Post Office Act [Cap 113]

1. SHORT TITLE
2. INTERPRETATION
3. MEANING OF "IN COURSE OF TRANSMISSION BY POST" AND "DELIVERY TO OR FROM A POST OFFICE"
4. ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT
5. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS
6. ESTABLISHMENT OF POST OFFICES AND AGENCIES FOR POSTAL AND OTHER SERVICES AND OPERATION OF POSTAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS
7. REGULATIONS
8. THE COMPTROLLER MAY ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS
9. THE COMPTROLLER MAY ENTER INTO INTERNAL MAIL CONTRACTS
10. THE COMPTROLLER MAY ENTER INTO EXTERNAL MAIL CONTRACTS
11. EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGE OF THE MINISTER
12. NO LETTERS TO BE CONVEYED EXCEPT BY POST
13. EXEMPTION FROM LIABILITY FOR LOSS, MISDELIVERY, DELAY OR DAMAGE
14. POSTAGE STAMPS
15. STAMPING AND FRANKING MACHINES
16. INVALIDATION OF POSTAGE STAMPS
17. STAMPED LETTER-CARDS, POST-CARDS, ENVELOPES, ETC
18. RATES OF POSTAGE
19. EXEMPTIONS FROM POSTAGE
20. LIABILITY FOR PAYMENT OF POSTAGE
21. POWER TO WITHHOLD UNSTAMPED POSTAL PACKET
22. POST OFFICE MARK EVIDENCE OF REFUSAL
23. OFFICIAL MARK TO BE EVIDENCE OF POSTAGE
24. RETURN TO SENDER
25. TRANSMISSION OF CERTAIN ARTICLES PROHIBITED
26. TRANSMISSION BY POST OF ANYTHING INDECENT, ETC, OR PACKETS BEARING FICTITIOUS STAMPS PROHIBITED
27. POWER TO OPEN AND DETAIN OR DELAY POSTAL PACKETS
28. POWER TO OPEN POSTAL PACKETS SUSPECTED TO CONTAIN DUTIABLE GOODS
29. REGISTRATION OF POSTAL PACKETS
30. INSURANCE OF POSTAL PACKETS
31. POSTAL PACKETS AT HOTELS, ETC. REMAINING UNDELIVERED
32. MONEY ORDERS
33. POWER TO REMITTER TO ALTER NAME OR TO RECALL MONEY ORDER
34. POWER TO PROVIDE FOR ISSUE OF POSTAL ORDERS
35. MONEY ORDER OFFICES
36. RECOVERY OF MONEY PAID TO WRONG PERSONS
37. EXEMPTION FROM LIABILITY IN RESPECT OF MONEY ORDERS AND POSTAL ORDERS
38. UNISSUED POSTAL ORDERS
39. NOTICE OF DEPARTURE OF VESSELS
40. PENALTY FOR REFUSING TO RECEIVE MAIL BAG ON BOARD
41. PAYMENT FOR CONVEYANCE OF MAIL BAGS BY NON-CONTRACT VESSELS
42. NO PAYMENT FOR CONVEYANCE OF MAIL BAGS ALREADY PAID FOR AT PORT OF DEPARTURE
43. ALL MAIL BAGS AND POSTAL PACKETS ARRIVING BY VESSEL TO BE DELIVERED TO POST OFFICE BY MASTER
44. DECLARATION TO BE MADE BY MASTERS OF VESSELS ON ARRIVAL OF VESSELS
45. CONVEYANCE OF MAIL BAGS BY COASTING VESSELS
46. LOCKERS TO BE PROVIDED BY VESSELS AND VEHICLES UNDER CONTRACT
47. PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENTION OF SECTION 11
48. PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENTION OF SECTIONS 25 AND 26
49. FRAUDULENTLY ISSUING MONEY ORDERS OR POSTAL ORDERS
50. MONEY ORDER OR POSTAL ORDER TO BE DEEMED A VALUABLE SECURITY
51. UNLAWFULLY TAKING AWAY OR OPENING MAIL BAG SENT BY VESSELS OR VEHICLES EMPLOYED UNDER POST OFFICE
52. RECEIVER OF STOLEN MAIL BAG OR POSTAL PACKET
53. FRAUDULENT DETENTION OF MAIL BAG OR POSTAL PACKET
54. CRIMINAL DIVERSION OF POSTAL PACKET FROM ADDRESSEE
55. OPENING OR DELAYING POSTAL PACKETS
56. DELAYING MAILS, ETC
57. PROHIBITION OF PLACING INJURIOUS SUBSTANCES IN OR AGAINST POST OFFICE LETTER BOXES
58. PROHIBITION OF AFFIXING PLACARDS, NOTICES, ETC. ON POST OFFICE LETTER BOXES, ETC
59. PROHIBITION OF IMITATION OF POST OFFICE STAMPS, ENVELOPES, FORMS AND MARKS
60. PROHIBITION OF FICTITIOUS STAMPS
61. PROHIBITION OF FALSE NOTICE AS TO RECEPTION OF LETTERS
62. OBSTRUCTION OF OFFICERS
63. OBSTRUCTING MAIL
64. ENDEAVOURING TO PROCURE THE COMMISSION OF ANY OFFENCE
65. FALSELY INDUCING DELIVERY OF LETTERS
66. EVIDENCE OF THING BEING POSTAL PACKET
67. PROVISIONS AS TO FORM OF PROCEEDINGS
68. DESCRIPTION OF OFFICER OF THE POST OFFICE IN INDICTMENT OR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
69. PENALTY FOR BEING IN UNAUTHORISED POSSESSION OF MAIL BAGS, ETC
70. ARTICLE BEARING A FRAUDULENT STAMP MAY BE WITHHELD
71. REMOVING STAMP FROM POSTAL PACKET
72. PENALTY FOR UNLAWFULLY DISCLOSING CONTENTS OF POSTAL PACKET
73. LIMITATION OF ACTION AGAINST OFFICERS
74. PENALTY FOR UNLAWFULLY FRANKING POSTAL PACKETS
75. REPEAL AND SAVING

FIRST SCHEDULE
SECOND SCHEDULE

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Post Office Act.

Interpretation
LN 46A of 1978

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -

Meaning of "in course of transmission by post" and "delivery to or from a post office"

3. For the purposes of this Act-

Administration and control of the Department

4. The administration and control of the Department shall be vested in an officer styled "The Comptroller of Posts and Telecommunications".

Appointment of officers
LN 46A of 1978

5. There shall be appointed a Comptroller of Posts and Telecommunications and such other officers as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The Comptroller and every other officer appointed under this Act may, before entering upon his duties, be required to make and subscribe a declaration before a Magistrate or a justice of the peace (which declaration every such Magistrate or justice of the peace is hereby authorised and required to administer) in the form contained in the First Schedule to this Act.

(3) Any appointment of a person for the purposes of this section -

Establishment of post offices and agencies for postal and other services and operation of postal telecommunications

6. - (1) The Comptroller may from time to time establish post offices or postal agencies and assign to such offices or agencies such postal, telegraphic, telephonic or other such services as he thinks fit and may from time to time add to or withdraw from any such office or agency any of the services for which it was established or is exercising, or close any such office or terminate any such agency.

(2) The Comptroller may from time to time establish and operate postal communications within Solomon Islands in such manner as he thinks fit.

(3) The Comptroller may from time to time make arrangements with any other postal authority for the establishment and operation of postal communications between Solomon Islands and any other country or through Solomon Islands or any other country.

Regulations
LN 46A of 1978
LN 88 of 1978

7. - (1) The Minister may from time to time make regulations for the carrying out of the provisions of this Act and particularly for -

(2) All such regulations shall, in addition to being published in the Gazette, be published in a guide issued by the Minister and known as the Post Office Guide.

(3) The Minister may include in such Post Office Guide-

The Controller may issue instructions

8. The Comptroller may issue such instructions as he may deem necessary for the management of post offices and for the conduct and guidance of officers carrying out the provisions of this Act.

The Controller may enter into internal mail contracts

9. The Comptroller may from time to time enter into such contracts for the conveyance of postal packets by land, coastwise by sea or by air within Solomon Islands as may be deemed necessary or expedient, or for any other public service performed for or by the Department.

The Controller may enter into external mail contracts

10. The Comptroller may enter into contracts in writing with any persons for the conveyance by sea or air of postal packets to and from Solomon Islands.

Exclusive privilege of the Minister
LN 46A of 1978
LN 88 of 1978

11. - (1) Wheresoever postal communications are established under this Act the Minister by himself or by the officers of the post office, shall have the exclusive privilege of conveying from one place to another, whether by land, by sea or by air, 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-

(2) 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, collect or deliver a letter although they do not receive hire or reward for it, that is to say-

No letters to be conveyed except by post

12. - (1) No letters unless exempt by law shall be conveyed into or out of Solomon Islands from or to any place between which and Solomon Islands postal communications are established or be delivered or be distributed in Solomon Islands otherwise than by or through the post.

(2) For the purposes of this section and the preceding section "letters" shall include letter-cards and post-cards.

Exemption from liability for loss, misdelivery, delay or damage

13. - (1) The Government shall not incur any liability by reason of the loss, misdelivery, or delay of or damage to any postal packet.

(2) No officer of the post office shall incur any liability by reason of any such loss, misdelivery, delay or damage unless such officer has knowingly caused the same fraudulently or maliciously or by his wilful act or default.

Postage stamps
LN 46A of 1978

14. The Minister may issue postage stamps of such kinds and denoting such values as he may consider necessary for the purposes of this Act.

Stamping and franking machines

15. - (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Act postage may be prepaid by impressions made by stamping or franking machines used under the direction or by the permission of the Comptroller.

(2) There shall not be posted or conveyed or delivered- by post any postal packet-

(3) No stamping or franking machine impression which is imperfect or mutilated or defaced in any way shall be used in payment of or to denote payment of postage.

(4) The Comptroller may license the use of such stamping or franking machines as he may approve for impressing upon postal packets the sign of postage or stamp values subject to such terms and conditions as he may deem necessary.

(5) Packets bearing impressions made by stamping or franking machines and packets intended to be impressed by stamping or franking machines shall be accepted only at such post offices and within such hours as the Comptroller by notice published in the Gazette may prescribe.

Invalidation of postage stamps
LN 46A of 1978
LN 88 of 1978

16. - (1) The Minister may by notice declare that any issue of postage stamps provided under section 14 shall cease to be valid as from a date to be specified in such notice, such date being not less than six months from the date of such notice, and such issue of postage stamps shall cease to be valid accordingly.

(2) The holder of any postage stamp which has been invalidated in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1) may, within three months of the date on which such postage stamp ceased to be valid, at any post office in Solomon Islands, exchange such postage stamp for a valid postage stamp of equivalent value.

Stamped letter-card, post-card, envelopes, etc

17. - (1) The Comptroller may cause stamped letter-cards, stamped post-cards and stamped envelopes to be made and issued subject to such regulations as he may think fit to make as to the transmission by post, the size and weight of and manner of impressing or printing such cards and envelopes, and any other conditions that he may deem necessary.

Rates of postage

18. Subject to the provisions of this Act there shall be paid on every postal for transmission by post such postage and other sums as may be prescribed, and the postage and all fees, if any, in respect of any postal packet posted within Solomon Islands shall be prepaid by means of postage stamps issued by the Comptroller, not previously used, invalidated, obliterated or defaced, and in default thereof there shall be payable in money at the time of delivery upon such postal packet double the deficiency due thereon and the sum so paid shall be indicated on every such packet in a duly authorised manner.

Provided that -

Exemptions from postage
LN 46A of 1978

19. - (1) All petitions and addresses to Her Majesty or to the Governor-General and all petitions to the National Parliament shall be exempt from postage.

(2) All postal packets containing only returns of births, marriages and deaths transmitted in compliance with the provisions of any law in that behalf by persons whose duty it is to transmit such returns to any officer appointed to receive the same and any other matters which the Minister may from time to time direct shall be exempt from postage.

Liability for payment of postage

20. - (1) The person to whom any postal packet is tendered for delivery on which postage or any other sum is due shall be bound to pay the postage or other sum due on his accepting delivery of the postal packet unless he forthwith returns it unopened.

(2) If any postal packet appears to the satisfaction of the Comptroller to have been maliciously sent for the purpose of annoying the addressee he may remit the postage or the sum due.

(3) If any postal packet on which postage or any other sum chargeable is due is refused or returned as aforesaid or if the addressee is dead or cannot be found then the sender shall be bound to pay the postage or sum due thereon.

Power withhold unstamped postal packet

21. If any person refuses to pay any postage or other sum which he is legally bound to pay in respect of any postal packet the Comptroller or any postmaster may withhold from the person so refusing any such postal packet addressed to that person not being on Her Majesty's service until such postage has been paid.

Post office mark evidence of refusal

22. In every proceeding for the recovery of any postage or other sum alleged to be due under this Act in respect of a postal packet the production of a postal packet having thereon the official mark of the post office denoting that the packet has been refused or unclaimed or that the addressee is dead or cannot be round shall be prima facie evidence of the fact so denoted.

Official mark to be evidence of postage

23. The official mark on a postal packet denoting that any postage or other sum is due in respect thereof to the post office of Solomon Islands or to the post office of the United Kingdom or of any other part of the Commonwealth or foreign country shall be prima facie evidence that the sum denoted as aforesaid is due.

Return to sender

24. No postal packet shall be returned to the writer or sender thereof without either the consent in writing of the person to whom the same is addressed or by order in writing of the Comptroller and in neither case unless the prescribed fee has been paid.

Transmission of certain articles prohibited

25. - (1) Except as otherwise prescribed and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed no person shall send by post any explosive, inflammable, dangerous, filthy, noxious or deleterious substance, any sharp instrument not properly protected or any living creature which is either noxious or likely to injure the postal packets in course of transmission by post or any officer of the post office.

(2) No person shall send by post any packet or thing which is likely to injure postal packets in course of transmission by post or any officer of the post office.

(3) Except as otherwise prescribed and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed no person shall send by post any drug to which the Dangerous Drugs Act applies.

Transmission by post of anything indecent, etc. or packets bearing fictitious stamps prohibited

26. No person shall send by post-

Power to open and detain or delay postal packets
LN 46A of 1978

27. - (1) It shall be lawful for the Minister by warrant under his hand to authorise the Comptroller to open and delay any specified postal packet or all postal packets of any specified class.

