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In force since 1908-12-21, as the publisher states.
Copy read on 2026-11-09. The page it was read from
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.
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Post Office Act 1908 1908 Chapter 48 An Act to consolidate Enactments relating to the Post Office. [21st December 1908] Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Propose a changeSubject to the provisions of this Act, there shall be charged by the Postmaster-General for the use of His Majesty the King on all postal packets which are conveyed or delivered for conveyance by post under the authority of the Postmaster-General such postage and other sums as may be fixed in manner provided by this Act.
Propose a change(1) The Treasury may, by warrant, fix the rates of postage and other sums to be charged in respect of postal packets under this Act, and regulate the scale of weights and the circumstances according to which those rates and sums are to be charged, and the power of the Postmaster-General, with or without the consent of the Treasury, to remit any such rates or sums : Provided that— (a) The lowest rate of postage in the British Islands for an inland letter shall not be less than one penny ; and (b) The highest rate of postage in the British Islands when prepaid— (i) for an inland post card shall not exceed one halfpenny; or, if it is a reply post card (that is to say, a post card of such a description that the person receiving it through the post can, without further payment, again transmit the same or part thereof through the post), double that sum ; and (ii) for an inland book packet shall not exceed one halfpenny for every two ounces in weight, or for any fractional part of two ounces over and above the first or any additional two ounces ; and (iii) for each inland registered newspaper, whether with or without a supplement or supplements, and whether single or in a packet of two or more, shall not exceed one halfpenny; but (iv) for an inland packet of two or more registered newspapers, with or without a supplement or supplements, shall not exceed the prepaid postage for an inland book packet of the same weight; and (c) The highest rate of prepaid postage on a single newspaper sent by post between the British Islands and places out of the British Islands or between places out of the British Islands whether through the British Islands or not, shall not exceed threepence, exclusive of any additional charge made by any British possession or any foreign country : (d) A warrant under this section may fix special rates for postal packets consisting of books and papers impressed for the use of the blind, and may specify any special conditions and regulations in respect of the transmission by post of such packets. (2) Where an inland letter or packet (other than votes or parliamentary proceedings) in the British Islands is not prepaid, or is insufficiently prepaid, the postage charged on the letter or packet shall, subject to any warrant of the Treasury under this Act, be double the amount, if the letter or packet is not prepaid, of the postage otherwise chargeable thereon, and, if it is insufficiently prepaid, of the deficiency. (3) Post Office regulations may determine— (a) what circulars or what commercial, legal, and other similar documents; and (b) what marks or indications referring to the contents of a registered newspaper, when written or printed on the newspaper or on the cover thereof, shall not be charged with postage as letters. (4) Post Office regulations may make provisions respecting the re-direction of postal packets, and the transmission of postal packets so re-directed, either free of charge or subject to such postage as may be specified in the regulations.
Propose a change(1) Where the postage or any other sum chargeable on any postal packet is not prepaid by the sender or is insufficiently prepaid, the postage or sum, or the deficiency, as the case may be, shall be paid by the person to whom the postal packet is addressed (in this Act styled the addressee) on the delivery thereof to him; or, if the postal packet is refused, or the addressee is dead or cannot be found, by the sender. (2) Where the postage or any other sum chargeable on a postal packet has not been prepaid or has been insufficiently prepaid by the sender, and the addressee on receiving the packet and paying the postage or other sum, or the deficiency, as the case may be, desires to reject it, and to compel the sender thereof to pay the postage or other sum, or the deficiency, as the case may be, the Postmaster-General, on the application of the addressee, and subject to Post Office regulations, may charge the postage or other sum, or the deficiency, as the case may be, to the sender, with the additional postage of returning the packet to him, and in every such case the sender of the postal packet shall pay the postage or other sum chargeable on sending the packet, or the deficiency, as the case may be, and also the postage of returning the packet, and on the payment thereof by the sender the amount paid in respect of postage by the addressee shall be repaid to him by the Postmaster-General. (3) Provided that nothing in this section shall release the addressee from his liability to pay the postage or other sum chargeable on a packet or any deficiency thereon on the delivery thereof to him.
Propose a changeWhere an arrangement has, either before or after the passing of this Act, been made by His Majesty with any foreign state with respect to the conveyance by post of any postal packets between the British Islands and places out of the British Islands, or between places out of the British Islands whether through the British Islands or not, the Treasury may, by warrant, make such regulations as may seem to them necessary for carrying the arrangement into effect, and may make provisions as to the charges for the transit of postal packets, single or in bulk, and the scale of weights to be adopted, and the accounting for and paying over to any foreign state of any money received by the Postmaster-General.
