Post Office Act, 1867

Contents
An Act for the regulation of the Postal Service.
 * Preamble.
 * PRELIMINARY--INTERPRETATION.
 * 1. Short Title.
 * Interpretation.
 * Letter.
 * Postage.
 * Foreign Country.
 * Foreign Postage.
 * Canada Postage.
 * Mail.
 * Pritish Packet Postage.
 * Employed in the Canada Post Office.
 * Post Letter.
 * Mailable Matter.
 * Post Letter Bag.
 * Any Post Office.
 * Valuable Security.
 * Between.
 * 2. Repeal of Provincial Laws.
 * [[#3.|3. Provisional continuance

of existing Post Office arrangements, Commissions and appointments.]]
 * 4. Existing bonds, contracts, &c., to continue in force.
 * Construction of contracts for conveyance of Mails.
 * 5. Regulations, &c., to remain in force, until abrogated under this Act.
 * 6. Application of Revenue Management Act, to Postal matters.
 * ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS.
 * 7. Post Office Department.
 * 8. Postmaster General.
 * 9. Governor to appoint certain Postmasters.
 * 10. Powers of Postmaster General.
 * 1. Post Offices and Routes.
 * 2. PPostmasters.
 * 3. Mail contracts.
 * 4. Mailable matter.
 * 5. Rates on mailable matter, not otherwise provided for.
 * 6. Postage Stamps.
 * 7. Arrangements with Postal authorities out of Canada.
 * 8. Refunding postage on H. M. Military or Naval Service.
 * 9. Post Office Money Orders.
 * 10. Departmental Rules and Orders.
 * 11. Registration of letters.
 * 12. Question as to periodicals, &c.
 * 13. Suits for postage, &c.
 * 14. Street letter boxes, &c.
 * 15. Sale of stamps.
 * 16. Penalties for contravention of Regulations.
 * 17. General purposes.
 * 18. Amending or repealing regulations.
 * 11. Publication, commencement, duration and evidence of regulations made by the Postmaster General.
 * 12. Bonds, &c., to be valid.
 * 13. Regulations to conform to Act.
 * 14. Post Office Inspectors.
 * 2. Their duties.
 * 15. Deputy Post Master General.
 * 16. Remuneration of Officers.
 * 17. No allowance or compensation for extra service.
 * 18. Delivery of money or property lost or stolen from the Mails when recovered.
 * RATES OF POSTAGE.
 * 19. Rates of postage on letters.
 * 20. On local or drop letters.
 * 21. Of letters to or from Seamen or Soldiers in H. M. Service.
 * 2. Or to commissioned officers, in army or navy, &c.
 * 22. Rates of postage on newspapers direct from office of publication.
 * Proviso : Exchange papers free.
 * 23. Postage on other Newspapers.
 * 24. Meaning of " Newspapers."
 * 25. Postage on other periodical publications.
 * 26. Rate of postage on books, pamphlets, &c.
 * Proviso.
 * 27. Postage on mailable matter between Canada and any other Country.
 * PAYMENT OF POSTAGE.
 * 28. From whom and how postage on unpaid letters may be recovered.
 * 2. Letters refused.
 * 3. Amount of postage.
 * 4. How recovered.
 * 29. Cases in which stamped letters for places out of Canada may be forwarded as unpaid letters.
 * 30. Postmasters not bound to give change.
 * SHIP LETTERS.
 * 31. Conveyance of letters by sea to or from Canada in vessels other than Post Office Packets.
 * EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGE OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL—AND EXCEPTIONS FROM IT.
 * 32. Except in certain cases no one but the Postmaster General to collect, convey and deliver letters in Canada on pain of a fine of $20.
 * The exceptions.
 * 33. In case of contravention letters may be seized and charged with Postage.
 * BRANCH OFFICES AND DELIVERY IN CITIES, &C.
 * 34. Establishment and regulation of Branch Post Offices in Cities.
 * 35. Employment of Letter Carriers in Cities and rates of City Postage.
 * 2. The rates.
 * 3. Carrier to give security.
 * 36. Provision for delivery of Letters in Cities free and drop letters at a low rate of City Postage.
 * PARCEL POST.
 * 37. Parcel Post.
 * Rate to be fixed by P. M. General.
 * FRANKING AND FREE MAIL MATTER.
 * 38. Certain Letters and other mailable matter to be free of Postage.
 * 2. Senate and House of Commons.
 * 3. The same.
 * 4. Limitation.
 * 5. Parliamentary papers.