(2) It shall be lawful: for the Comptroller or any postmaster to detain and open any postal packet which he has reason to believe contains any article or thing in contravention of section 25 or section 26 and if it is found to contain such article or thing he shall cause it to be destroyed:

Provided that no closed letter shall be so opened without the consent in writing of the Minister in his discretion.

(3) The provisions of subsections (1) and (2) shall extend to all articles tendered to or received by the post office for transmission by post or delivery.

Power to open postal packets suspected to contain dutiable goods
Cap. 121

28. It shall be lawful for the Comptroller to detain any postal packet reasonably suspected to contain any goods in contravention of the Customs and Excise Act and to open the same in the presence of the person to whom such postal packet may be addressed or his duly appointed agent, and should such person or his agent after being duly notified fail or neglect to attend, it shall be lawful for the Comptroller to open and examine the same, and, if any goods in contravention of the Customs and Excise Act shall be discovered in such postal packet, the Comptroller shall deliver the aforesaid goods to the Comptroller of Customs and Excise for the purposes of proceeding in regard thereto according to law, and if no such goods shall be discovered in the aforesaid postal packet the same shall be delivered to the person to whom it is addressed or his agent if present and, if absent, shall be forwarded to the addressee through the post office subject in either case to the payment of any postage or other dues chargeable thereon.

Registration of postal packets

29. - (1) The sender of any postal packet, excepting a parcel addressed to any place beyond Solomon Islands, may, upon payment of the prescribed fee in addition to the ordinary postage, have that packet registered and obtain a receipt for the same from the Comptroller, but no such registration or receipt shall confer on any person any right to compensation or otherwise or impose upon any officer any liability for the loss of any such packet or of the contents thereof:

Provided that the Comptroller may in his discretion and subject to such requirements and limitations as may be prescribed pay compensation for the loss of any registered postal packet or of the contents thereof.

(2) Every postal packet containing coin, bank notes, currency notes, negotiable instruments payable to bearer, platinum, gold or silver manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels and other valuable articles shall, if posted unregistered be liable to compulsory registration and to a consequent charge on delivery equal to double the amount of any deficiency in prepayment as a registered packet which may be shown thereon but upon no postal packet compulsorily registered as aforesaid shall compensation be paid in case of loss.

Insurance of postal packets

30. The Comptroller may provide for the insurance of postal packets subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed and may enter into an agreement with any postal authority for the reciprocal exchange of insured postal packets.

Postal packets at hotels, etc. remaining undelelivered

31. - (1) Every postal packet sent by post and addressed to any person at any hotel, resthouse, or at any lodging-house, or at any house at which lodgers are received, and delivered to the occupier or manager of such hotel or house shall be deemed to be under the control of the Comptroller until delivered to the person to whom such postal packet is addressed and if such postal packet is not so delivered within one month of its receipt by such occupier or manager and if instructions to the contrary are not received from the person to whom such postal packet is addressed it shall be returned to the nearest post office marked "undelivered".

(2) Every such occupier or manager wilfully omitting or failing to return any such postal packet as aforesaid shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of ten dollars.

Money orders

32. - (1) The Comptroller may provide for the remitting of sums of money through the post office by means of money orders and may enter into an agreement with any postal authority for reciprocal exchange of money orders.

(2) The Comptroller may make regulations as to money orders and in particular and without prejudice to the generality of such power such regulations may prescribe-

Power to remitter to alter name or to recall money order

33. - (1) Subject to such conditions as the Comptroller may by regulations made under the provisions of the last preceding section prescribe in respect of the levy of additional rates of commission or fees or any other matter, a person remitting money through the post office by means of a money order may require that the amount of the order if not paid to the payee be repaid to him or be paid to such person other than the original payee as he may direct.

(2) If neither the payee nor the remitter of a money order can be found and if within the period of twelve months after the last day of the month in which it shall have been issued no claim is made by such payee or remitter, the amount of such order shall not be recoverable from the Government.

Power to provide for issue of postal orders

34. The Comptroller may authorise the issue in such form as may be suitable of money orders to be called postal orders or by such other designation as may be deemed appropriate and may make regulations as to the rates of commission to be charged thereon and the manner in which and the conditions subject to which they may be issued, paid and cancelled.

Money order offices

35. The Comptroller may from time to time determine at what post offices money orders or postal orders may be issued and paid.

Recovery of money paid to wrong persons

36. If any person without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which shall lie on him, neglects or refuses to refund-

such amount shall be recoverable before a Magistrate by an officer of the post office authorised by the Comptroller in that behalf from the person so neglecting or refusing.

Exemption from liability in respect of money orders and postal orders

37. The Government shall not incur any liability for any loss caused by-

and no officer of the post office shall incur any such liability unless he has caused the same fraudulently or by his wilful act, default or negligence.

Unissued postal orders

38. An unissued postal order shall be deemed to be the property of the Comptroller.

Notice of departure of vessels

39. - (1) The master of any vessel which is about to depart from any port within Solomon Islands shall give to the postmaster at the port from which that vessel is about to depart notice in writing of the intended time of departure and the ports of call and destination of that vessel. Such notice, in case the destination of the vessel be any port outside Solomon Islands, shall be given not less than twenty-four hours and, in case the destination of the vessel be any port within Solomon Islands, not less than six hours before the intended time of departure. Every such notice shall expire between the hours of nine o'clock in the forenoon and five o'clock in the afternoon:

Provided that shorter notice may be allowed by the Comptroller or the postmaster at the port of departure in any case or special class of cases.

(2) The postmaster who receives any such notice shall thereupon grant to the master of the vessel a certificate stating that the notice has been given and that the provisions of this Act have been complied with, and until such certificate has been given the vessel shall not be cleared.

(3) If any vessel to which this section applies departs from a port of Solomon Islands without the master having given notice of the intended time of departure or if such notice having been given the vessel departs from a port of Solomon Islands after the expiration of six hours after the time stated to be intended time of departure in the notice given under subsection (1), the master of such vessel, whether he has obtained a clearance or not, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of one hundred dollars:

Provided that should the period of six hours after the time stated to be the intended time of departure of such vessel expire between the hours of five o'clock in afternoon and nine o'clock in the forenoon it shall be lawful for such vessel to depart before nine o'clock in the forenoon immediately following the expiration of such notice.

(4) A prosecution shall not be instituted in pursuance of this section except by the direction or with the consent in writing of the Comptroller.

(5) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section it shall be lawful for the Comptroller to exempt from all or any of the provisions of this section the master of any vessel trading between ports within Solomon Islands. Such exemption shall be made by written notice to the owners or to the master of the vessel and a copy of every such notice shall be forwarded by the Comptroller to the Comptroller of Customs and Excise.

Penalty for refusing to receive mail bag on board

40. If any master of any vessel about to depart from any port in Solomon Islands to any port or place beyond Solomon Islands shall (after being thereto required by any officer of the post office or by any person duly authorised in that behalf) refuse or neglect to receive on board such vessel any mail bag or to give a receipt for the same being thereto required by the person tendering or delivering such mail bag or shall refuse or neglect carefully to deposit such mail bag in some secure and dry place on board of such vessel or to convey the same upon her then intended voyage, such master shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of two hundred dollars.

Payment conveyance of mail bags by noncontract vessels

41. - (1) Every master of any vessel about to depart from any port or place in Solomon Islands to or for any other place beyond Solomon Islands who receives on board thereof any mail bag for the purpose of conveying the same according to the direction thereof shall be entitled to demand and receive for the carriage thereof payment at rates to be from time to time prescribed.

(2) Nothing herein contained shall entitle the master of any vessel under contract for the carriage of mail bags to receive payment for the same as aforesaid.

No payment for conveyance of mail bags already paid for at port of departure

42. No payment shall be made to the master of any vessel arriving from any port or place beyond Solomon Islands for the conveyance of any mail bag on which payments have already been made at the port of departure.

All mail bags and postal packets arriving by vessel to be delivered to post office by mater

43. All mail bags and every loose postal packet which at the time of the arrival of any vessel within any port or place in Solomon Islands from any port or place beyond the same shall be on board thereof directed to any person in Solomon Islands shall be delivered to the postmaster or to any person duly authorised in that behalf, and any person who shall knowingly or negligently detain or keep in his possession or shall neglect or refuse to deliver any mail bag or any postal packet shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of two hundred dollars:

Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to letters concerning goods on board such vessel and to be delivered with such goods or containing any commission, writ or affidavit or suit by way of introduction only concerning the bearer's private affairs.

Declaration to be made by masters of vessels on arrival of vessels

44. - (1) The master of any vessel arriving at any port or place in Solomon Islands from any port or place beyond Solomon Islands shall as soon as practicable after such arrival sign in the presence of the postmaster or other officer appointed to receive the same at such port or the town or place nearest thereto a declaration in the form contained in the Second Schedule and thereupon such postmaster or other officer shall grant a certificate under his hand of the making thereof, and until such certificate shall have been delivered to the proper officer of customs at such port such proper officer shall not permit such vessel to report.

(2) Any master as aforesaid who shall fail or refuse to make such declaration or shall make a false declaration shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of two hundred dollars.

Conveyance of mail bags by coasting vessels

45. - (1) Every master of any coasting vessel shall receive and give a receipt for and shall deliver mail bags according to the direction thereof at the post office of the several ports or places at which such vessel may touch upon payment at such rates and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) Every master of a coasting vessel who shall refuse or neglect to receive or to give a receipt for or deliver mail bags in accordance with subsection (1) or shall refuse or neglect carefully to deposit and retain securely until delivery such mail bags in some safe and dry place on board such vessel shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of fifty dollars:

Provided that such master shall not be compelled to receive or deliver such mail bags at any post office distant more than one mile by road from the port or place at which his vessel may touch.

Lockers to be provided by vessels and vehicles under contract

46. In all vessels or vehicles by which mail bags shall be conveyed under a contract made under section 9 there shall be provided a suitable locker or other secure place in which such mail bags and all postal packets shall be locked up and carried apart from all other articles and things, and if such locker or place shall not be so provided or if such mail bags or any postal packets shall be carried in any such vessel or vehicle during the whole or any part of the voyage or journey otherwise than in such locker or place the master of such vessel or vehicle shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of one hundred dollars.

Penalty in contravention of section 11
LN 46A of 1978

47. Any person who, except with the authority of the Minister-

shall, in respect of each letter, be, guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of ten dollars.

Penalty for contravention of section 25 and 26

48. - (1) Any person who, in contravention of section 25 or section 26, sends or tenders or makes over in order to be sent by post any packet or thing shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(2) The detention in the post office of any packet or thing on the ground of its having been sent in contravention of section 25 or section 26 shall not exempt the sender from any proceedings which might have been taken if such packet or thing had been delivered in due course by post.

Fraudulently issuing money orders or postal orders

49. - (1) If any officer of the post office grants or issues any money order or postal order with a fraudulent intent he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for seven years.

(2) If any officer of the post office re-issues a money order or postal order previously paid he shall be deemed to have issued the order with a fraudulent intent under this section.

Money order or postal order to be deemed a valuable security
Cap. 26

50. - (1) A money order or postal order shall be deemed to be an order for the payment of money and a valuable security within the meaning of this Act and of the Penal Code and of any other law relating to forgery or stealing which is from time to time in force in Solomon Islands.

(2) If any person with intent to defraud obliterates, adds to or alters any such lines or words on a money order or postal order as would in the case of a cheque be a crossing of that cheque or knowingly offers or utters or disposes of any money order or postal order with such fraudulent obliteration, addition or alteration, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to the like punishment as if the order were a cheque.

Unlawfully taking away or opening mail bag sent by vessels or vehicles employed under post office

51. If any person unlawfully takes away or opens a mail bag sent by any vessel or vehicle employed by or under the post office for the transmission of postal packets whether under contract or otherwise or unlawfully takes, a postal packet out of a mail bag so sent, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.

Receiver of stolen mail bag or postal packet
Cap. 26

52. If any person receives any mail bag or any postal packet or any chattel or money or valuable security the stealing or taking or embezzling or secreting whereof amounts to an offence under this Act or the Penal Code knowing the same to have been so stolen, taken, embezzled or secreted and to have been sent or to have been intended to be sent by post, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to the same punishment as if he had stolen, taken embezzled or secreted the same; and may be charged and convicted whether the principal offender has or has not been previously convicted or is or is not amenable to justice.

Fraudulent detention of mail bag or postal packet

53. If any person fraudulently retains or wilfully secretes or keeps or detains or when required by an officer of the post office neglects or refuses to deliver up-

he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Criminal diversion of postal addressee

54. - (1) If any person not in the employment of the Comptroller wilfully and maliciously with intent to injure any other person either opens or causes to be opened any postal packet which ought to have been delivered to that other person or does any act or thing whereby the due delivery of the postal packet to that other person is prevented or impeded he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to a person who does any act to which this section applies where he is parent or in the position of parent or guardian of a person to whom the postal packet is addressed.

(3) A prosecution shall not be instituted in pursuance of this section except by the direction or with the consent in writing of the Comptroller.

(4) A postal packet in this section includes a packet or thing which has been delivered by post.

Opening or delaying postal packets

55. If any officer of the post office contrary to his duty opens or procures or suffers to be opened any postal packet or wilfully detains or delays or procures or suffers to be detained or delayed any postal packet he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of two hundred dollars or to imprisonment for six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment:

Provided that nothing in this section shall extend to the opening, detaining or delaying of a postal packet returned for want of a true direction or returned by reason that the person to whom the same is directed is dead or cannot be found or shall have refused the same or shall have refused or neglected to pay the postage thereof or to the opening or detaining or delaying of a postal packet under the authority of this Act.

Delaying mails, etc

56. Subject to the provisions of this Act, any officer of the post office, postmaster, master of a vessel or person duly authorised to receive or despatch any mail bag or any postal packet who shall neglect or fail to despatch or shall retard the despatch thereof by post shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a fine of two hundred dollars or to imprisonment for six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Prohibition of placing injurious substances in or against post office letter boxes

57. Any person who places or attempts to place in or against any post office letter box any fire, match, light, explosive substance or any fluid or who commits a nuisance in or against any post office letter box or does or attempts to do anything likely to injure the box, appurtenances, or contents shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of twenty dollars.

Prohibition of placing injurious substances in or against post office letter boxes

58. - (1) A person shall not without due authority affix or attempt to affix any placard, advertisement, notice, list, document, board or thing in or on, or paint or tar, any post office, post office letter box, or other property belonging to or used by or on behalf of the Comptroller and shall not in any way disfigure any such office, box or property.