Propose a change(1) Petitions and addresses forwarded to His Majesty by post shall be exempt from postage. (2) Members of each House of Parliament may receive by post petitions and addresses to His Majesty, and petitions addressed to either House of Parliament, not exceeding thirty-two ounces in weight, exempt from postage, provided those petitions and addresses are sent without covers, or in covers open at the sides. (3) Where in the British Islands any votes or parliamentary proceedings are sent by post addressed to places in the British Islands and are not prepaid, or are insufficiently prepaid, the postage charged on them shall, subject to any warrant of the Treasury under this Act, be, if they have not been prepaid, the postage which would otherwise be chargeable on them, and, if they have been insufficiently prepaid, the deficiency in the postage.
Propose a change(1) Any of the privileged persons herein-after mentioned may send and receive letters, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, by post, or by private ships between the British Islands and places beyond the seas, on their own private concerns, at a postage of one penny for each letter when prepaid, subject in the case of letters sent by private ship to the payment of the gratuities payable to the master of the ship. (2) The enjoyment of the privilege shall be subject to the following provisions :— (a) The postage of any such letters sent by a privileged person (unless sent from parts beyond the sea) must be duly prepaid on the letter being posted : (b) In the case of letters sent by a privileged person the name of the writer and his class or description in the vessel, regiment, corps, or detachment, to which he belongs must appear with the direction on the letter, and the name of the vessel, regiment, corps, or detachment, to which the privileged person belongs, and the signature of the officer commanding it, must be written on the letter by the said officer in his own handwriting : (c) The postage on any such letter to be received by a privileged person (unless sent from parts beyond the sea) must have been duly prepaid on the letter being posted: (d) Any such letter to be received by a privileged person must be directed to that person, and the vessel, regiment, corps, or detachment to which he belongs must be specified in the direction : (e) Any such letter to be received by a privileged person must not be delivered to any person except the privileged person to whom it is addressed, or to some person authorised in writing to receive the letter by the officer in command : (f) Where any such letters are sent or received by privileged persons from parts beyond the seas and the postage of one penny is not prepaid, every such letter shall be charged to the party receiving the letter with the postage of twopence. (3) A Treasury warrant under this Act with respect to rates of postage shall, if necessary provide for the delivery of letters of privileged persons on their own private affairs (not exceeding, in the case of privileged persons, other than such commissioned and warrant officers and midshipmen and master's mates as are herein-after mentioned, half an ounce in weight) free from any postage in respect of re-direction. (4) The privileged persons for the purpose of this section shall be the following persons, whilst actually employed in His Majesty's service whether at home or abroad ; namely,— For all purposes every non-commissioned officer (not being a warrant officer) every band-master, school-master, and soldier in any of His Majesty's regular forces within the meaning of the Army Act, any special reservists within the meaning of Part III. of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, 1907, every seaman in His Majesty's navy or Indian marine service, and as regards re-direction every officer commissioned or not in the said regular forces, every commissioned officer in the special reserve of officers, and every non-commissioned officer in any body of special reservists, and every officer, commissioned or not, in the said navy or marine service, and every midshipman and master's mate in His Majesty's navy. (5) If any commanding officer authorised to write his name and the name of the vessel, regiment, corps, or detachment commanded by him on the letter of a privileged person under this section wilfully writes his name upon a letter that is not from and on the private concerns only of a privileged person, he shall for each offence be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five pounds. (6) If any person— (a) not having at the time the command of any vessel, regiment, corps, or detachment, to which a privileged person belongs, writes his name upon a letter in order that it may be sent at a lower rate of postage than by law established ; or (b) procures a privileged person to obtain the signature of his commanding officer upon a letter which is not from that privileged person and upon his private concerns only, in order to avoid the payment of the postage by law established ; or (c) wilfully addresses a letter to a privileged person which is intended for another person or concerns the affairs of another person with intent to evade the payment of the postage by law established ; he shall for each offence be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five pounds. (7) If any privileged person obtains the signature of his commanding officer upon a letter which is not from that person and upon his private concerns only in order to avoid the payment of the postage by law established, he shall for each offence be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five pounds.
