P. AND T. MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1922, Page 2

P. AND T. MATTERS.

AMENDING THE ACT. An amendment Bill relating to Post and Telegraph affairs was introduced in the House of Representatives. It proposes that the Postal Department shall have power to charge a customs clearance fee of not more than sixpence per packet on postal packets containing dutiable goods. Authority is to be given the Department to lay pneumatic tubes under streets for the conveyance of postal matter. Any person who falsely represents himself to be an officer of the Department is to be liable to imprisonment tor one year or a fine of £lOO. A clause of the 1913 Act, which made it an offence when using a telephone to impersonate any person with intent to mislead or defraud, is to be repealed and replaced by a section declaring it an offence to “make any false statement when using a telephone under the control or management of the Minister with intent that some other person should act on such false statement to his substantial detriment.” Extended powers are given the Minis ter to make regulations for the control of wireless telegraphy. A final clause gives the Government general power to make regulations for the purpose of giving full effect to the provisions of the principal Act.