(2) If any person acts in contravention of this section he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of five dollars.

Prohibition of imitation of post office stamps, envelopes, forms and marks

59. - (1) A person shall not without due authority-

(2) If any person acts in contravention of this section he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of five dollars:

Prohibition of fictitious stamps

60. - (1) A person shall not knowingly use for, the purpose of the post office any fictitious stamp.

(2) Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed it shall be lawful for a person to make, utter, deal in, sell or have in his possession a fictitious stamp or make or have in his possession a die, plate, instrument or materials for making such a stamp but not otherwise.

(3) If any, person acts in contravention of this section he shall be liable on conviction on a prosecution by order in writing of the Comptroller to a fine of forty dollars.

(4) Any stamp, die, plate, instrument or materials found in possession of any person in contravention of this section may be seized and shall on conviction of such person be forfeited.

(5) For the purposes of this section "fictitious stamp" shall mean any facsimile, imitation or representation, whether on paper or otherwise, of any postage stamp from time to time authorised or required to be used for the purpose of the post office or of any postage stamp for denoting a current rate of postage of any country outside Solomon Islands.

Prohibition of false notice as to reception of letters

61. - (1) A person shall not without authority from the Comptroller place or maintain in or on any house, wall, door, window, box, post, pillar or other place belonging to him or under his control any of the words, letters or marks following, that is to say-

and every person when required by a notice given by the Comptroller to remove or efface any such words, letters or marks as aforesaid or to remove or effectually close up any letter box belonging to him or under his control which has been a post office letter box shall comply with the request.

(2) If any person acts in contravention of this section he shall he guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of five dollars and if the offence is continued after a previous conviction to a fine of fifty cents for every day during which the offence so continues.

Obstruction of officers

62. - (1) If any person wilfully obstructs or incites any one to obstruct an officer of the post office in the execution of his duty or whilst in any post office or within any premises belonging to my post office or used therewith obstructs the course of business of the post office or creates a disturbance he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of ten dollars.

(2) Any person who commits an offence under this section who, upon being required by any officer of the post office or any police officer to leave a post office or any premises belonging thereto or used therewith, refuses or fails to do so, may be removed therefrom with any reasonable degree of force required for that purpose, and such person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of ten dollars.

(3) It shall be the duty of a police officer, on the demand of an officer of the post office, to remove or assist in removing from a post office or any premises belonging thereto or used therewith every such person as is referred to in subsection (2).

Obstruction of mail

63. If any person shall wilfully obstruct or retard the conveyance or delivery of any postal packet he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of forty dollars.

Endeavouring to procure the commission of any offence

64. If any person solicits or endeavours to procure any other person to commit an offence punishable under this Act he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for two years.

Falsely inducing delivery of letters

65. If any person shall, by means of any false pretence or misstatement, induce any postmaster or other officer of the post office to deliver to such person any postal packet not addressed to such person he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of one hundred dollars.

Evidence of thing being postal packet

66. - (1) On the prosecution of any offence under this Act evidence that any article is in the course of transmission by post or has been accepted on behalf of the Comptroller for transmission by post shall be sufficient evidence that the article is a postal packet.

(2) Every mail bag or postal packet in charge of or being carried by any postmaster, officer of the post office or other person employed by or under the Department shall in every proceeding whatsoever be deemed and taken to be sent by post unless the contrary be proved.

Provision as to form of proceedings
LN 46A of 1978

67. In any complaint, information or legal proceeding for any offence committed or attempted to be committed, or any malicious, injurious or fraudulent act or thing done, in, upon or with respect to the post office or the post office revenue or any mail bag, postal packet, money order or any chattel, money or valuable security sent by post or in anywise concerning any property under the management or control of the Minister, it shall be sufficient to allege the property to belong to the Minister and to allege any such act or thing to have been done with intent to injure or defraud the Minister without in either case naming the person who is Minister, and it shall not be necessary to allege or to prove upon the trial or otherwise that the mail bag, postal packet, money order, chattel, money, security or property was of any value.

Description of officer of the post office in indictment or legal proceedings

68. In any complaint, information or legal proceeding against any officer of the post office for any offence committed against this Act it shall be sufficient to allege that the alleged offender was an officer of the post office at the time of the committing of the offence without stating further the nature or particulars of his employment.

Penalty for being in unauthorised possession of mail bags, etc

69. Any person who without due authority is in possession of any mail bag or any other article or thing which is the property of the Comptroller or of any other postal authority shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of ten dollars.

Article bearing a fraudulent stamp may be withheld

70. - (1) Whenever the Comptroller is notified by a postal authority that any postal packet contains or bears any fictitious postage stamp, that is to say any facsimile or imitation or representation of any stamp for denoting any rate of duty or postage, or purports to be prepaid with any postage stamp which has been previously used to prepay any other postage packet, or whenever any postal packet containing or bearing any such fictitious postage stamp is found in any. post office in Solomon Islands, it shall be the duty of the Comptroller to withhold the delivery of such postal packet from the person to whom the same may be addressed unless such addressee or his representative consents to make known the name and address of the sender and to place at the disposal of the post office, after having taken cognizance of the contents, the entire packet, if it is inseparable from the offence itself, or else that part of the packet, envelope, wrapper or other portion of such postal packet which contains the address; if any, and the stamp so stated to be fictitious or used, and unless such addressee or his representative shall also sign or fill up any document that may be required of him by the Comptroller embodying the above information.

(2) In the event of the refusal of the addressee or his representative to comply with the above requirements, such postal packet may either be sent back to the country of origin or may be dealt with or disposed of in such manner as may be authorised by the Comptroller.

Removing stamp from postal packet

71. Any person who shall with a fraudulent intent remove from any postal packet sent by post any stamp which shall have been affixed thereon or shall wilfully remove from any stamp which shall have been previously used any mark which shall have been made thereon at any post office or shall knowingly offer, utter or put off or use any such stamp shall be guilty of an offence, and liable to imprisonment for two years.

Penalty for unlawfully disclosing contents of postal packet

72. Any person who reveals, discloses or in any way makes known the contents of any postal packet opened under the authority of this Act except so far as may be necessary for the purpose of returning the same or so far as may be authorised by the Comptroller in writing shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of two hundred dollars or to imprisonment for six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Limitation of action against officers

73. If any action or suit shall be commenced against any officer of the post office for damages on account of anything done or omitted to be done in pursuance of this Act the same shall be commenced within twelve months after the act committed or omitted, and no such action shall be commenced until one month after notice thereof and of the cause thereof shall have been delivered to the defendant or left for him at his usual place of abode by the party intending to commence such action, and upon the back of such notice shall be endorsed the name and place of abode or business of the plaintiff and his attorney or agent; and if it shall appear that the action was commenced after the time before limited for bringing the same the court shall give judgment for the defendant.

74. Any person now or hereafter authorised by the Comptroller to frank postal packets who unlawfully franks or superscribes packets which do not relate to the business of his office, department or the Government with intent to defraud the post office of the postage payable thereon shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of forty dollars.

Repeal and saving
Cap. 104, 1969
Revised Edition

75. - (1) The Post Office Act is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1)-

I, .................., do solemnly and sincerely declare that I will in my position as an officer of the post office be honest and trustworthy and fair without respect of persons according to the law and to the best of my knowledge; that I will not contrary to the law or to my duty communicate or divulge the contents of any letter, telegram or official paper of any description, nor open or detain or cause to suffer to be opened or detained any letter or other postal packet or any telegram, nor on any account whatsoever destroy or make away with any letter, telegram or official paper entrusted to my care; that I will be obedient to my official superiors and that I will give account of any responsibility entrusted to me whenever and wherever such may be required of me.

I, A. B., do solemnly declare that I have to the best of my knowledge delivered to C. D., every mail bag, mail-box, mail-parcel and postal packet that was on board the .................................. (name of vessel) at the time of her arrival at ......................................................................... except such letters as are exempted by law from such delivery.

Signed in my presence the ........................ day of ..................................19...

LN 48/1971
LN 68/1971
LN 11/1972
LN 21/1973
LN 18/1986
LN 35/1988
LN 83/1990
LN 106/1993
LN 15/1996

1. CITATION
2. POST OFFICE GUIDE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION
3. POST OFFICE GUIDE MAY BE SUPPLIED
4. HOURS OF ATTENDANCE
5. RATES OF POSTAGE, ETC
6. DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS
7. STAMPS ON FACE ONLY
8. STAMPS PERFORATED
9. STAMPS SOILED
10. STAMPS EXCHANGED
11. LATE FEES
12. SUITABLE PACKING
13. IRREGULAR ENCLOSURE
14. OPEN FOR INSPECTION
15. CERTIFICATE OF POSTING
16. CONTRAVENTION OF REGULATIONS
17. PLANT MATTER
18. PACKETS ADDRESSED TO POSTE RESTANTE
19. INQUIRIES
20. OVERSEAS MAIL SUBJECT TO CONVENTIONS
21. POSTAGE PAID IN CASH
22. ENCLOSURES IN LETTERS

23. POSTCARDS
24. HEADING ON POSTCARDS
25. PROHIBITED POSTCARDS
26. STAMPING OF POSTCARDS
27. NOTHING TO BE ATTACHED TO POSTCARD
28. POSTCARDS MAY BE TREATED AS LETTERS

29. PRINTED PAPERS
30. CERTAIN ITEMS NOT PRINTED PAPERS
31. CERTAIN COMBINED ENCLOSURES PERMISSIBLE
32. AUTHORISED ANNOTATIONS AND CLOSURES
33. HOW TO BE MADE UP

37. ADDRESS TO BE IN INK
38. HOURS FOR REGISTRATION
39. TO BE PREPAID
40. COVER TO BE IN SOUND CONDITION
41. NUMBER AND RECEIPT
42. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT
43. COMPULSORY REGISTRATION IN CERTAIN CASES
44. RECEIPT FOR DELIVERY
45. DELIVERY THROUGH PRIVATE BOX
46. UNDELIVERABLE PACKETS

47. COMPENSATION MAY BE PAID
48. WHEN NO COMPENSATION PAYABLE
49. NO COMPENSATION WHERE LOSS DUE TO ACT OF SENDER
50. COMPENSATION NOT TO EXCEED VALUE OF PACKET, ETC
51. RECEIPT TO BE PRODUCED
52. APPLICATION FOR COMPENSATION
53. TIME FOR APPLICATION
54. PACKETS LOST ABROAD

55. DELIVERY TO MEMBER OF FAMILY, ETC
56. TO WHOM DELIVERY TO BE MADE
57. DELIVERY TO EXECUTOR OR ADMINISTRATOR, ETC

58. CERTAIN DRUGS MAY BE SENT BY POST
59. TRANSMISSION OF COIN, ETC.
60. PROHIBITED PACKETS - HOW DEALT WITH

63. OPERATION OF INSURANCE SYSTEM
64. REGULATIONS SUBJECT TO ALTERATION
65. INSURANCE FEES
66. GENERAL CONDITIONS
67. LETTERS TO WHICH INSURANCE SYSTEM APPLIES
68. POSTCARDS, ETC NOT TO BE INSURED
69. COVER AND SEALS
70. PROHIBITIONS AS TO INSURED LETTERS
71. GOLD, ETC. HOW TO BE SENT
72. DIMENSIONS OF INSURED BOX
73. SECURING ETC. OF INSURED BOX
74. CUSTOMS DECLARATION
75. FORM OF CUSTOMS DECLARATION
76. WEIGHT AND VALUE TO BE SHOWN
77. PROHIBITIONS AS TO INSURED BOXES
78. REDIRECTION NOT PERMITTED
79. ADVICE OF DELIVERY
80. COMPENSATION
81. TIME FOR CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION
82. NO LEGAL LIABILITY
83. INVALID INSURANCE

84. INTERPRETATION
85. NAME AND ADDRESS AND DECLARATION OF CONTENTS
86. PARCEL TO BE HANDED IN AT THE POST OFFICE
87. CERTIFICATE OF POSTING
88. PARCELS LIABLE TO LETTER RATE
89. CHARGES ON REDIRECTED PARCEL
90. STOPPAGE AND STOPPAGE FEE
91. PARCELS FOR MEMBER OF FORCES, ETC
92. RETURN OF UNCLAIMED PARCEL
93. DELIVERY OF PARCEL
94. TWO OR MORE PARCELS NOT TO BE SENT AS ONE
95. PACKING OF PARCELS
96. DELAY OF DESPATCH, ETC, FOR SAFETY REASONS
97. REQUEST FOR TREATMENT OF UNDELIVERABLE PARCEL
98. RETURN OF PARCEL IN ABSENCE OF REQUEST
99. DELIVERY, ETC, MAY BE DEFERRED TO AVOID DELAY IN DELIVERY OF LETTERS
100. DISPOSAL OF UNDELIVERABLE PARCELS
101. COMPENSATION FOR UNINSURED AND UNREGISTERED PARCELS
102. WHEN COMPENSATION NOT PAYABLE

105. WHERE PARCELS MAY BE INSURED, ETC
106. PACKING OF INSURED PARCEL, ETC
107. PARCELS CONTAINING COIN, ETC
108. PARCELS CONTAINING PERISHABLE ARTICLES
109. PARCEL CONTAINING JEWELLERY EXCEEDING $200 IN VALUE
110. GENERAL REGULATIONS

111. ASSESSMENT OF DUTY, ETC
112. INSPECTION OF PARCEL
113. DELIVERY TO ADDRESSEE ONLY
114. PRODUCTION OF INVOICE

115. FORM AND SIGNATURE OF NOTICES, ETC
116. CHANGES OF ADDRESS
117. LETTERS ADDRESSED TO CARE OF PRIVATE BOX HOLDERS, ETC
118. WHERE INTERCEPTION TO BE MADE
119. NO CHARGE FOR REDIRECTION BY SURFACE MAIL EXCEPT IN CASE OF PARCELS
120. UNPAID OR INSUFFICIENTLY PAID PACKETS

123. UNDELIVERABLE PACKETS
124. HOW UNDELIVERED PACKETS TO BE DEALT WITH
125. DISPOSAL OF UNDELIVERED PACKETS

126. INFORMATION
127. RETURN OF POSTAL PACKETS, ETC
128. WEIGHING OF POSTAL PACKETS
129. GIVING OF CHANGE

130. APPLICATION FOR LICENCE
131. LICENCE TO SELL STAMPS
132. NO CHARGE FOR LICENCE, ETC
133. NOTICE TO BE EXHIBITED
134. PURCHASE OF STAMPS AND COMMISSION
135. DIVIDING COMMISSION WITH PUBLIC PROHIBITION
136. EMPLOYMENT OF AGENT

137. PRIVATE LETTER BOX MAY BE LET
138. DISCRETION TO REFUSE TO LET BOX
139. USE OF PRIVATE BOX
140. ENTRY TO BOX
141. RENTAL FEES
142. TEMPORARY RESIDENTS
143. DEPOSIT IN RESPECT OF KEYS
144. TRANSFER OF BOX
145. RIGHT TO DEPOSIT ON TRANSFER OF BOX

146. PRIVATE MAIL BAGS
147. ONE FAMILY OR FIRM ONLY TO USE BAG
148. RENTAL FEES
149. USE OF PRIVATE BAG FOR REGISTERED PACKETS, ETC
150. DEPOSIT IN RESPECT OF DUTY, ETC
151. DELIVERY OF LARGE PARCELS, ETC
152. DIMENSIONS OF BAG
153. COST OF CARRIAGE OF PRIVATE BAG
154. DISCRETION TO REFUSE PRIVATE BAG, ETC

155. FREIGHT ON MAILS IN SOLOMON ISLANDS
156. VOUCHER IN RESPECT OF MAILS CARRIED

160. HOUSEHOLD CIRCULARS
161. POSTAGE RATES
162. CONDITIONS

FIRST SCHEDULE
SECOND SCHEDULE

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Post Office Regulations

Post Office Guide available for inspection

2. The Post Office Guide issued under section 7(2) of the Act shall be available for inspection without payment during the hours of public business at all post offices in Solomon Islands.