Propose a change(1) All postage and other sums payable under this Act in respect of postal packets may be recovered in like manner as any duties granted to His Majesty by any Act relating to His Majesty's revenue are recoverable by law, and in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man as a debt due to the Crown. (2) Where any sum not exceeding twenty pounds is due from any person for postage or in respect of postal packets, that sum may be recovered in the United Kingdom summarily as a civil debt. (3) Where any sum not exceeding fifty pounds is due from any person for postage or in respect of postal packets, it may be recovered in Ireland, without prejudice to any other mode of recovery, in the civil bill court.
Propose a changeIn any proceeding for the recovery of postage or other sums in respect of postal packets— (1) the production of any postal packet in respect of which any such postage or sum is sought to be recovered, having thereupon a Post Office stamp denoting that the packet has been refused or rejected, or that the addressee was dead or could not be found, shall be prima" facie evidence of the fact denoted ; and (2) the person from whom any postal packet in respect of which any such postage or sum is sought to be recovered purports to have come shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to be the sender of the packet.
Propose a changeThe official mark of any sum on any postal packet as due to the Post Office, British, colonial, or foreign, in respect of that packet, shall in every British court, whether within or without the United Kingdom, be received as evidence of the liability of the packet to the sum so marked, and the sum shall be recoverable in any such court as postage due to His Majesty.
Propose a changeAll duties of postage and other sums in respect of postal packets payable in pursuance of this Act, or any warrant or regulations made under this Act, shall be chargeable as stamp duties, and all enactments relating to stamp duties shall apply accordingly.
Propose a changeThe Commissioners of Inland Revenue may, under regulations made or sanctioned by the Treasury, stamp any paper sent to them for the purpose of being stamped as covers or envelopes of letters or packets with stamps denoting the several rates of postage on payment of the amount of the stamps required to be impressed on the paper, and (unless the amount exceeds ten pounds) upon payment of such fee in addition as the Treasury may direct.
Propose a changeAll postal packets shall be posted, forwarded, conveyed, and delivered subject to such provisions, conditions, prohibitions, and restrictions respecting the time and mode of posting and delivery, and of the payment of postage and other sums in respect thereof chargeable under this Act or any warrant or regulations made under this Act, and respecting the registration of, and giving receipts for, and giving and obtaining certificates of posting and delivery of, any postal packet, and the sums to be paid in addition to any other postage for that registration, receipt, or certificate, and respecting stamps, covers, form, dimensions, maximum weight, inclosures, the use of packets (other than letters) for making communications, and otherwise, as may be directed by Post Office regulations.
Propose a changeThe registration of or giving a receipt for a postal packet, or the giving or obtaining of a certificate of posting or delivery of a postal packet, shall not render the Postmaster-General or the Post Office revenue in any manner liable for the loss of the packet or the contents thereof.
Propose a changeThe Postmaster-General, with the consent of the Treasury, may, either generally or in the case of any particular person, authorise— (a) letters or other postal packets to be sent, conveyed, and delivered otherwise than by post; and (b) the collection otherwise than by an officer of the Post Office of any letters or other postal packets, whether to be so sent or to be sent by post, but the authority shall be subject in every case to such provisions, conditions, prohibitions, and restrictions as are specified in Post Office regulations.
Propose a changeWhere the despatch or delivery from a post office of letters would be delayed by the despatch or delivery therefrom at the same time of book packets, pattern or sample packets, and post cards, or any of them, those packets, or cards, or any of them, may, subject and according to Post Office regulations, be detained in the post office until the despatch or delivery next following that by which they would ordinarily be despatched or delivered.
Propose a changePost Office regulations may be made for preventing the sending or delivery by post of indecent or obscene prints, paintings, photographs, lithographs, engravings, books, or cards, or of other indecent or obscene articles, or of letters, newspapers, supplements, publications, packets, or post cards having thereon, or on the covers thereof, any words, marks, or designs of an indecent, obscene, libellous, or grossly offensive character.
Propose a changeIf any postal packet is posted or sent by post in contravention of this Act, or of any warrant or regulations made thereunder, the transmission thereof may be refused, and the packet may, if necessary, be detained and opened in the Post Office, and shall be either returned to the sender thereof, or forwarded to its destination, in either case charged with such additional postage at a rate not exceeding the letter rate of postage, or without any additional charge, as Post Office regulations may direct.