 * 6. Post Office letters, &c.
 * 7. Petition, &c., to Local Legislatures.
 * PROPERTY IN POST LETTERS, AND OTHER MAILABLE MATTER.
 * 39. Property in Mailable matter.
 * DEAD LETTERS.
 * 40. Dead Letters, how dealt with.
 * 2. If containing money.
 * 41. Advertisement of Dead Letters.
 * LETTERS CONTAINING CONTRABAND GOODS.
 * 42. Detention, &c., of Letters suspected to contain contraband or dutiable goods.
 * 2. If any be found.
 * And if not.
 * TOLLS—AND FERRIES.
 * 43. Tolls and Ferries, Mails when exempt.
 * 2. Obligations of ferrymen.
 * Proviso : as to N. S. and N. B.
 * 3. Mail not to be delayed.
 * UNITED STATES MAILS PASSING THROUGH CANADA.
 * 44. Postmaster General may allow United States Mails to be carried through Canada on certain conditions.
 * 45. Such mails to be deemed while in Canada Her Majesty's Canada mails as regards the punishment of offences committed in respect thereof.
 * Property in such mails.
 * POSTMASTERS.
 * 46. Postmasters to give bonds.
 * 2. Sureties may be changed and new bonds executed.
 * 3. Application of payments made after new bond.
 * 4. Limitation of suits against sureties.
 * 47. Accountability of Postmasters to be enforced by Postmaster General.
 * 48. Penalty for delay in the rendering of accounts.
 * 49. Postmasters at Cities to render accounts of emoluments under oath.
 * 2. Sums so received to be paid over as Post Office Revenue, the Postmaster retaining only the amount of his authorized salary and allowances.
 * 50. Postmaster General may fix such salary on per centage in certain cases.
 * MAIL CONTRACTS AND CONTRACTORS.
 * 51. Mail contracts for more than $200 per ann. to be awarded only after advertizing for tenders.
 * 2. Contract to be awarded to the lowest bidder giving good security.
 * 3. If otherwise, reasons to be reported to the Governor.
 * 52. Lowest offer not to be accepted if deemed excessive.
 * Proceeding in such case.
 * 53. Postmaster may be allowed to be a Contractor.
 * 54. Every tender to be accompanied by a written guarantee to give good security.
 * 2. Penalty for failure to give security after acceptance of tender.
 * How recoverable.
 * 55. Contracts for less than $200 per annum, to be let as the Postmaster General sees fit.
 * Proviso.
 * 56. Contracts not to be made with persons who have combined to keep back tenders.
 * 57. As to Contracts with Railway or Steamboat Companies.
 * 58. Abstracts of tenders to be recorded.
 * Originals to be preserved.
 * 2. No contract to be for more than four years.
 * 59. Temporary contracts.
 * 60. Additional compensation limited.
 * And so of extra allowance.
 * 61. Her Majesty's Mail to be carried on Railways on terms and conditions to be fixed by Governor in Council.
 * POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANKS.
 * 62. Postmaster General may establish Post Office Savings Banks.
 * 63. Postmasters to receive and repay deposits.
 * 64. Deposits to be entered in Depositor's Book and entry to be attested.
 * Acknowledgment of deposit by Postmaster General to be transmitted to depositor within ten days.
 * Proviso.
 * 65. Deposit to be repaid to depositor on demand with the least possible delay.
 * 66. Name of Depositor or amount deposited or withdrawn not to be disclosed by officers.
 * 67. Money deposited to be paid over to Receiver General, and sums withdrawn to be repaid by him.
 * 68. Interest on all deposits to be payable for each $3, for each whole Calendar month, at 4 per cent per annum.
 * 69. Interest when to become principal.
 * 70. Certificates of deposit, bearing interest at five per cent, may be issued, for sums not less than $100.
 * 71. Post Office Savings Bank Regulations may be made by Postmaster General.
 * Effect of Regulations.
 * Copies to be laid before Parliament.
 * 72. Monthly return of receipts and payments to be published in Canada Gazette.
 * 73. Monthly excess of cash balance over $500,000, to be invested in Govt. Debentures.
 * 74. Annual account and statement to be laid before Parliament.
 * 75. Receiver General to credit Post Office Savings Bank account with accruel interest on invested surplus and interest at five percent on invested balance and debit it with expenses.—Profit to form part of, or loss to be made good from Consolidated Revenue Fund.
 * 76. Annual Report to Parliament.
 * First. General Account current, what to contain and shew.
 * Second. Payments for mail transport in detail.