Post Office Guide may be supplied

3. The Comptroller may at his discretion supply free of charge a copy of the Post Office Guide to any person who requests the same.

Hours of attendance

4. The hours during which post offices shall be open for the conduct of various classes of public business shall be as determined and notified in the Post Office Guide or by Public Notice issued by the Comptroller.

Rates of postage, etc

5. The rates of postage payable for the transmission of packets through the post, and the supplementary fees in connection therewith and any other fees payable or said to be prescribed under these Regulations shall be as prescribed in the First Schedule.

Dimensions and weights

6. The dimensions and weights of packets transmitted through the post shall be as set out in Appendix B to the First Schedule and no postal packet shall exceed such limits of weight or dimensions except with the express authority of the Comptroller obtained prior to transmission.

Stamps on face only

7. Stamps in prepayment of postage or other charges upon any postal packet shall be affixed upon the face of such packet near the address written thereon, and it shall not be obligatory upon the Department to take notice of any stamps which are affixed elsewhere.

Stamps perforated

8. - (1) Subject to the approval in writing of the Comptroller, postage stamps may be perforated with initials, and such perforated stamps shall be available for any purpose of the Act.

(2) Perforated postage stamps shall not be repurchased or exchanged for other stamps by any officer.

Stamps soiled

9. Postage stamps mutilated or soiled so as to make it a matter of doubt whether such stamps have been previously used for any purpose whatsoever shall not be available for the payment of any postal charge.

Stamps exchanged

10. Any denomination of postage stamps, envelopes, cards, wrappers, or other articles embossed or impressed with postage values of Solomon Islands, may be exchanged for any other denomination of such postage stamps, envelopes, cards, wrappers or other articles, or for cash for unused mint stamps in no smaller amounts than two dollars at the discretion of the Comptroller, provided they have been purchased for postal purposes within the previous two years and upon payment of the prescribed fee.

Late fees

11. - (1) The time up to which postal packets may be posted for despatch by any particular mail shall be determined and notified by the Comptroller. The Comptroller may also, as he deems fit, make arrangements for the inclusion in any mail of postal packets posted after the time so determined on payment of the prescribed fee.

(2) Except as aforesaid, postal packets posted in the ordinary posting boxes after the advertised time of closing of mails shall not be forwarded until the next succeeding despatch.

Suitable packing

12. The contents of every postal packet shall be packed and secured by the sender in such a manner as may afford adequate protection to the contents thereof or to other postal packets. Any postal packet which, in the opinion of the Comptroller, does not comply with this regulation may be refused acceptance, or may be intercepted and detained in the course of transmission.

Irregular enclosure

13. No postal packet directed to one address may contain any other packet addressed to a different address. Any postal packet found to contain any enclosure contrary to this regulation shall be surcharged on delivery with an amount equal to double the postage which would have been payable upon such enclosure if it had been transmitted separately.

Open for inspection

14. - (1) Postal packets for transmission at the rate of postage prescribed for printed papers or small packets shall be made up in such manner as to be capable of a ready inspection of the contents.

(2) Any officer may examine the contents of any packet of printed papers or small packets for the purpose of ascertaining whether they are in accordance with these Regulations, but such officer must securely refasten any packet so opened.

Certificate of posting

15. The sender of any postal packet, other than a parcel, may, upon application at the time of posting, obtain a certificate of posting thereof on payment of the prescribed fee. No liability shall be incurred on the part of the Comptroller by the issue of such certificate for any loss, injury or delay which may occur subsequent to the posting of such postal packet.

Contravention of Regulations

16. Any postal packet purporting to be a printed paper or a small packet within the meaning of these Regulations which contravenes any of the provisions thereof shall, without prejudice to any penalty which may be imposed upon the sender under the Act, be liable to be treated as a letter or admissible at the parcel rate as a parcel, and surcharged upon delivery with an amount equal to double the deficient postage at the letter or parcel rate, as the case may be.

Plant matter

17. The transmission through the post of plants or parts of plants, such as cuttings, roots, tubers, bulbs, fruit, or other vegetable matter, and the delivery of similar articles shall be subject to the approval of the Director of Agriculture. The cost of any steps which may be taken in connection with the examination or fumigation of any such articles by the direction of the Director of Agriculture shall be borne by the sender in the case of postal packets handed in at a post office within Solomon Islands, or by the addressee in the case of articles received from beyond Solomon Islands, for delivery within Solomon Islands.

Packets addressed to poste restante

18. The treatment of postal packets addressed to a poste restante or to be called for at any post office shall be subject to such directions as may be given by the Comptroller and he may at his discretion deliver any such packet at the addressee's place of business or private residence, or if the addressee is a renter of a private post office box, at such post office into such box.

Inquiries

19. For every inquiry instituted by the Comptroller at the request of either the sender or the addressee in regard to any ordinary or registered postal packet or parcel said to have been posted, the Comptroller may require the applicant to make a declaration in support of the information furnished by him in such form as may be decided by the Comptroller, and, except where an acknowledgement of delivery has been paid for, the Comptroller may require the applicant to pay such further fee as may be prescribed.

Overseas mail subject to conventions

20. Postal packets addressed to or received from any country outside Solomon Islands, shall be subject to the provisions of any convention or agreement in, regard to the transmission of such packets, through the post in force for the time being between the Government and the postal authority of such country and to the provisions of any contract for the conveyance of mails by sea in force for the time being between the Government and, any person.

Postage paid in cash

21. - (1) The Comptroller may license the use of approved postage meters or stamping or franking machines for impressing upon postal packets the sign of postage or stamp values, subject to such conditions as he may deem necessary.

(2) Prepayment of postage may be made, at such offices as may be determined and notified by the Comptroller, in money instead of postage stamps, whenever the number of postal packets handed in for transmission at one and the same time by any one person amounts to at least fifty cents, but only if the packets are made up in bundles with the addresses arranged in the same direction. In every such case, the amount prepaid in respect of each such packet shall be indicated thereon by the officer receiving the same in such manner as the Comptroller may direct.

(3) Mail matter prepaid in money must be handed in at the post office.

Enclosures in letters

22. Letters shall not contain any letter, note, or document which has the character of actual and personal correspondence, addressed to persons other than the addressee or persons living with him.

Postcards

23. Postcards shall be made of cardboard or of paper stout enough to be easily handled and shall be sent unenclosed, that is to say without wrapper or envelope.

Heading on postcards

24. Postcards shall bear on the address side the French language heading "Carte Postale" or the equivalent of this heading in another language. This heading shall not be obligatory for single postcards of private manufacture.

Prohibited postcards

25. Postcards of which the whole or a part of the address side has been marked off into several divisions intended to receive successive addresses are prohibited.

Stamping of postcards

26. Postage stamps shall be affixed to the upper right-hand corner of the address side of a postcard. The address of the recipient as well as any indications relating to the postal service shall appear on the address side of which the right-hand half is reserved for these indications. Save as hereinafter provided, the sender may make use of the back and of the left-hand half of the address side.

Nothing to be attached to postcard

27. There shall not be joined or attached to postcards samples of merchandise or similar articles:

Provided that illustrations, photographs, stamps of any kind, address labels or slips to fold back for address purposes, labels and cuttings of any kind may be affixed to them, if these articles are not of such a nature as to alter the character of the postcards, and if they consist of paper or other very thin substance and if they adhere completely to the card. With the exception of address labels or slips these articles may only be affixed to the back or to the left-hand half of the address side of postcards. Stamps of all kinds liable to be mistaken for postage stamps may be affixed only to the back.

Postcards may be treated as letters

28. Postcards which do not comply with the conditions laid down by these Regulations shall be treated as letters.

Printed papers

29. - (1) All newspapers, periodicals, books sewn or bound, pamphlets, sheets of music excluding perforated sheets intended to be used with automatic musical instruments, visiting cards, address cards proofs of printing, engravings, photographs, pictures, drawings, plans, maps, paper patterns, catalogues, prospectuses, advertisements and notices of various kinds, printed, engraved, lithographed or mineographed, and, in general, all impressions or copies obtained upon paper or similar material parchment or cardboard by means of printing, engraving, lithography, mineography or any other mechanical process easy to recognise except the copying press, handstamps with or without moveable type, and the typewriter shall be deemed to be printed papers and admitted at the printed paper rate.

(2) In addition to the items specified in paragraph (1), the following shall be admitted at the printed paper rate-

(3) Any item specified in paragraph (2) which does not comply with the conditions therein specified shall be treated as either postcards or letters, as the Comptroller may determine.

Certain items not printed papers

30. Subject to regulation 28, the following shall not be sent as printed papers:-

Certain combined enclosures permissible

31. Several copies obtained by processes approved by the Comptroller may be sent together in a single printed papers item; they should not bear the names and addresses of different senders or addressees.

Authorised annotations and enclosures

32. - (1) It shall be permissible outside or inside a packet of printed papers-

How to be made up

33. - (1) Printed papers must be made up in such a way that they can be easily examined.

(2) Printed papers of the form, consistency and size of a postcard may be sent unenclosed without wrapper or envelope.

Small packets

34. - (1) Small packets shall bear in bold letters on the front "Petit paquet" or its equivalent in a language known in the country of destination.

(2) It shall be permitted to enclose in any small packet an open invoice reduced to its essential elements and to show on the outside or on the inside of items and, in the latter case, on the article itself or on a special sheet the address of the sender and the addressee with the indications in use in commercial traffic, a manufacturer's or trade mark, a reference to correspondence exchanged between the sender and the addressee, a short note referring to the manufacturer and to the person supplying the goods or concerning the person for whom they are intended, as well as serial or registration numbers, prices and any other notes giving essential elements of the prices, particulars relating to the weight, volume and size, the quantity available and such particulars as are necessary to determine the source and the character of the goods.

(3) It shall also be permitted to enclose therein any other document not having the character of current and personal correspondence, provided that the addressee or sender of the document are not other than those of the small packet; and gramophone records, tapes and wires whether or not bearing a sound recording, ADP magnetic tapes or similar means as well as QSL cards.

Literature for the blind

35. Letters bearing writing used by the blind posted unsealed and plates bearing the characters of writing used by the blind may be sent as literature for the blind. The same shall apply to sound records and to the special paper intended solely for the use of the blind, provided that they are sent by or addressed to an officially recognized institute for the blind.

Double deficiently chargeable

36. - (1) Correspondence posted for delivery within Solomon Islands which is wholly unpaid, or insufficiently prepaid, shall be charged with double the deficiency on delivery.

(2) Wholly unpaid and insufficiently prepaid letters and postcards, and other articles which are partly prepaid, posted within Solomon Islands addressed to any other part of the Commonwealth shall be charged with double the deficiency and shall be forwarded for delivery; articles other than letters and postcards which are wholly unpaid shall be forwarded but shall be dealt with through the Dead Letter Office.

(3) Wholly unpaid and insufficiently prepaid letters and postcards and other articles which are partly prepaid, posted within Solomon Islands addressed to any other country, shall be charged with double the deficiency with a minimum charge of two cents and shall be forwarded for delivery. Articles other than letters and postcards which are wholly unpaid shall not be forwarded but shall be dealt with through the Dead Letter Office.

Address to be in ink

37. The address of every postal packet for registration shall be written in ink or copying-ink pencil and in Roman characters.

Hours for registration

38. - (1) Postal packets for registration shall be handed to an officer appointed for that purpose during such hours as may be notified and shall not be posted in any posting-box.

(2) Postal packets for registration received at a post office in a private bag rented from the Comptroller and conveyed by an officer of the post office or by a mail carrier shall be regarded and treated as if handed in in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.

To be prepaid

39. Postal packets for registration shall be fully prepaid at the time of handing in for transmission to the place of destination.

Cover to be in sound condition

40. No packet shall be accepted for registration unless the cover is in sound condition. Under no circumstances shall packets be accepted for registration if selvedged stamp paper or other gummed paper is attached to the covers thereof, or if the packets have the appearance of having been opened and resealed.

Number and receipt

41. Every postal packet duly handed in for registration shall be given a distinctive number. A receipt bearing such number, and an impression of the date stamp of the office at which the packet is handed in for registration shall be given to the sender by the receiving officer, and such receipt shall be prima facie evidence of the registration of such packet.

Acknowledgement of receipt

42. The sender of any registered postal packet may upon application either at the time of registration thereof or at any time within one year thereafter and upon payment of the prescribed fees in addition to the prescribed fee for registration, require to be furnished with an acknowledgement by the addressee of the receipt of such packet, and any registered packet for delivery within Solomon Islands, the acknowledgement of the receipt of which has been applied for at the time of registration, shall not be delivered until such acknowledgement shall have been obtained by the Department.

Compulsory registration in certain cases

43. - (1) Any postal packet which may be posted otherwise than as laid down in regulation 38 and which may bear any inscription or mark which may reasonably be assumed to indicate that it was the intention of the sender that such packet should be registered, may upon detection be registered and subjected to the prescribed fee for compulsory registration in addition to the ordinary postage due upon such letter or packet, and any unregistered postal packet which there is reasonable cause to believe contains money or other valuable enclosure (including postage stamps exceeding fifty cents in value) shall be similarly treated.

