OTC telegrams - types & availability

Australia - International - OTC: 1946 - 1975.
Background to OTC telegram types and their availability.

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International
Special aspects

There were five classes of international telegrams and these are summarised in the following table:

Class	Characteristic	Cost basis
Urgent telegram	Priority in transmission and delivery. Text could be in plain language or code.	Double the full rate.
Full rate telegram	Transmitted immediately after urgent traffic. Text could be in plain language or code.	Full rate.
Letter telegram	Minimum of 22 words in plain language. Delivery the day after being lodged (depending on the destination).	Reduced rate. Rate after 22 words was half the full rate.
Greeting letter telegram	A special letter telegram service for greetings and social messages exchanged between British Empire countries only. Minimum of 10 words in plain language. Delivery the day after being lodged (depending on the destination).	Rates as for letter telegrams.
Telegrams to ships	Sent in the same was as international telegrams and using the same form.	Rate dependent on the nationality, the country of registration and location of the ship.

From 1 October 1982, the sending of telegrams to the United Kingdom was changed as follows:

messenger delivery of telegrams was withdrawn(all telegrams were to be posted);
telephoning of fully addressed telegrams was withdrawn as too was the service whereby a request could be made to telephone a telegram message to a recipient;
various services were withdrawn:
Urgent transmission and delivery;
letter telegrams;
Greetings letter telegrams;
Government letter telegrams;
requests for confirmation of delivery;
confirmation of delivery.

In 1983, similar reductions in the telegram service in Australia became effective (see notice No. 430 of March 1983):

"PUBLIC TELEGRAM SERVICE - OVERSEAS TELEGRAMS.

Advice has been received from Telecom Australia (and OTC) that from 1 April 1983, the following telegram services to and from Australia will be withdrawn:

letter telegrams (LT);
Government letter telegrams (LTF);
Greetings letter telegram (GLT);
Press telegrams (PRESSE);
Expeditionary Forces message (EFM);
Ships Naval message (SNM);
Request for confirmation of delivery (PR);
conformation of delivery (CR).

A new tariff for international telegrams is to be introduced on the same date. All international telegrams are to be charged for at 30c per word. Urgent rate is double".

On 1 October 1985, reply-paid telegrams (RPX) and the use of the Route designator (VIA) were withdrawn. In addition, telegram services to passengers in transit or on aircraft ceased.