AN IMPERIAL REFORMER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 29, 17 January 1912, Page 7

AN IMPERIAL REFORMER

“It has been given to few men to promote reforms independently and to see them adopted in their own lifetime with universal approval.’’ Mr. Chamberlain wrote recently to Mr. Henniker Heaton in congratulating him on the success of the Imperial penny post reform. There is a pathetic note in that letter from the champion of Tariff Reform to the champion of Postal Reform (says a London correspondent) for it is practically certain that Mr. Chamberlain will not see “adopted in his own lifetime with universal appro

vali” the great reform upon which he has set his heart. Certainly the < letter is one of the most treasured possessions of the ex-member f« r Canterbury, who embarks to-day by the P. and O. Mantua on a voyage of recuperation after seeing one great reform carried out. and after setting afoot the agitation for another —the Imperial penny cable. Mr. Henniker Heaton’s work for imperial penr.j postage is part of the familiar history of our own times, and its re- ; cords need to he called to the memory of no man. But on the eve I of his departure for Australia he has ' permitted something to transpire of the secret history of the agitation, especially of those stirring months , in 1904. when Mr. Chamberlain, in a measure, forced upon the Cabinet a reform of which he saw the Imperial significance. The Colonial Office and the Post Office were at , loggerheads for a time over the question. Indeed, at a conference with ' the representatives of the colonies. , the then Postmaster-General, the Duke of Norfolk, had held out sturdily against the Imperial penny post proposal. But the Imperia! cause and Mr. Chamberlain had their way in the Cabinet, and the Duke, during the actual progress of, the conference, had to announce his conversion.

Victory in Great Britain did not. however, conclude the campaign for Imperial penny postage. Some of the Oyersea Dominions yvere reluctant to reciprocate, and Mr. Heaton. 1 who had been for much of his life identified closely with Australia had the mortification of seeing that nation holding back for several years. It was not. indeed, until June 5 of this year that he leceived from the Postmaster-General of Australia the! first letter from Melbourne to G>n- ■ don under the penny rate. ‘The apostle of Imperial penny postage,’’ as Mr. Heaton has been j called, carried with him to Australia ; a huge sheaf of letters conveying to { him good wishes and support in his I work. One of the earliest was writ-! ten by Sir Francis Knollys. at the command of the late King, then j Prince of Wales, in March. 1594. It <

contained this passage : ' “I showed your letter to the Prince i of Wales, who desired me to say that > he has always and whenever he has' an opportunity, advocated in private the adoption of the Imperial penny postage system, and that he cer- ; tainly shall not discontinue doing so now.

'The time may perhaps tome when he will he able in take up a more open and decided line on the subject than he has hitherto felt it would be proper for him to adopt.’ The latest letter is from the Private Secretary to Queen Alexandra, under date N ovember 23. 1911. and states: “Queen Alexandra hopes that the change of climate wall restore your health, and that England will not be long deprived of your valuable services.’’ Between those two letters come a collection in which almost every great name in England is represented. “Such approval.” said Mr. Henniker Heaton, “is my reward. And it is a good reward.’ Mr. Heaton. it is understood, proposes to make a long stay in Australia, and will, if his health permits, tour awhile in New Zealand.