Post Office Amendment Act 113 of 1976

The Post Office Amendment Act 113 of 1976 intends:

• to amend the provisions of the Post Office Act, 1958, relating to definitions;
• in order to determine more closely the places and services over which the Postmaster-General has supervision and control;
• to designate the Postmaster-General as the accounting officer of his department;
• to define more closely the general powers of the Postmaster-General;
• to provide for the write-off of certain debts and for the delegation of powers by the Postmaster-General;
• to repeal certain provisions relating to the ratification by Parliament of ocean mail contracts and relating to the conveyance of post and postal officers;
• to provide for financial measures with respect to the operation of the Department of Posts and Telecommunications;
• to exempt the master or agent of certain vessels from complying with certain provisions of the said Act;
• to repeal certain provisions relating to postal drafts and certain prescribed instruments;
• to redetermine the limitations on deposits in the Savings Bank;
• to define more closely the manner in which deposits in the Savings Bank shall be repaid;
• to change the basis on which trust deposits may be made and the transfer of deposits from or to another country may be effected;
• to change the basis on which Savings Bank certificates may be issued;
• to repeal certain provisions relating to the payment of prescribed fees for Savings Bank certificates;
• to change the basis on which interests on Savings Bank certificates is fixed and paid;
• to provide for inactive Savings Bank accounts;
• to transfer from the Postmaster-General to the Minister the power to make regulations as to National Savings Certificates and to extend that power;
• to empower the Minister to make regulations as to the Savings Bank;
• to extend the powers of the Postmaster-General with regard to the use of telecommunications lines;
• to apply the order of transmission also to tele phonic communications;
• to alter the penalty in respect of offences;
• to provide for the removal, examination and destruction or certain articles;
• to make the forgery and uttering of a delivery slip and certain acts with regards to telephonic communications statutory offences;
• to make the payment of compensation applicable also in  respect of any deposit and damage to a postal article;
• to empower the Minister to make regulations as to financial, postal, telecommunications, money transfer and other matters;
• to empower the Postmaster-General to issue instructions with respect to certain matters; and
• to provide for incidental matters.

Commencement

• 1 October 1976, except ss. 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26 and 28 (Gazette 5300 of 1 October 1976)
• 3 February 1978, Ss. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25. 26 and 28 (Gazette  5877 of 3 February 1978)
• 1 February 1984, Ss. 7 and 8 (Gazette 9042 of 27 January 1984)