(2) Any postal packet which has been compulsorily registered under this regulation on the ground of its being supposed to contain a valuable enclosure and which may be opened in the presence of the officer delivering the same and found not to contain any such enclosure, shall be delivered free of charge in respect of registration.

Receipt for delivery

44. Any person to whom any registered postal packet is delivered shall give to the officer delivering it a receipt for the same on a form to be provided by the Comptroller, which receipt shall be a good discharge for the delivery of such registered packet.

Delivery through private box

45. In effecting delivery of a registered postal packet through a private post office box rented from the Comptroller, a printed receipt form bearing the registered number and the address of such registered packet shall be placed in such box, and the presentation at the proper post office of the said receipt signed either by the addressee or the person presenting the same purporting to sign for the addressee shall be a sufficient warrant for the delivery of such registered packet to the applicant.

Undeliverable packets

46. Every registered postal packet which may from any cause be undelivered to the person to whom it is addressed shall be returned to the sender, if known, by registered post without further charge for postage or registration and any unregistered postal packet which may likewise be undeliverable and the contents of which may be found to be of intrinsic value may, be returned by the Comptroller to the sender, if, known,: through the registered post, and such sender shall be liable in respect of such packet for the fee prescribed for compulsory registration.

Compensation may be paid

47. The Comptroller may in his discretion subject to the conditions hereinafter mentioned, give compensation as set out in the Post Office Guide for the loss while in the custody of the post office of any postal packet, or the whole or any portion of the contents thereof, which has been admitted for transmission by registered post within Solomon Islands.

When no compensation payable

48. No compensation for loss shall be given in respect of-

No compensation where loss due to act of sender

49. In no case shall compensation be given where it appears that the loss has arisen from any neglect or omission on the part of the sender.

Compensation not to exceed value of packet, etc

50. - (1) Compensation shall in no case exceed the value of the postal packet or any portion of the contents thereof which may be lost, and in respect of the loss of coin shall not in the case of any one letter exceed the sum specified in the Post Office Guide. No compensation shall be given for injury or damage consequent upon the loss of any registered packet.

(2) The Comptroller may in any case reinstate or make good in kind the contents of any lost packet instead of giving pecuniary compensation for loss.

(3) Where compensation has been given in respect of any postal packet and such packet subsequently comes into the hands of the Comptroller, he may retain or dispose of the same as he may deem fit.

Receipt to be produced

51. The receipt given to the sender at the time of registration of any postal packet in connection with the loss of which application is made for compensation shall be produced by the applicant whenever required by the Comptroller.

Application for compensation

52. Every application for compensation is respect of a postal packet the contents of which are alleged to have been lost during transmission through the post shall be accompanied by the envelope or cover of such article in as nearly as possible the condition in which it was delivered by the Department.

Time for application

53. Under no circumstances shall an application for compensation be entertained if made after the expiration of one year from the date of posting the relative postal packet.

Packets lost abroad

54. In cases where registered packets are lost abroad, the final decision upon the question of payment of compensation rests with the Postal Administration of the country in which the loss takes place.

Delivery to member of family, etc

55. When no direction in writing to the contrary has been received, correspondence for a husband may be delivered to his wife, and correspondence for a wife may be delivered to her husband, and correspondence addressed to members of the same family living in the same house may be delivered to any responsible member of the family living in the house or to any messenger authorised to receive it.

To whom delivery to be made

56. Except as set forth in regulation 55, no postal packet shall be delivered to any person other than-

Delivery to executor or administrator, etc

57. Postal packets addressed to deceased persons may be delivered to the executors or administrators of deceased persons on production of the original will or of the probate or letters of administration; but until such production the Comptroller may cause such postal packets to be delivered to some near relative of the deceased person:

Provided that when the original will is produced the executor shall undertake to produce probate when obtained.

Certain drugs may be sent by post

58. In accordance with but without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of section 25(3) of the Act or of the Dangerous Drugs Act, any drug to which the Dangerous Drugs Act applies is hereby prescribed as a drug which may be sent by post, but only if it is sent by or by the direction of a medical practitioner acting in the course of his duties, or for any other medical or scientific purpose approved by the Director of Medical Services.

Transmission of coin, etc

59. There shall not be conveyed by unregistered post, or enclosed in small packets even if registered, coin, bank-notes, currency notes, negotiable instruments payable to bearer, platinum, gold or silver, manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels and other valuable articles. The transmission of postage stamps, whether obliterated or not in open packets is prohibited.

Prohibited packets - how dealt with

60. Prohibited packets if tendered for transmission shall be refused, or if detected in transit, detained and dealt with in such a manner as the Comptroller may direct.

Transparent envelopes, etc

61. Packets enclosed in envelopes entirely transparent or in envelopes with an open panel shall not be admitted.

Envelopes with transparent panel

62. The following conditions shall apply to packets in envelopes with a transparent panel-

Operation of insurance system

63. - (1) The Comptroller may at his discretion operate an insurance system applicable to letter, boxes and parcels.

(2) The insured letter and box service shall be in operation between the several countries adhering to the "Agreement concerning Insured Letters and Boxes" and Solomon Islands. The service in the Solomon Islands, shall be limited to money order offices only.

Regulations subject to alteration

64. The regulations under which letters and boxes shall be accepted for insurance by the post office shall be subject to such alterations and amendments as may be adopted from time to time by the Agreement of the Universal Postal Union.

Insurance fees

65. The fees payable for insurance including registration shall be as set out in the First Schedule. The maximum amount for which an article may be insured shall be 800 dollars:

Provided that articles shall not be insured for an amount higher than the maximum fixed by the regulations of the country of destination.

General conditions

66. The following general conditions shall be observed by the senders of insured articles:-

Letters to which insurance system applies

67. Letters to which the insurance system shall be applicable shall be those which contain bank notes, currency notes, bonds, coupons, securities, and other documents of the kind. Documents of value such as deeds, plans, contracts, autographs, rare manuscripts, may also be sent by insured post, provided that where documents have a value by reason of the cost of their preparation, the insured value shall not exceed the cost of replacing them in case of loss.

Postcards, etc not to be insured

68. Postcards, packets of printed or commercial papers, samples or letters which contain articles other than documents, shall not be insured.

Cover and seals

69. - (1) Every letter tendered for insurance shall be enclosed in a strong cover made up on one piece which shall be securely fastened by means of identical seals in fine wax, with spaces between, reproducing a private mark, in such a way that it cannot be opened without either breaking the seals or leaving obvious traces of violation.

(2) Envelopes with black or coloured borders or with transparent panels shall not be used.

(3) Spaces shall be left between the stamps used for prepayment, and also between the postal labels, so that they cannot serve to hide injuries to the envelope. The stamps or labels shall not be folded over the two sides of the envelope so as to cover the edge.

(4) The seals on an ordinary envelope shall be placed as shown below: -
Solomon%20Islands%20-%20Post%20Office%20Act%20[Cap%20113]00.png

Solomon%20Islands%20-%20Post%20Office%20Act%20[Cap%20113]00.png

(5) In the case of long envelopes with a seam down the centre, the seam shall be secured with seals placed not more than three inches apart.

(6) Letters which although addressed to a country or place to which the insurance system does not extend shall be deemed irregularly insured and shall be returned to the sender.

Prohibitions as to insured letters

70. The following shall not be accepted for postage or conveyance by post by insured letter;

Gold, etc. how to be sent

71. Articles of gold and silver, precious stones, jewellery, and articles of a like nature may be sent in the letter mails as insured boxes.

Dimensions of insured box

72. The weight and dimensions of insured boxes shall not be as set out in the Post Office Guide.

Securing, etc. of insured box

73. An insured box shall be tied crosswise with a single strong string (not two or more pieces joined) the two ends of the string being held together under a seal of fine wax bearing a private mark. The box shall also be sealed on the four sides with seals identical with that used for the ends of the string. The box shall not be wrapped in paper, but the top and bottom shall be covered with white paper to receive the address of the addressee, the declaration of the insured value and the impression of the official stamps.

Customs declaration

74. An insured box which is subject to the customs regulations and laws of the country of destination shall be accompanied by the requisite number of customs declaration forms prepared by the sender.

Form of customs declaration

75. The customs declaration forms used for parcels may be adapted so as to apply to insured boxes by altering the heading to "Insured Boxes" or "Boites avec valeur declare". Such forms shall specify precisely the style of packing and include a description of the box, its gross weight, and the total value of the contents.

Weight and value to be shown

76. The net weight and value of each of the different kinds of articles contained in an insured box shall be shown separately.

Prohibitions as to insured boxes

77. There shall not be conveyed by post or posted any insured box containing-

Redirection not permitted

78. Insured postal packets shall not be redirected to countries which do not accept insured postal packets of the class concerned.

Advice of delivery

79. The sender of an insured article may have sent to him an advice of the delivery of the packet to the addressee, or may, subsequent to the posting of the article, apply for information as to its disposal on payment of the prescribed fee.

Compensation

80. Compensation for the loss or damage of an insured article or its contents in the post shall not exceed the amount of the actual loss or damage, and shall not be paid on prohibited articles, or articles which have been taken delivery of without remark, or for damage or loss caused by the fault or negligence of the sender, or arising from the nature of the article or from tempest, ship-wreck, earthquake, war, the acts of the Queen's enemies, or other causes beyond control. Compensation shall not be paid for the loss of or damage to any article in respect of which the relative official documents have been destroyed through a cause beyond control.

Time for claim for compensation

81. No claim for compensation shall be admitted if made more than one year after the article was posted.

No legal liability

82. No legal liability to give compensation in respect of any article for which an insurance fee has been paid shall attach to the Comptroller either personally or in his official capacity. The final decision upon all questions of compensation shall rest with the postal authority of the country in which the loss or damage has taken place.

In valid insurance

83. Any insurance effected contrary to the foregoing regulations shall be invalid.

Interpretation

84. In this Part, the expression "parcel" means a postal packet which is posted as a parcel in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.

Name and address and declaration of contents

85. Every parcel shall bear on the outside of the cover thereof the name and address of the sender, and unless inscribed with the words "Parcel Post" and secured in such a manner as to allow of the contents being readily withdrawn and examined, shall have attached to the cover a form complying with the requirements of the Universal Postal Union Postal Parcels Agreement.

Parcel to be handed in at the post office

86. Every parcel for transmission shall be handed in over a post office counter during such hours as may be notified by the Comptroller. Any parcel posted in a posting box shall be subject on delivery to a fee as set out in the First Schedule in addition to any other charges which may be due thereon. Parcels received at a post office in a private post bag approved by the Comptroller shall be regarded and treated as if handed in-in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.

Certificate of posting

87. The sender of any parcel may, upon application at the time of handing in such parcel, obtain a certificate of the posting thereof. Such certificate shall not, however, imply any liability on the part of the Comptroller for any loss, injury, or delay which may subsequently take place in respect of such parcel.

Parcels liable to letter rate

88. Any parcel found to contain or to bear on the cover thereof any article or communication chargeable at the letter rate of postage shall, without prejudice in regard to any penalty which may be imposed under the Act, be surcharged on delivery with an amount equal to double the postage payable upon such article or communication if it had been transmitted separately.

Charges on redirected parcel

89. Every parcel redirected at the request of either the sender or the addressee thereof from one post office to another shall be subject upon delivery, in addition to any other charges which may be leviable thereon, to a charge equal to the postage which would have been payable upon such parcel if it were being transmitted for the first time from the one office to the other.

Stoppage and stoppage fee

90. - (1) Upon every parcel the transmission of which is stopped at the request of either the sender or the addressee thereof and delivered from the office at which stoppage is effected there shall be levied a stoppage fee as prescribed in the First Schedule, and such fee shall be payable on delivery in addition to any other charges which may be due upon such parcel.

(2) In the case of any parcel returned to the sender at his request before the same has been despatched from the office at which it was handed in, the sender shall have no claim in respect of the postage stamps affixed to such parcel if such stamps have already been cancelled.

(3) Any parcel stopped in transit for return to the sender or delivery to the addressee at any post office other than the office at which stoppage is effected, and any undeliverable parcel returned to the sender direct from the office to which the same has been forwarded for delivery shall be regarded as redirected from such office to another office and shall be subject to the usual charges in respect of such redirection.

Parcels for member of forces, etc

91. The Comptroller may, upon application, divert free of charge subject to such conditions as he may deem expedient, any parcel addressed to any member of Her Majesty's regular forces, or of the Police Force of Solomon Islands who may be moved in the course of duty from one place to another within Solomon Islands.

Return of unclaimed parcel

92. - (1) The Comptroller may return to the sender at the expense of the latter, any parcel which has not been claimed within a period of twenty-eight days from the date on which it was originally received at the office of destination.

(2) In the case of parcels coming from outside Solomon Islands, the, addressee may arrange for the retention of a parcel by the post office beyond the said period of twenty-eight days for a further fifty-six days upon an advanced payment of demurrage fees as prescribed in the First Schedule.

Delivery of parcel

93. - (1) The delivery of parcels otherwise than from money order offices shall not be obligatory, and any parcel addressed to any office other than a money order office may be detained by the Comptroller at the money order office to which such office is subordinate:

Provided that whenever any parcel is so detained the Comptroller shall cause the addressee thereof to be advised of the fact.

(2) The Comptroller shall cause the addressee of every parcel to be advised by post of the receipt thereof at the local post office and of its detention there.

Two or more parcels not to be sent as one

94. No parcel shall consist of or contain two or more parcels addressed to different persons at different addresses. If such parcel be discovered each if its contents shall be treated as a separate parcel and be charged for accordingly.

Packing of parcels

95. - (1) Parcels shall be so securely and substantially packed as not only to preserve their contents from loss or damage in the post, but also so as not to injure other parcels in the mail or any office of the post office.

(2) Hats, millinery, and similar articles shall be packed in rigid boxes of wood or other material or in stout "leather-board" boxes with lids extending about two-thirds of the depth of the box, or in strong cardboard boxes, protected externally by cross bars of wood consisting of two frames placed at right angles to one another and fastened together where they cross at the top and bottom.

(3) Weighty articles, such as iron castings, shall be packed in some soft material such as straw-roping or hay-roping.

(4) Musical instruments shall be enclosed in stout cases, with sufficient soft internal packing to prevent movement and to prevent damage through jolting.