Propose a changeThe Postmaster-General may detain any postal packet suspected to contain any contraband goods, and forward the packet to the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs, and those Commissioners, in the presence of the person to whom the packet is addressed, or if, after notice in writing from them, requiring his attendance, left at or forwarded by post to the address on the packet, he fails to attend, then in his absence, may open and examine the packet, and, if they find any contraband goods, may detain the packet and its contents for the purpose of prosecution ; and, if they find no contraband goods, shall either deliver the packet to the person to whom it is addressed, upon his paying the postage, if any, chargeable thereon, or, if he is absent, shall forward the packet to him by post.
Propose a changeIf any question arises whether any postal packet is a letter or any other description of postal packet within the meaning of this Act, or any warrant or regulations made under this Act, the decision thereon of the Postmaster-General shall be final, save that the Treasury may, if they think fit, on the application of any person interested, reverse or modify the decision, and order accordingly.
Propose a change(1) For the purpose of the registration of newspapers under this Act, any publication consisting wholly or in great part of political or other news, or of articles relating thereto, or ' to other current topics, with or without advertisements, shall be deemed a newspaper; subject to these conditions— (a) that it be printed and published in the British Islands ; (b) that it be published in numbers at intervals of not more than seven days ; (c) that it have the full title and date of publication printed at the top of the first page, and the whole or part of the title and the date of publication printed at the top of every subsequent page. (2) For the same purpose, the following shall be deemed a supplement to a newspaper, (that is to say) a publication consisting wholly or in great part of matter like that of a newspaper, or of advertisements, printed on a sheet or sheets or a piece or pieces of paper, or consisting wholly or in part of engravings, prints, or lithographs illustrative of articles in the newspaper ; the publication in every case being published with the newspaper, and having the whole or part of the title of the newspaper printed at the top of every page, or at the top of every sheet or side on which any such engraving, print, or lithograph appears. Provided that— (a) Post Office regulations may modify the foregoing provisions so far as they apply to a supplement which consists wholly of engravings, prints, or lithographs illustrative of articles in the newspaper; and (b) All sheets of a supplement shall be put together in some one part of the newspaper, whether gummed or stitched up with the newspaper or not. (3) Although newspapers may be sent by post, it shall not be compulsory to send them by post.
Propose a change(1) The proprietor or printer of any newspaper within the description aforesaid, and the proprietor or printer of any publication which, regard being had to the proportion of advertisements to other matter therein, is not within the description aforesaid, but which was stamped as a newspaper before the fifteenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, may register it at the General Post Office in London, at such time in each year and in such form and with such particulars as the Postmaster-General directs, paying on each registration such fee not exceeding five shillings as Post Office regulations direct. (2) The Postmaster-General may from time to time revise the register and remove therefrom any publication not being a newspaper. (3) The decision of the Postmaster-General on the admission to or removal from the register of a publication shall be final, save that the Treasury may, if they think fit, on the application of any person interested, reverse or modify the decision, and order accordingly. (4) Any publication for the time being on the register shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed a registered newspaper.
Propose a changeA registered newspaper shall be deemed a newspaper for the purposes of any arrangement or convention between His Majesty's Government and the government of any British possession or foreign state for securing advantages for newspapers sent by post.
Propose a change(1) So long as the Treasury think fit, the Postmaster-General may provide for the remission of small sums of money through the Post Office by means of money orders, and may demand and receive for the use of His Majesty in respect of those money orders such rates of poundage as may be fixed by Post Office regulations, and all poundage so received shall be deemed to be part of the Post Office revenue. (2) Post Office regulations may make provisions with respect to money orders, and to the payment thereof, and to the persons by or to whom they are to be paid, and the times at which and the mode in which they are to be paid. (3) Subject to the said regulations the Postmaster-General may repay the amount of any money order to the person to whom the order is issued, or his executors or administrators, whether the order remains in the possession of that person or not, and upon that repayment all liability on the part of the Postmaster-General, or any officer of the Post Office, or the Post Office revenue, or the Consolidated Fund, in respect of the money order shall, as against the payee of the money order, and the holder thereof, and every other person whomsoever, absolutelv cease. (4) No action or other legal proceeding shall be instituted against the Postmaster-General or any officer of the Post Office, or any person whomsoever, in respect of any compliance with the said regulations, or otherwise in relation thereto, or in respect of the payment of any such money orders being refused or delayed by or on account of any accidental neglect, omission, or mistake, by or on the part of any officer of the Post Office, or for any other cause whatsoever, without fraud or wilful mis-behavioxir on the part of any such officer of the Post Office.