 * Third. Salaries, &c., in detail.
 * Fourth. Incidental Expenditure in detail.
 * Fifth. Mail Contracts.
 * Sixth. Extra Allowances to contractors.
 * Curtailments of expenses.
 * Seventh. Fines imposed on Contractors.
 * Eighth. New Offices & Post Routes.
 * Ninth. Cases of loss or abstraction of money letters.
 * Tenth. Money Order Offices.
 * Eleventh. Cost of Money Order System.
 * Twelfth. Money Order offices opened or closed.
 * Thirteenth. Losses under Money Order System.
 * Fourteenth. Tenders for Contracts.
 * Fifteenth. Dead Letters.
 * Sixteenth. Post Office Savings Bank transactions.
 * OFFENCES AND PENALTIES.
 * 77. Stealing, &c., Post Letter.
 * 2. Stealing from a Post Letter.
 * 3. Stealing a Post Letter or Post Letter Bag.
 * 4. Opening a Post Letter Bag.
 * 5. Stealing parcel or its contents.
 * 6. Receiving stolen Post Letter or Post Letter Bag, &c.
 * 7. Unlawfully issuing Mosey Order.
 * 8. Forging any Postage Stamp, &c.
 * 9. Forging Money Order on Depositor's Book, &c.
 * 10. Stealing &c., Mail-key or Mail-lock.
 * 11. Unlawfully opening, &c., Post Letter Bag or Post Letter.
 * 12. Stealing, &c., certain other mailable matter.
 * 13. Wilfully destroying matter sent by mail or Parcel Post.
 * 14. Enclosing explosive substance in matter sent by Post.
 * 15. Enclosing letter in any other mailable matter.
 * 16. Removing postage stamp or mark thereon with fraudulent intent.
 * 17. Obstructing Mail, &c.,
 * 18. Cutting, &c., Post Letter Bag.
 * 19. Being drunk on duty as a Mail Carrier, &c.,
 * 20. Refusing to allow Mail to passthrough Toll-gate.
 * 21. Detaining, &c., Mail at Ferry.
 * 22. Wilfully contravening regulations.
 * 23. Soliciting the commission of any such felony or misdemeanor.
 * 24. Punishment for misdemeanor.
 * 25. Accessories and abettors to be punishable as principals.
 * 26. Imprisonment if for two years to be in Penitentiary.
 * 78. Embezzlement or unlawful use of money entrusted to him by an officer of or connected with the Post Office, to be felony.
 * Penalty for advising, &c., such embezzlement, &c.
 * 79. None but Postmasters to sell postage stamps without licease.
 * Penalty $40
 * 80. Wilfully injuring, &c. Street Letter Box, &c. to be a misdemeanor.
 * 81. Penalty for using postage stamp used before.
 * 82. Penalty for placing the words " Post Office," on house, &c., without authority.
 * PROCEDURE, CRIMINAL AND CIVIL.
 * 83. Venue, &c., cases of indictable offences against this Act.
 * 2. Venue, &c., in cases of offences committed in respect of Mails, &c., in transit.
 * 3. As to roads, &c., forming boundaries.
 * 4. Accessories and abettors and their offences may be dealt with, and laid and charged in like manner as principals and their offences.
 * 84. Property of any mailable matter sent by post, may be laid in the Postmaster General.
 * Value need not be alleged or proved.
 * 2. Property of other things and of postage money to be laid in Her Majesty.
 * 3. General allegation of employment of accused in the Post Office of Canada, sufficient.
 * 85. Postmaster General may compromise any action, &c.
 * 86. Penalties to be recoverable with costs, by the Postmaster General, and to belong to the crown.
 * Limitation of actions fur penalties.
 * 2. Penalty of $40 or under, recoverable before one Justice of the Peace.
 * If penalty exceed $40, offender may be indicted for a misdemeanor instead.
 * 87. Penalty recoverable on oath of one witness,—who may be a Postmaster or other officer, &c., of the Post Office.
 * 88. In action against Postmaster or other officer of the Post or his sureties, amount due may be proved by statement of account attested by accountant of the Post Office.
 * Revenue Management Act to apply.
 * 89. Suits, &c., by the Postmaster General to be brought in his name of office and may be continued, &c., by his successor.
 * 2. Suits for debts, &c., to be in the name of "The Postmaster General."
 * PROTECTION OF OFFICERS.
 * 90. Certain provisions of Customs Duties Acts to extend to officers of the Post Office.
 * 91. Commencement of Act.