(5) Pictures in frames shall be protected on the front and back by stout wooden boards each larger than the frame. Soft packing shall be placed firmly between the corners of the frame and the boards, but not so as to press on the glass.

(6) Sharp instruments may be transmitted as parcels, but only if the edges and points are carefully covered.

(7) Umbrellas, walking-sticks, fishing-rods, and other similar articles shall be enclosed in stout cases made of wood at least three-eighths of an inch thick, but the two small ends of such cases may be of lighter wood such as three-ply. Soft interior packing must be used in all cases where the handles are made of brittle or fragile substances.

(8) Thoroughly seasoned raw celluloid (including scrap celluloid), that is to say, celluloid which has been freed from all volatile solvents, or articles (other than Cinematograph and photographic films) manufactured of celluloid which has been similarly seasoned shall be packed in cardboard boxes, corrugated cardboard cartons, or wooden boxes, or completely enclosed in corrugated cardboard. Raw celluloid, containing volatile solvent that is to say sometimes called xylonite cake, also liquid celluloid (celluloid solutions), shall not be accepted for transmission. Calendars, and similar articles in which only a small quantity of celluloid is used, may be accepted under the ordinary conditions.

(9) Cinematograph and photographic films (inflammable films with a nitro-cellulose base) shall be packed in a tin case enclosed in a strong wooden box. If any part of the box is composed of more than one piece of wood, the pieces must be jointed together by means of tongues and grooves. A lining of suitable material shall be placed between the upper edges of the box and the lid; and the lid shall be firmly screwed down. A white label bearing the words "Films Inflammable" in plain black letter shall be affixed to the parcel.

(10) Suit, attaché, dressing and other similar cases shall be protected by wooden boards covering the sides.

(11) For liquids and substances which easily liquefy two receptacles shall be used. The outer receptacle shall be of strong wood or metal. Between this and the inner receptacle containing the liquid, space shall be left all round, and this space shall be filled with bran, sawdust, or other absorbent material in sufficient quantity to absorb all the liquid contents in the event of breakage.

(12) Powders shall have an inner covering securely closed, and a strong outer covering of metal, wood or leather.

(13) China, crockery and glass shall be firmly packed in rigid metal or wooden boxes with ample soft packing between the article and the top, bottom and side of the box.

(14) Food and other articles attractive to vermin shall be packed in receptacles which are vermin proof.

Delay of despatch, etc., for safety reasons

96. In any case where an officer of the post office may find it necessary or expedient for the safety or protection of parcels that any parcel should be forwarded or delivered by some later despatch or delivery than that for which the same was posted or despatched, or intended to be posted or despatched respectively, he may delay the despatch or delivery of such parcel, or make other and special arrangements as to the despatch or delivery thereof as may be deemed by such officer necessary or expedient in the circumstances of the case.

Request for treatment of undeliverable parcel

97. The sender of a parcel may request at the time of posting that if the parcel cannot be delivered as addressed it may be either-

Return of parcel in absence of request

98. In the absence of a definite request for abandonment a parcel which is undeliverable at the original address or at the alternative address if one is furnished shall be returned to the sender without previous notification and at his expense.

Delivery, etc., may be deferred to avoid delay in delivery of letters

99. Where the despatch or delivery from a post office in Solomon Islands of letters would be delayed by the despatch or delivery there from at the same time of parcels, such parcels, or any of them, may be detained in the office until the despatch or delivery next following that by which they would ordinarily be despatched or delivered.

Disposal of undeliverable parcels

100. The contents of unclaimed or undelivered parcels which have been returned to Solomon Islands, and cannot be delivered to the sender shall be sold or destroyed as directed by the Comptroller.

Compensation for uninsured and unregistered parcels

101. Uninsured and unregistered parcels shall be received and forwarded at the risk of the owners but compensation up to the maximum of two dollars may be allowed for total loss of, or damage to, a parcel securely packed and forwarded in accordance with these Regulations:

Provided that no compensation shall be paid for damage to any article inadequately or insecurely packed, or to any of the articles enumerated in regulation 108.

When compensation not payable

102. In no circumstances will compensation be paid in respect of an uninsured or unregistered parcel which has been lost or has sustained damage or loss of contents through any cause beyond control. Each claim for compensation must be supported by the production of the relative certificate of posting.

Charges on inland post parcels

103. Parcels may be accepted for registration upon payment of the prescribed fees in addition to ordinary postage.

General regulations

104. The general regulations regarding registration shall apply to registered parcels.

Where parcels may be insured, etc

105. Parcels tendered for insurance shall be accepted at such post offices as the Comptroller may from time to time direct for transmission to and delivery at, any money order office within Solomon Islands and to any country with which an agreement is made relating to the transmission of insured parcels.

Packing of insured parcel, etc

106. Every insured parcel shall be packed carefully and substantially with due regard to the nature of the contents and the length of the journey, and shall be sealed with wax, lead or steel, bearing a private mark in such a way that it cannot be opened without breaking the seals or leaving obvious traces of violation; for instance, seals must be placed over each joint or loose flap of the coverings of a parcel and, if string be used in packing, a seal must be placed at the ends of the string where they are tied.

Parcels containing coin, etc

107. Parcels containing coin, platinum or bullion, watches, precious stones, jewellery or any, article of: gold or silver shall be insured for at least part of their value and they shall be enclosed in a strong box or case, which shall be sewn up or otherwise fastened in a wrapper of linen, canvas, strong paper, or other substantial material. In such cases the seals shall be placed along the edges of each join or loose flap at distances not more than three inches apart. The address of every such parcel shall be written on its actual covering.

Parcels containing perishable articles

108. Parcels containing any of the following articles shall not be insured against damage, but they may be insured against loss only, on payment of fees on the same scale as those for insurance of other articles against loss or damage, namely, liquids and substances which easily liquefy, perishable articles such as eggs, butter, flowers, fruit, and confectionery, and fragile articles such as china, glassware, millinery, and gramophone records.

Parcels containing jewellery exceeding $200 in value

109. Every parcel posted within Solomon Islands containing jewellery exceeding two hundred dollars in value shall be packed in a box measuring not less than three feet six inches in length and girth combined.

General regulations

110. The general regulations regarding insurance shall apply to insured parcels.

Assessment of duty, etc

111. When a parcel or a packet sent by post contains anything liable to duty under the laws relating to customs, which are now or may hereafter be in force in Solomon Islands, the Comptroller of Customs and Excise at the port or place at which such parcel or packet is landed shall assess the duty payable thereon. The parcel or packet shall then be sent to the office of destination where the postmaster shall retain possession of it until the addressee or his authorised agent shall have signed the parcel entry and receipt form and have paid all charges payable.

Inspection of parcel

112. Every parcel shall be subject to inspection in the presence of the owner thereof or his authorised agent, and to valuation by the Comptroller of Customs and Excise at the port of entry, or an officer authorised by him in that behalf.

Delivery to addressee only

113. No parcel shall be delivered by the postmaster except to the addressee thereof or his authorised agent. Every addressee of a parcel wishing it to be delivered to another person on his behalf must sign and deliver to the postmaster an authority in such form as the Comptroller may direct.

Production of invoice

114. The addressee of every parcel or his agent shall, when required to do so by the Comptroller, produce the invoice, if any, of the contents of the parcel.

Form and signature of notices, etc

115. - (1) All notices of removal and applications for the redirection of postal packets shall be signed by the persons to whom such packets are addressed.

(2) The printed form of notice, which may be obtained on application at any post office shall be used whenever practicable.

(3) Redirection orders by telegraph shall be accepted provided that signatures are in full and can be verified.

Changes of address

116. - (1) Changes of address shall be recorded for a period not exceeding six months and, if not renewed before the expiration of that time, shall be deemed to have lapsed.

(2) This service may be continued for a further period of six months on payment of a fee of fifty cents for every address recorded, and after that period, for every year thereafter, an annual fee of one dollar.

Letters addressed to care of private box holders etc

117. It shall not be obligatory upon the Department to intercept and re-address before delivery, letters addressed to the care of private box holders, hotels, lodging houses and warehouses.

Where interception to be made

118. - (1) It shall not be obligatory upon the Department to intercept postal packets at any office other than that to which they are addressed.

(2) Applications for the redirection of postal packets should be made directly to the postmaster of the office to which such packets are addressed.

No charge for redirection by surface mail except in case of parcels

119. - (1) No charge shall be made for redirection of postal packets by surface mail, except in the case of parcels, provided that the packet is re-posted not later than seven days after delivery, but postal packets which are properly prepaid for their first transmission, and on which the complementary postage appropriate to the further transmission has not been paid before their redirection, shall be charged with a rate equal to the difference between the amount of postage already paid, and that which would have been charged if the postal packets had been despatched in the first instance to the new destination. Postal packets requiring redirection by airmail, shall be fully prepaid or, alternatively, airmail charges shall be covered by written agreement to pay on delivery.

(2) Postal packets re-pasted for redirection later than seven days after delivery shall be charged at the prepaid rate and any packet which shall appear to the Comptroller to have been opened or tampered with shall be charged as freshly posted and unpaid.

Unpaid or insufficiently paid packets

120. - (1) Postal packets unpaid and insufficiently prepaid for transmission to the place of first address, if redirected to another address, shall, in addition to any charges already due thereon, be subject to a charge equal to the difference between the rate of postage from the original office of posting to the first address and the new address, provided that the rate of postage to the new address from the original place of posting is in excess of that to the first address.

(2) Postal packets which have originally circulated free of postage within Solomon Islands, shall be charged upon redirection beyond Solomon Islands at the rate applicable to prepaid postal packets of the same nature addressed directly from the place of origin to that of the new destination.

Fresh postage payable on correction of address and reposting

121. Every postal packet, ordinary or registered, which being wrongly or insufficiently addressed, which is returned to the sender in order that the address may be corrected or completed shall when posted with the address completed or corrected be considered as a freshly posted postal packet on which new and distinct rates of postage shall be paid.

Persons authorised to frank postal packets

122. - (1) No person other than a person authorised under paragraph (2) shall frank postal packets for free transmission by post.

(2) The Minister, the Minister of Finance, the Head of any department of the Government, any District Commissioner, any other public officer authorised in that behalf by the Minister of Finance in his discretion, and all members of the National Parliament in relation to matters concerned with the public business of Solomon Islands, shall be duly authorised persons for the purposes of this regulation.

(3) Postal packets on the public service shall be franked for transmission by post either by means of a franking stamp approved by the Comptroller and bearing the designation of the department or office from which it is posted and the words "Official Paid"; or shall bear the signature of the sender, followed by his official designation, at the bottom left-hand corner of the envelope or cover.

(4) Every officer authorised to use a franking stamp shall be responsible for its proper use and custody according to these Regulations.

(5) Officers authorised to frank postal packets on the public service shall also be entitled to receive, without pre-payment of postage, letters and other documents addressed to them in their official capacity and superscribed "On Her Majesty's Service" provided such articles are on the public service, and not on the private business or in the personal interest of the sender.

(6) Any public officer who may receive any postal packet franked as being "On Her Majesty's Service", but which is not entitled to pass through the post without prepayment, shall forward the cover thereof, a certified copy of the contents, and a statement of its weight together with a report of the facts of the case, to the Comptroller, by whom the postage due thereon shall be collected from the sender, or other action taken as the Comptroller may deem fit.

(7) The privilege of franking shall not apply to postal packets which are intended for transmission beyond Solomon Islands.

How undelivered packets to be dealt with

124. - (1) Every postal packet which remains undelivered at any post office to which it has been transmitted for delivery shall be kept at such office for delivery for a period of one month, and as soon as possible after the expiration of such period, if still undelivered, shall be forwarded to the General Post Office in Honiara to be there dealt with as provided by regulation 125:

Provided that postal packets originally posted outside Solomon Islands shall be kept for a period of two months before being dealt with in the manner indicated herein.

(2) Anything to the contrary notwithstanding in paragraph (1), any undelivered postal packet (other than a parcel or a newspaper) bearing on the outside of the cover the name and address of the writer or sender thereof may, after retention for the usual period at the office to which the same has been forwarded for delivery, be returned unopened to such writer or sender direct from such office; and any postal packet other than a parcel or a newspaper bearing on the address side of the cover thereof a request that it be returned to the sender if undelivered after the expiration of a specified period shorter than the time prescribed for the retention of undelivered postal packets generally shall be returned in like manner immediately after the expiration of the period specified in such request.

Disposal of undelivered packets

125. - (1) All postal packets other than parcels or printed papers remaining undelivered shall be disposed of in the following manner:-

Information

126. No information shall be given respecting postal packets passing through a post office except to the persons to whom they are addressed; and in no other way shall information of a private character be made public.

Return of postal packets, etc

127. - (1) Except as provided in these Regulations, officers shall not return any postal packet to the writer or sender, or to anyone else, or delay forwarding it to its destination according to the address.

(2) Any person desiring the return of a postal packet posted by him must either obtain the consent in writing of the person to whom the same is addressed or an order from the Comptroller.

(3) Applications for the return of correspondence shall be accompanied by the fee prescribed in the First Schedule.

Weighing of postal packets

128. - (1) Officers of the Department are not bound to weigh postal packets for the public, but they may do so if their duty is not thereby impeded.

(2) This Regulation shall not apply to parcels which shall be tested both as to weight and size before being accepted.

Giving of change

129. Officers of the Department are not bound to give change, and when money is paid at a post office, whether as change or otherwise, no question as to its right amount, goodness or weight shall be entertained after it has been removed from the counter.

Application for licence

130. A person desiring a licence to sell postage stamps shall make written application to the Comptroller stating where his premises are situated and the nature of the business carried on by the applicant. As a general rule, licences will be issued only to persons whose business premises are situated outside a radius of half a mile from a post office, unless such premises are kept open beyond the normal postal hours of business.

Licence to sell stamps

131. For the convenience of the public and when deemed expedient, a licence may be granted in a form approved by the Comptroller to any person to sell such postage stamps as may be specified in the licence.

No charge for licence, etc

132. A licence shall be granted without charge, may be revoked at pleasure, and shall authorise the sale of postage stamps only at the premises named in the licence.

Notice to be exhibited

133. A notice shall be exhibited in some conspicuous place in front of the premises licensed, with the words "Licensed to sell Postage Stamps" painted in letters at least one inch in height and of proportionate breadth.

Purchase of stamps and commission

134. - (1) Supplies of stamps shall be purchased by licensed vendors for cash and vendors shall be allowed a commission of five per centum on purchases of stamps.