Propose a change(1) The Postmaster-General, with the consent of the Treasury, may authorise his officers or any of them to issue money orders in a special form to be prescribed from time to time by the regulations made under the preceding section, and those money orders (in this Act referred to as postal orders) shall be paid in the manner and subject to the conditions prescribed by the said regulations. Provided that— (a) A postal order shall be for one of the amounts prescribed by the regulations not exceeding twenty-one shillings, and the poundage shall not exceed twopence: (b) A postal order shall not be issued until the amount of the order and the poundage have been paid to the officer issuing the order : (c) After the expiration of three months from the last day of the month in which a postal order is issued by the Post Office, the order shall be payable only on payment in manner prescribed by the regulations of a commission equal to the amount of the original poundage. (2) No interest shall be payable in respect of any postal order. (3) If the regulations so provide, the Postmaster-General may authorise any person holding office under the Crown to issue postal orders, and a person so authorised shall, for the purpose of the issue and payment of postal orders, be deemed to be an officer of the Postmaster-General and of the Post Office within the meaning of this Act.
Propose a changeAny banker or corporation or company acting as bankers in the British Islands who, in collecting in that capacity for any principal, shall have received payment or been allowed by the Postmaster-General in account in respect of any postal order, or of any document purporting to be a postal order, shall not incur liability to anyone except that principal by reason of having received the payment or allowance, or having held or presented the order or document for payment; but this section shall not relieve any principal for whom any such order or document has been so held or presented of any liability in respect of his possession of the order or document or of the proceeds thereof.
Propose a change(1) Every master of a vessel outward bound shall receive on board his vessel every mail bag tendered to him by an officer of the Post Office for conveyance, and having received it shall deliver it, on arriving at the port or place of his destination, without delay. (2) If he fails to comply with this section he shall forfeit two hundred pounds.
Propose a change(1) Every master of a vessel inward bound shall collect all postal packets on board his vessel being within the exclusive privilege of the Postmaster-General, and not being letters by his Act defined as shipowners' letters, and inclose them in some bag or other covering, sealed with his seal, and addressed to the Postmaster-General, and without delay deliver those packets to the proper officer of the Post Office demanding them, or, if no demand is made by that officer, then at the Post Office with which he can first communicate. (2) The master of every such vessel shall, at the port where the vessel reports, sign, in the presence of the proper officer of the Post Office or other person authorised by the Postmaster-General, a declaration of compliance with this Act (which may be in the form contained in the First Schedule to this Act), and shall not break bulk or make entry of any part of her cargo in any port until he has complied with this section. The declaration shall also be signed by the person in whose presence it is made. (3) If the master of a vessel does not duly deliver any postal packets in accordance with this section, he shall forfeit two hundred pounds. (4) If the master of a vessel refuses or wilfully neglects tc make the declaration required by this section, he shall forfeit fifty pounds. (5) If the master of a vessel breaks bulk or makes entry before the postal packets on board his vessel have been delivered in accordance with this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds.
Propose a change(1) If a master of a vessel— (a) opens a sealed mail bag with which he is entrusted for conveyance ; or (b) takes out of a mail bag with which he is entrusted for conveyance any postal packet or other thing, he shall forfeit two hundred pounds. (2) If any person to whom postal packets have been entrusted by the master of a vessel to bring on shore breaks the seal, or in any manner wilfully opens them, he shall on summary conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds.
Propose a change(1) An officer of customs shall not allow any inward-bound vessel to report until the declaration required by this Act with, respect to postal packets has been made and produced to him, and may refuse to permit bulk to be broken on board such a vessel or entry to be made of any part of her cargo until the postal packets on board the vessel have been delivered as required by this Act, and may search every such vessel for postal packets which may be on board contrary to this Act, and may seize the same and forward them to the nearest post office. (2) If any officer of customs permits any vessel to report before the requisites of this Act have been complied with, he shall forfeit fifty pounds.
