in the space for instructions the words “Reply paid” or, when the amount to be deposited exceeds the minimum charge for an ordinary inland telegram on a week-day, “Reply paid (amount deposited for reply).”

Collect Telegrams : Sender responsible for Transmission Charges.

Telegrams may be transmitted with the word “Collect” written thereon in the space for instructions, and in such case the value of the telegram will be collected from the addressee; but, in the event of the Department being unable to collect the amount, the sender will be held responsible for the due payment thereof, and action may be taken, as set out by Regulation herein, for recovery of the amount. The sender of a “collect telegram” may direct that delivery shall be conditional on the addressee first paying the charges. In such cases the words “Delivery conditional” must be inserted in the instructions and before the address and be paid for.

Refund of Overpayment.

Where an overpayment is made on a telegram by means of stamps which have been affixed, the stamps must not be removed, but if application is made a refund of the amount overpaid will be made. Similarly, if an overpayment is made by means of cash-register or automatic-stamping-machine impressions, the amount involved will be refunded.

Repetition at Request of Senders to ensure Accuracy.

Telegrams may be repeated, if the sender so desires, by being signalled back from office to office. No copy shall be, in such case, given to the sender. The charge for repetition shall be one-half the ordinary tariff. Telegrams containing mercantile quotations or figures, and telegrams written in cipher or according to a preconcerted code, should always be marked “repetition paid” by the sender.

Repetition at Request of Addressee to detect Errors.

If the addressee of a telegram doubts its accuracy, he may have it repeated by paying half the amount paid for its transmission to him. Should he require only a portion of the message to be repeated, a payment must be made at the rate of ½d. for each word embraced in the repetition. For example, if 17 words in a message of 30 words are to be repeated the payment will be 8½d. The minimum charge, however, for repetition (even of a single word) shall be 6d. The charge will be refunded if it appears that the telegram was incorrectly transmitted. The request for repetition must be in writing, and may be abbreviated to underlining the necessary words and adding the request—as, for example, “Please repeat”—on the delivered copy.

Charges, after Ordinary Hours, for Messages relating to Sickness, Death, or other Urgent Matters.

Telegrams relating to sickness, or death, or other urgent matters (but expressly excluding those relating to wagers or bets) may be accepted and transmitted from any to any telegraph or telephone office at any time outside the ordinary hours of business on week-days or Sundays (provided the attention of the terminal office can be obtained) on prepayment of the following rates and fees:
Where the Postmaster is resident on the premises:
Outside ordinary hours : Reopening fee, 1s.; special-delivery fee, 1s.; tariff, ordinary.
On Sundays and holidays, outside the hours prescribed for telegraph business: Reopening fee, 1s.; special-delivery fee, 1s.; tariff, Sunday or holiday, as the case may be.

Where the Postmaster is not resident on the premises:
Outside ordinary hours: Reopening fee, 2s. 6d.; special-delivery fee, 1s.; tariff, ordinary.
On Sundays and holidays, outside the hours prescribed for telegraph business: Reopening fee, 2s. 6d.; special-delivery fee, 1s.; tariff, Sunday or holiday, as the case may be.

When in attendance for Press, testing, or departmental business, other than telegraphic: Reopening fee, nil; special-delivery fee, 1s.; tariff, ordinary.
The reopening fee shall be charged on one telegram alone if more telegrams than one are handed in together by the same person. The special-delivery fee includes the charge for reopening the receiving office—namely, the office which receives the message from the forwarding office, and for effecting delivery of the message within the free delivery.