(2) Such commission shall not be allowed on purchases which total less than two dollars in value at any one time.

Dividing commission with public prohibited

135. Any, licensed vendor found dividing with the public the commission allowed under these Regulations on postage stamps purchased by him, or offering consideration with a view to inducing any person to purchase postage stamps at his place of business, shall be liable to have his licence cancelled.

Employment of agent

136. - (1) A licensed vendor shall not, in relation to the sale of postage stamps, appoint or employ any other licensed vendor as his agent or act as the agent of any other licensed vendor.

(2) If the Comptroller is satisfied that any licensed vendor is guilty of any contravention of this regulation he shall forthwith cancel his licence.

Private letter box may be let

137. The Comptroller may, in his discretion and subject to such conditions as he may deem necessary, let to any person or persons a private post office box at any post office for the delivery of postal packets addressed to the lessee thereof, and the rental of such box shall be in accordance with the scale prescribed in the First Schedule.

Discretion to refuse to let box

138. The Comptroller may refuse to let a private post office box to any person without assigning any reasons for such refusal, and may cancel the lease of any such box at any time without notice if it appears to him that any conditions of the lease have been infringed or if in his opinion the box is intended to be or is being used for objectionable purposes.

Use of private box

139. Private post office boxes shall be used exclusively for the reception of postal packets.

Entry to box

140. Each private box shall be opened and closed from without the office by the renter thereof by means of a door, a lock, and a key, which shall be kept in repair at the renter's expense, fair wear and tear alone excepted.

Rental fees

141. The rental fees shall be payable in advance and shall be calculated to 31st December in each year, any portion of a month being considered as a full month.

Temporary residents

142. Notwithstanding the provisions of these Regulations for payment of annual fees, persons who declare that they are temporary residents and desire to rent a private box for a limited time may be allowed to use such box for a period of not less than three months and not more than six months and in any such case a proportionate fee shall be charged calculated from the first day of the month in which the box is taken to the last day of the month in which the box is surrendered.

Deposit in respect of keys

143. - (1) The renter of a private box shall in addition to any other fee payable under these Regulations make a deposit of one dollar for each key issued. Such deposit shall be refunded if the key issued to the depositor for the private box is returned to the Comptroller within fourteen days from the date on which the tenancy expires.

(2) If a key of a private box be lost information in writing shall be at once given to the officer in charge of the post office in which such box is situated.

(3) When the loss of a key of a private box is reported as required by paragraph (2) a new lock shall be fitted to the box on the renter paying the sum of five dollars. On each occasion on which a lock is renewed a key of the new lock shall be issued to him.

(4) Notwithstanding anything in these Regulations the key of a private box shall be and remain the property of the Comptroller who may require the renter of a private box to return the key to him on such person ceasing to be the renter of the box.

Transfer of box

144. A private letter box may be transferred to the successor in business of the original renter, upon application being made by both parties, and an undertaking being furnished by the transferee to accept all liabilities and obligations devolving upon the original renter at the time of transfer.

Right to deposit on transfer of box

145. When a private box is transferred, the right to refund of the deposit, as provided in regulation 143 shall pass to the transferee.

Private mail bags

146. The Comptroller may enter into arrangements with any person for the use of a private mail bag for the transmission of postal packets from the residence of such person to the nearest post office and vice versa, subject to such conditions as the Comptroller may deem expedient and to payment by the said person of the fee set out in the First Schedule.

One family or firm only use bag

147. Not more than one family or firm shall use the same private mail bag, but correspondence addressed to and send by guests of the renter of a private mail bag, is employees and the families of his employees, may be enclosed therein.

Rental fees

148. The rental fees shall be payable in advance and shall be calculated to 31st December in each year, any portion of a month being considered as a full month.

Use of private bag for registered packets, etc

149. - (1) By signing a form indemnifying the post office against any claim for loss, renters of private mail bags may have registered postal packets enclosed in their bags without the preliminary formality of giving receipts for these articles, otherwise such registered postal packets shall be forwarded to the nearest post office.

(2) No insured postal packets shall be delivered however until a signed receipt has been obtained.

Deposit in respect of duty, etc

150. Postal packets whereon postage, customs dues or other charges are payable may be enclosed in private mail bags without prior payment of charged if the renters have made a deposit with the postmaster to meet such charges.

Delivery of large parcels, etc

151. In cases in which large packets or parcels for a private mail bag renter are too numerous or too large to go into the private mail bag or bags paid for, the renter shall either take delivery of them at the nearest post office, or shall make his own arrangements for their delivery.

Dimensions of bag

152. - (1) The bag or bags, if more than one be necessary, shall measure twenty inches by thirty-six inches, and shall be fitted with a lock and two keys.

(2) One key shall be held by the post office and the other by the renter.

(3) Such bags and locks shall be provided and kept in repair by the renter at his own expense.

Cost of carriage of private bag

153. The prescribed fee shall not be deemed to include the cost of the carriage of private mail bags but shall be deemed to include the carriage by mail carrier if available or by contract vessels.

Discretion to refuse private bag, etc

154. The Comptroller in his absolute discretion may refuse any application for a private mail bag service, or may terminate any such service on the expiration of three months' notice of his intention to do so, and he shall thereupon refund a proportionate amount of the fee already paid in respect of such service.

Freight on mails in Solomon Islands

155. There shall be paid to every master of any coasting vessel (not being a vessel under contract to carry mails) who shall receive and give a receipt for and deliver the country mails according to the direction thereof at the post offices of the several ports or places at which they may touch the rates prescribed in the First Schedule in respect of each mail packet, mail bag, or mail hamper so delivered by him.

Voucher in respect of mails carried

156. The master of any such coasting vessel as aforesaid shall, on receiving a mail, be furnished by an officer of the post office with a voucher addressed to the postmaster at any money order office in Form 2 in the Second Schedule showing the date of despatch, the number of mail packets and mail bags in the mail, and the amount payable on delivery of the mail and on delivery of the mail at its destination by the master of any such coasting vessel as aforesaid the officer of the post office receiving such mail shall give a receipt and record the date thereof as provided for in the voucher, and such master shall then take such voucher to the postmaster at the nearest money order office who shall on delivery of such voucher duly receipted as aforesaid, pay to such master the amount specified in such voucher and take his receipt therefor.

Freight on mails beyond Solomon Islands
First Schedule

157. The rates as set out in the First Schedule shall be paid to every master of any vessel (not being a vessel under contract to carry mails) about to depart from Solomon Islands to or for any place beyond Solomon Islands, who receives on board thereof any mail packet, mail bag, or mail hamper for the purpose of conveying the same beyond Solomon Islands.

Business reply service

158. - (1) Any person desiring a licence to use business reply cards shall make written application to the Comptroller.

(2) A licence shall be granted upon payment in advance of the sum of not less than two dollars to cover the charges likely to accrue during the month.

(3) Business reply cards, envelopes or wrappers shall be printed on the address side as shown here under-

POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY LICENSEE

NO POSTAGE STAMPS NECESSARY IF POSTED IN SOLOMON ISLANDS
BUSINESS REPLY SERVICES LICENCE NO.

Solomon%20Islands%20-%20Post%20Office%20Act%20[Cap%20113]01.png

(4) A fee of two cents in addition to normal postage shall be charged on each business reply card, envelope or wrapper returned through the post to the licensee.

Registration of newspapers and magazines

159. - (1) Subject to the provisions of the succeeding paragraphs the proprietor or printer of a newspaper or magazine may register it at the General Post Office, Honiara, so as to obtain for it the preferential postage rates accorded to registered newspapers or registered magazines as set out in the Post Office Guide.

(2) The publication shall consist in great part of political or other current news and general topics.

(3) It shall be printed and published in Solomon Islands, or the United Kingdom, or in some other part of Her Majesty's Dominions, or the Republic of India, or the Republic of Pakistan, or the Republic of Ireland, or any British Protectorate or Protected State. The Comptroller may refuse to register any publication unless it is proved to his satisfaction that a responsible representative is maintained in Solomon Islands.

(4) A registered newspaper shall be published at intervals of not more than thirty days and a registered magazine at intervals of not more than three months.

(5) The full title and date of the publication shall be printed at the top of the first page.

(6) The fee for the registration of a newspaper or magazine shall be as prescribed in the First Schedule.

(7) Upon change of title, or place of publication, it shall be necessary for the newspaper or magazine to be re-registered.

Household circulars

160. - (1) All circulars or other printed papers on letter, leaflet or pamphlet form, addressed with a class designation such as "The Householder" or "The Owner" with or without a place of delivery and inscribed "Postage Paid", shall be deemed to be household circulars.

(2) Household circulars may be in covers or unenclosed, provided that circulars made of flimsy material or paper shall be posted in covers.

Postage rates

161. Postage for household circulars shall be paid in cash at the rates prescribed in the First Schedule.

Condition

162. The following conditions shall be observed by the senders of household circulars:-

1. AIRMAIL (reg. 5)
(a) LETTERS
	(i) ZONE 1
	For the first 10 g or part thereof	60c
	For every 10 g or part thereof in excess of the first 10 g.	35c
	(ii) ZONE 2
	For the first 10 g or part thereof	65c
	For every 10 g or part thereof in excess of the first 10 g.	45c
	(iii) ZONE 3
	For the first 10 g or part thereof	75c
	For every 10 g or part thereof in excess of first 10 g.	50c
	(iv) ZONE 4
	For every first 10 g or part thereof	80c
	For every 10 g or part thereof in excess of first 10 g.	60c
	(v) ZONE 5
	For every first 10 g or part thereof	90c
	For every 10 g or part thereof in excess of first 10 g	60c

(b) AEROGRAMMES (Reg. 5)		40c

(c) PRINTED PAPERS AND SMALL PACKETS (Reg. 5)
	(i) ZONE 1
	For the first 50 g or part thereof	60c
	For every 30 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g	35c
	(ii) ZONE 2
	For the first 50 g or part thereof	65c
	For every 30 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g	40c
	(iii) ZONE 3
	For the first 50 g or part thereof	75c
	For every 30 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g	45c
	(iv) ZONE 4
	For the first 50 g or part thereof	80c
	For every 30 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g	50c
	(v) ZONE 5
	For the first 50 g and part thereof	95c
	For every 30 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g	60c

(d) REGISTERED NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE (Reg. 5)
	(i) ZONE 1
	For the first 50 g or part thereof	50c
	For every 30 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g	30c

	For the first 50 g or part thereof For every 30 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g 35	65c
	For every first 30 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g	35c
	(iii) ZONE 3
	For the first 50 g or part thereof	70c
	For every 30 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g	40c
	(iv) ZONE 4
	For the first 50 g or part thereof	80c
	For every 30 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g	45c
	(v) ZONE 5
	For the first 50 g or part thereof	90c
	For every 30 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g	50c

(e) POST CARDS (Reg. 5)
	(i) ZONE 1
	For every first 10 g or part thereof	30c
	For every 10 g or part thereof in excess of the first 10 g	20c
	(ii) ZONE 2
	For the first 10 g or part thereof	35c
	For every 10 g or part thereof in excess of the first 10 g	20c
	(iii) ZONE 3
	For the first 10 g or part thereof	35c
	For every 10 g or part thereof in excess of the first 10 g	20c
	(iv) ZONE 4
	For the first 10 g or part thereof	40c
	For every 10 g or part thereof in excess of the first 10 g	25c
	(v) ZONE 5
	For every first 10 g or part thereof	40c
	For every 10 g or part thereof in excess of the first 10 g	25c

(f) LITERATURE FOR THE BLIND (Reg. 5)
	For the first 50 g or part thereof	25c
	For every 10 g or part thereof in excess of that 50 g	10c

2. SURFACE MAIL (Reg. 5) (a) LETTERS
Weight of 50 g or less	40c
Weight over 50 g up to 100 g	90c
Weight over 100 g up to 250 g	$2.10c
Weight over 250 g up to 500 g	$2.50c
Weight over 500 g up to 1000 g	$6.00c
Weight over 1000 g up to 2,000 g	$9.25c

(b) PRINTED PAPERS (Reg. 5)
Weight of 50 g or less	45c
Weight over 50 g up to 100 g	75c
Weight over 100 g up to 250 g	$1.40c
Weight over 250 g up to 500 g	$2.50c
Weight over 500 g up to 1000 g	$3.90c
Weight over 1000 g up to 2000 g	$5.30c
For every 1000 g or part thereof in excess of 2000 g	$2.90

(c)REGISTERED NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE (Reg. 5)
Weight of 20 g or less	30c
Weight over 20 g up to 100 g	45c
Weight over 100 g up to 250 g	95c
Weight over 250 g up to 500 g	$1.60c
Weight over 500 g up to 1000 g	$2.80c
Weight over 1000 g up to 2000 g	$3.75c
For every 1000 g or part thereof in excess of 2000 g	$2.00c

(d) POST CARDS (Reg. 5)	20c

(e) SMALL PACKETS (Reg. 5)
Weight of 100 g or less	70c
Weight over 100 g up to 250 g	$1.35c
Weight over 250 g up to 500 g	$2.15c
Weight over 500 g up to 1000 g	$3.55c

(a) REDIRECTION FEES (Reg. 116)
	(i) Redirection for an initial period not exceeding 1 month		95c

	(ii) Redirection for a period not exceeding 3 months commencing prior to the first anniversary of redirection.		$1.85c

	(iii) Redirection for a period not exceeding 6 months commencing prior to the first anniversary of redirection.		$2.80c

	(iv) Redirection for a period not exceeding 1 year commencing prior to the first anniversary of redirection.		$3.65c

	(v) Redirection for a period not exceeding 1 year on or after the first anniversary of redirection.		$4.60c

(b) Request for stoppage, withdrawal of post, or alteration of address (reg. 90)			$1.10c

(c) Late Fee (reg. 11)			$1.10c

(d) Fee for enquiry or request for information (reg. 19)			$1.10c

(e) Registration fee for overseas registered articles only (reg. 5)			$1.10c

(f) Compensation to a maximum of 60 francs (19.60 SDR) per item (reg. 50)

(g) Compulsory registration fee (reg. 43)			$1.10c

(h) Certificate of posting (reg. 5)			$1.10c

(i) Acknowledgement receipt of Registered Articles (AR) (reg. 42)			$1.10c

(j) Postage charge account 15% handling/administrative fee of the total monthly transaction			$3.20c

(k) Aerogramme Forms
Small size (unstamped)			$0.40c
Large size (unstamped)			$0.90c