Propose a change(1) The following letters (in this Act referred to as shipowners' letters), that is to say, letters of the owners, charterers, or consignees of vessels inward bound, and of the owners, consignees, or shippers of goods on board those vessels, when not exceeding the weights and when complying with the conditions herein-after mentioned, shall— (a) if required to be delivered at the port of the vessel's arrival, be delivered to the owners, charterers, consignees, or shippers by the master free of inland postage, and the persons to whom they are to be delivered shall be entitled to the delivery thereof before the delivery of the other letters to the Post Office; and (b) if delivered elsewhere in the British Islands, be delivered by post on payment of inland postage only, but subject in either case to the previous payment to the Post Office of the gratuities payable under this Act to masters of vessels bringing the letters. (2) Provided that— (a) The letters brought by any one vessel to any one such person shall not collectively exceed six ounces in weight (except in the case of letters brought by vessels coming from Ceylon, the Mauritius, India, or the Cape of Good Hope, into any port of the British Islands for an owner, charterer, or consignee of such a vessel, in which case they may be collectively twenty ounces in weight); and (b) The owner, charterer, or consignee shall be described as such on the address and superscription; and (c) In the case of owners, shippers, or consignees of goods, it shall also appear by the ship's manifest that they have goods on board the vessel. (3) If any shipowners' letters are found by an officer of customs to be in excess of the weights herein-before limited by this section, that officer shall seize so many of the letters as will reduce the remainder within the said weights, and shall take them to the nearest post office. (4) If any person with intent to evade any postage falsely superscribes a letter as being the owner or charterer or consignee of the vessel conveying the letter, or as the owner or the shipper or the consignee of goods shipped on the vessel, he shall for each offence be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
Propose a changePost Office regulations may provide for the allowance to masters of vessels in respect of postal packets, or any description thereof, conveyed by them on behalf of the Post Office, and also to pilots, seamen, and others in respect of postal packets, or any description thereof, brought by them to any post office from any vessels, of such gratuities under such conditions and restrictions as the Postmaster-General may, from time to time, think fit.
Propose a changeIf any person, being either the master or one of the officers or crew of a vessel inward bound, or a passenger thereof, knowingly has in his baggage or in his possession or custody any postal packet, except a postal packet not within the privilege of the Postmaster-General, after the master has sent any part of the postal packets on board his vessel to the Post Office, he shall for every such packet be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five pounds; and, if he detains any such packet after demand made, either by an officer of customs or by any person authorised by the Postmaster-General to demand the postal packets on board the vessel, he shall for every postal packet be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
Propose a change(1) Any person from time to time appointed by His Majesty by letters patent shall be the master of the Post Office by the style of His Majesty's Postmaster-General. (2) Upon and by virtue of the appointment of any person to be His Majesty's Postmaster-General the benefit of all contracts, bonds, securities, and things in action, vested in his predecessor at the time of the predecessor ceasing to hold office, shall be transferred to and vested in, and ensure for the benefit of, the person so appointed, in the same manner as if he had been contracted with instead of his predecessor, and as if his name had been inserted in all such contracts, bonds, and securities instead of the name of his predecessor.
Propose a change(1) The Postmaster-General may establish posts and post offices as he thinks expedient, and may collect, receive, forward, convey, and deliver in such manner as he thinks expedient, all postal packets transmitted within or to or from the British Islands or any British possession, subject nevertheless to the provisions contained in this Act. (2) Subject to the provisions contained in this Act with respect to British possessions, the Postmaster-General shall, wheresoever within His Majesty's dominions posts or post communications are for the time being established, have the exclusive privilege of conveying from one place to another all letters, except in the following cases, and shall also have the exclusive privilege of performing all the incidental services of receiving, collecting, sending, despatching, and delivering all letters, except in the following cases (that is to say) :— (a) Letters sent by a private friend in his way, journey, or travel, so as those letters be delivered by that friend to the person to whom they are directed : (b) Letters sent by a messenger on purpose, concerning the private affairs of the sender or receiver thereof: (c) Commissions or returns thereof, and affidavits and writs, process or proceedings, or returns thereof, issuing out of a court of justice : (d) Letters sent out of the British Islands by a private vessel (not being a vessel carrying postal packets under contract) : (e) Letters of merchants, owners of vessels of merchandise, or the cargo or loading therein, sent by those vessels of merchandise or by any person employed by those owners for the carriage of those letters, according to their respective directions, and delivered to the respective persons to whom they are