(l) POSTPAC ENVELOPES

Size 1 (133 x 190)		Postpac	@ $0.95c
Size 2 (178 x 254)		Postpac	@ $1.15c
Size 3 (203 x 280)		Postpac	@ $1.30c
Size 4 (254 x 381)		Postpac	@ $1.60c
Size 5 (324 x 450)		Postpac	@ $1.15c

(m) TAPE PRODUCTS

TIP-R-12		Packaging Tape (Polypropylane)	@ $0.95c
TIP-R-CNT 101		Double coated tissue Tape	@ $1.15c
TIP-R-M20		Reinforcement Filament Tape	@ $0.80c
TIP-R-92		Retractable Handy Cutter	@ $1.35c
TIP-66266		Loose Fill Foam	@ $1.45c
TIP-350		Security seal	@ $0.95c
TIP-L90103		Address Label	@ $0.70c
(a) BBL-3001		Cushionwrap (350 mm x 350 mm)	@ $1.20c
(b) BBL-3001		Cushionwrap (280 mm x 350 mm)	@ $0.80c

11. MISCELLANEOUS POSTAL TARIFFS

(a) Advise of delivery after posting (Reg. 5)	25c
(b) Parcel Posted in a Posting Box (Reg. 86)	70c
(c) Demurrage fee (Reg. 92)
(i) No charge for first 30 days
(ii) For every one week or part thereof after those 30 days (Reg. 92)	70c
(d) Normal Registration fee (Reg. 5)	70c
(e) Return or withdrawal of a Postal Packet (Reg. 127)	60c
(f) Fee for enquiry or request for information (Reg. 19)	70c
(g) Fee for exchange of mint postage stamps (Reg. 10)	10% face value
(h) Registration fee for newspapers and magazines (Reg. 150)	$22.40c
(i) Freight for Internal Surface mail (Reg. 155)
(i) per packet	$2.50c
(ii) per bag	$4.00c
(j) Handing charge - taxed mail (overseas Articles only)	30c
(k) Compulsory Registration fee (Reg. 43)	70c
(l) Advise of delivery at time of Posting (Reg. 5)	70c
(m) Certificate of Posting (Reg. 5)	70c
(n) Acknowledgement of receipt of registered article (Reg. 42)	70c
(o) Postal Charge account 15% handling/administrative fee of the total monthly transactions
(p) AEROGRAMME FORMS:
(i) Small size (unstamped)	10c
(ii) Large size (unstamped)	20c

(a) Via SYDNEY

Country	Up to 1 kg	Up to 3 kg	Up to 5 kg	Up to 10 kg	Up to 15 kg	Up to 20 kg
Country	$	$	$	$	$	$
Australia Direct	8.50	19.10	30.10	57.30	85.00	112.80
Ascension Is	11.80	25.20	38.65	71.00
Bahamas (Via Sydney)	11.80	25.20	38.65	71.00
Include
Barbados
Belize
Bolivia
Bermuda
Cayman Is
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Falkland Is.
French Guiana
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Honduras
Leeward Is.
Martinique
Mexico
Netherlands Antillies
Nicaragua
Panama Republic
Peru
Puerto Rico
St. Lucia
St. Vincent
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks &Caicos Is.
Belgium	16.00	29.80	45.15	78.50
Brunei	11.50	25.80	38.20	69.80
Botswana	11.90	26.30	39.10	71.80
Burma	12.30	26.45	39.10	71.80
Cameroon	13.00	27.00	39.50	62.30
Central African Republic	13.25	28.45	40.00	74.20
Chile	13.25	27.20	39.55	72.80
China (People's Republic)	13.25	28.45	40.00	74.20
Colombia	12.35	27.00	40.00	65.00
Congo (People’s Republic)	14.25	28.60	41.45	76.40
Cyprus	14.25	28.70	41.90	76.30
Czechoslovakia	16.00	30.35	44.80	78.05
Denmark	12.45	26.90	40.05	72.70
Egypt	16.90	29.80	45.10	78.05
France	18.60	33.15	47.50	83.25
French Polynesia	14.45	28.70	40.60	75.90
Germany (Democ. Republic)	16.05	30.35	43.95	78.20
Germany (Federal Republic)	12.45	26.80	42.10	75.90
Gibraltar	12.45	26.80	42.10	73.65
Greece	15.15	29.25	43.50	77.20
Hong Kong	12.45.	26.80	42.10	73.65
Hungary	13.35	28.00	43.40	73.65
India	13.75	28.90	43.60	75.80
Indonesia	14.10	28.60	44.35	76.50
Iran	12.00	26.00	41.55	73.50
Ireland	12.00	25.80	41.55	73.10
Israel	12.60	26.80	42.70	74.70
Italy	14.10	28.60	43.60	76.50
Ivory Coast	12.00	28.60	46.85	81.00
Jamaica	12.00	28.60	46.80	81.00
Japan	14.70	29.60	46.95	78.50
Jordan	12.45	26.45	42.30	73.50
Kenya	12.45	27.55	38.00	73.15
Korea (Rep. of South)	12.45	26.45	42.10	73.50
Kuwait	12.90	27.00	42.85	74.70
Lesotho	13.35	27.25	43.25	74.85
Liberia	12.20	26.10	42.25	74.95
Libya	14.25	28.60	42.35	76.40
Malawi	12.80	26.80	42.80	74.20
Malaysia	12.45	26.45	42.70	73.25
Malta	12.35	26.80	42.70	74.10
Netherlands	13.35	27.35	43.40	74.75
Nigeria	13.10	27.25	43.25	74.05
Norway	14.25	27.80	43.60	74.75
Pakistan	12.45	26.90	42.25	74.95
Philippines	12.45	26.45	42.25	73.70
Poland	13.35	27.55	42.45	74.95
Portugal	13.75	28.00	44.15	75.85
Qatar	13.35	27.80	44.80	76.85
Seychelles	12.35	26.10	42.25	73.60
Sierra Leone	13.35	27.80	43.50	74.95
Singapore	12.45	26.45	42.30	73.70
South Africa	13.75	27.80	44.15	75.80
Spain	14.25	28.45	44.55	75.95
Sri Lanka	15.15	29.15	44.90	76.05
Swaziland	11.50	25.65	41.80	73.40
Sweden	14.60	28.60	44.35	76.05
Switzerland	13.00	27.20	43.40	74.85
Taiwan	12.90	27.00	43.25	74.80
Tanzania	14.90	29.60	45.15	77.95
Thailand	13.75	28.00	44.25	76.05
Tristan da Gunha	10.75	24.45	40.05	70.70
Turkey	14.00	28.30	43.80	75.60
Uganda	13.55	26.45	42.35	73.80
USSR	17.80	33.15	50.30	85.70
Vatican City State	12.45	26.45	42.10	73.65
Yemen Arab Rep	12.90	27.35	43.25	74.70
Yugoslavia	14.00	28.45	44.70	76.95
Zaire (Rep. of)	12.35	26.35	42.45	74.05
Zambia	14.70	29.40	46.50	78.30
Zimbabwe	10.95	24.75	40.20	73.15

(f) INTERNATIONAL EXPRESS MAIL CHARGES

	Service		Charges per weight steps
	Express		Charges per weight steps
Country		Up to 500 g	Up to 1 kg	Up to 3 kg	Up to 5 kg	Up to 10 kg	Up to 15 kg	Up to 20 kg
		$	$	$	$	$	$	$
Australia		13.45	16.80	28.00	39.20	67.20	100.00	-
Belgium		30.25	45.95	94.10	142.25	-	-
Fiji		13.45	16.80	28.20	39.20	67.20	-
Hong Kong		16.80	20.20	42.60	64.95	126.55	182.60	238.60
Iceland		29.15	40.35	85.10	134.40	252.00	-	-
Ireland		29.10	40.35	85.10	134.40	252.00	-	-
Japan		11.20	22.40	67.20	112.00	224.00	-	-
New Zealand		15.70	17.90	29.15	40.30	68.35	-	-
Papua New Guinea		9.00	11.20	19.05	26.90	51.55	78.40	95.20
Singapore		11.20	16.80	33.60	56.00	112.00	168.00	-
Switzerland		28.00	40.30	80.65	123.20	235.20	-	-
Taiwan		11.20	17.90	40.35	62.70	118.75	174.70	-
United Kingdom		29.15	40.30	85.15	134.40	252.00	369.60	-
USA		22.40	33.60	56.00	78.40	134.40	-	-

1. LETTERS (Reg. 5)

Weight of 50 g or less	25c
Weight over 50 g up to 100 g	50c
Weight over 100 g up to 150 g	75c
Weight over 150 g up to 200 g	$1.00
Weight over 200 g up to 400 g	$1.25c
Weight over 400 g up to 600 g	$2.50c
Weight over 600 g up to 800 g	$3.50c
Weight over 800 g up to 1000 g	$4.50c
Weight over 1000 g up to 2000 g	$8.00c

2. PRINTED PAPERS

Weight of 50 g or less	20c
Weight over 50 g up to 100 g	40c
Weight over 100 g up to 150 g	60c
Weight over 150 g up to 200 g	75c
Weight over 200 g up to 400 g	$1.30c
Weight over 400 g up to 600 g	$1.90c
Weight over 600 g up to 800 g	$2.65c
Weight over 800 g up to 1000 g	$3.25c
Weight over 1000 g up to 2000 g	$5.05c
For every 1000 g or part thereof in excess of 2000 g	$1.60c

4. SMALL PACKETS (Reg. 5)

Weight of 100 g or less	45c
Weight over 100 g up to 200 g	85c
Weight over 200 g up to 400 g	$1.50c
Weight over 400 g up to 600 g	$2.15c
Weight over 600 g up to 800 g	$2.60c
Weight over 800 g up to 1000 g	$3.10c

6. PARCEL (Reg. 5)

Weight of 1 kg or less	$2.50c
Weight over 1 kg up to 3 kg	$3.25c
Weight over 3 kg up to 5 kg	$4.50c
Weight over 5 kg up to 10 kg	$5.45c
Weight over 10 kg up to 15 kg	$6.60c
Weight over 15 kg up to 20 kg	$9.50c

8. FEE ON REGISTRATION (Reg. 5 & 103)

Where maximum limit of compensation is $20	60c
Where maximum limit of compensation is $40	75c
Where maximum limit of compensation is $60	$1.00c
Where maximum limit of compensation is $80	$1.30c
Where maximum limit of compensation is $100	$1.60c

5. REGISTERED NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE (Reg. 5)

Weight of 100g or less	20c
Weight over 20 g up to 100 g	35c
Weight over 100 g up to 250 g	75c
Weight over 250 g up to 500 g	$1.00c
Weight over 500 g up to 1000 g	$1.70c
Weight over 1000 g up to 2000 g	$2.65c
For every 1000 g or part thereof in excess 2000 g	$1.40c

9. BUSINESS REPLY POST (Reg. 5)

(a) Fee for a Monthly Licence	$5.00 or such higher fees as the Comptroller of P & T after consulting the intending licensee may determined.
(b) Fee for each time a business reply card, envelope or wrapping is returned through the Post to the Licensee.	05c

1.	PRIVATE POST OFFICE BOX AND BAG RENTALS (Reg. 137 & 146)

(a) General Post Office:			Small size box	$50.00c
			Medium size box	$75.00c
			Large size box	$100.00c

(b)		Provincial Offices:	Small size	$50.00c
		Medium size box		$60.00c
		Large size box		$70.00c

2.	Private Bag			$50.00c

3.	Key deposit for private Letter Box			$10.00c

4.	New lock for private box			$25.00c

(b) Via NADI

Country	Up to 1 kg	Up to 3 kg	Up to 5 kg	Up to 10 kg	Up to 15 kg	Up to 20 kg
Country	$	$	$	$	$	$
Canada	12.20	27.55	42.45	79.40
Cook Islands	11.90	25.80	38.10	68.45
Hawaii	11.10	27.35	42.10	78.65
New Caledonia	14.10	27.90	40.35	71.00
Niue Islands	11.90	25.80	38.10	68.45
Samoa (Western)	10.65	24.45	36.50	66.40
Samoa (USA)	11.10	27.35	42.10	78.70
Tonga	11.30	25.20	37.55	69.20
Tuvalu	10.75	24.40	36.70	66.45
United Kingdom	14.60	29.25	42.45	73.50
United States of America	11.10	27.35	42.10	78.70
Wallis and Futuna	14.10	27.90	40.45	70.00

(c) DIRECT ROUTE

Country	Up to 1 kg	Up to 3 kg	Up to 5 kg	Up to 10 kg	Up to 15 kg	Up to 20 kg
Country	$	$	$	$	$	$
Fiji	9.55	26.35	34.85	64.15	97.45	127.00
Kiribati	7.85	21.50	32.80	61.15	89.40	118.05
Nauru	7.50	16.80	24.55	43.40
New Zealand	12.20	26.20	38.65	69.35
Papua New Guinea	7.75	17.70	26.05	47.15	70.00	92.20
Vanuatu	9.00	18.40	26.35	46.40	66.95	87.25

(d) OVERSEAS AIRLIFT RATES

Country	Up to 1 kg	Up to 3 kg	Up to 5 kg	Up to 10 kg	Up to 15 kg	Up to 20 kg
Country	$	$	$	$	$	$
Australia	6.20	10.45	13.35	21.75	28.45	36.50
United Kingdom	10.20	17.50	23.55	37.50	52.65	67.50
New Zealand	6.70	14.90	20.85	34.60
Note: Only parcels up to 10 kg can be accepted in New Zealand

(e) OVERSEAS SURFACE PARCEL RATES

Country	Up to 1 kg	Up to 3 kg	Up to 5 kg	Up to 10 kg	Up to 15 kg	Up to 20 kg
Country	$	$	$	$	$	$
Australia & Territories	5.70	8.95	11.20	15.90	21.65	24.75
New Zealand (Via Australia)	6.20	11.30	15.25	24.45
United Kingdom (Via Australia)	8.20	13.00	17.60	23.55	31.60	39.45
All Other Countries Via Australia Zone:
All Other Countries Via Australia Zone:
1	4.95	8.50	10.85	15.80
2	5.35	11.65	15.90	25.00
3	6.20	11.90	16.60	26.00
4	6.50	12.55	17.40	27.55
5	6.85	13.70	18.60	28.60
(See Appendix "C" for Zones)
Note: Only parcels up to 10 kg can be accepted in a‘decouvert transit mail and New Zealand.

Solomon Islands Consolidated Legislation

Post Office Act [Cap 113]