directed, without paying or receiving hire or reward, advantage, or profit for the same in anywise : (f) Letters concerning goods or merchandise sent by common known carriers, to be delivered with the goods which those letters concern, without hire or reward or other profit or advantage for receiving or delivering those letters : But nothing herein contained shall authorise any person to make a collection of those excepted letters for the purpose of sending them, in the manner hereby authorised. (3) Subject as aforesaid, the following persons are expressly forbidden to carry a letter, or to receive or collect or deliver a letter, although they do not receive hire or reward for it (that is to say) :— (i) Common known carriers, their servants or agents, except a letter concerning goods in their carts or waggons or on their pack horses, and owners, drivers, or guards of stage coaches : (ii) Owners, masters, or commanders of ships, vessels, or steam boats, sailing or passing coastwise or otherwise between ports or places within the British Islands, or between, to, or from any ports within His Majesty's dominions out of the British Islands, or their servants or agents, except in respect of letters of merchants, owners of ships, or goods on board : (iii) Passengers or other persons on board any such ship, vessel, or steam boat: (iv) The owners of, or sailors, watermen, or others on board, a ship, vessel, steam boat, or other boat or barge passing or repassing on a river or navigable canal within His Majesty's dominions. (4) If any person not authorised by or in pursuance of this Act does any of the following things, namely, sends or causes to be sent, or tenders or delivers in order to be sent, or conveys, or performs any service incidental to conveying, otherwise than by post, any letter not excepted from the exclusive privilege of the Postmaster-General, or makes a collection of those excepted letters for the purpose of conveying or sending them either by post or otherwise, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five pounds for every letter. (5) If any person is in the practice of doing any of the said things, he shall forfeit for every week during which the practice is continued one hundred pounds. (6) The expression “post ” shall in this section include all post communications by land or by water (except by outward-bound vessels not being employed by or under the Post Office or the Admiralty to carry postal packets) ; and the above fines and forfeitures shall be incurred whether the letter is sent singly or with anything else, or the incidental service is performed in respect to a letter either sent or to be sent singly or together with some other letter or thing ; and in any proceeding for the recovery of any such fine and forfeiture it shall lie upon the person proceeded against to prove that the act in respect of which the fine or forfeiture is alleged to have been incurred was done in conformity with this Act. (7) For the purposes of this section the expression “letter ” shall include packet.
Propose a change(1) Any instrument requiring to be executed by the Postmaster-General, or to which he is a party, may be executed by any of the secretaries of the Post Office in the name of the Postmaster-General, and, if so executed, shall be deemed to have been executed by the Postmaster-General, and shall have effect accordingly. (2) Any instrument purporting to be so executed shall, until the contrary is proved, fee deemed to have been duly executed without proof of the official character of the person appearing to have executed it.
Propose a changeThe Documentary Evidence Act, 1868, as extended by the Documentary Evidence Act, 1882, shall have effect— (a) as if the Postmaster-General were mentioned in the first column, and any secretary or assistant secretary of the Post Office were mentioned in the second column, of the schedule to the former Act; and (b) as if a warrant of the Treasury under this Act were mentioned in the second section of the former Act as well as an order.
Propose a changeAny person having authority in that behalf, either general or special, under the seal of the Postmaster-General, may, on behalf of the Postmaster-General, give any notice or make any claim, demand, entry, or distress, which, the Postmaster-General in his corporate capacity or otherwise might give or make, and every such notice, claim, demand, entry, and distress, shall be deemed to have been given and made by the Postmaster-General on behalf of His Majesty.
Propose a changeEvery deed, instrument, money order, bill, cheque, receipt, or other document, made or executed for the purpose of the Post Office by, to, or with, His Majesty or any officer of the Post Office, shall be exempt from any stamp duty imposed by any Act, past or future, except where that duty is declared by the document, or by some memorandum endorsed thereon, to be payable by some person other than the Postmaster-General, and except so far as any future Act specifically charges the duty.
Propose a changeAnd to the intent that the inheritance of such part of the hereditary revenue of the Crown arising in and by the General Post Office which is vested in His Majesty may be preserved in the Crown for the future benefit thereof, be it enacted and declared that the same or any part thereof shall not hereafter be alienable, chargeable, or grantable, by His Majesty, his heirs or successors, for any estate, term, or time whatsoever to endure longer than the life of His Majesty, or of such king or queen as shall make the alienation, charge, or grant, and that all gifts, grants, alienations, and assurances whatsoever to be had or made of, and charges upon, the said duties or revenue, or any part thereof, contrary to the provisions of this Act, shall be null and void without any inquisition, scire facias, or other proceeding to determine, or make void the same.
Propose a change