HENNIKER HEATON.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 24, 11 January 1912, Page 8

HENNIKER HEATON.

Some years ago an Englishman was looking alter liis business at a staticn far ‘‘up country’’ in -New South Wales. He was talking witn Jus men when tiie mail arrived. Few ol them received letters, and the lucky lew read their news for the benefit ol the rest, who took as keen an interest in the old folic at home as if they were relations of their own. The incident made a deep impression on the Englishmen’s mind. A few years Hi tor he went home and chanced to cuter a village postoliice, where a woman was enqu ring the postage to Australia. She couia not afford the requisite (id, and the Englishman paid it for her. He learned subsequently from the parson of the parish that this outlay brought the old lady’s remittance of £5 by return of post, for mother and son had at last been brought into communication. The Englishman laid those up in his heart, and determined to make it his mission in life to cheapen the means of communication between the old folk at home and their kith and kin beyond the seas. The hero of this pathetic talc is Air. John Henniker Heaton, who had gone to seek his fortune in New South Wales and who married the only daughter of the late Mr. Samuel Bennett, of Sydney. He returned to Europe, and got himself elected in 1885 Conservative M.r. for Canterbury. But his real constituency is a larger one. He is the member for postal reform, the Martin Luther of the post-office, and his assiduity has extorted from successive Postmasters innumerable reforms including the Imperial penny postage scheme, which he carried in ’lß9B’,' the introduction of telegraphic money orders, parcel post to France, and any number of other boons. His public services have been recognised by the freedom of the City of London, lie is a native of Rochester, was educated at King’s College, and was born in 1818.

Mr. Henniker Heaton did not contest his old seat at the last elections, for which, indeed, he had been elected unopposed on four successive occasions. He was recently the recipient of a complimentary address from the Lord Mayor of London, on behalf of numerous public and commercial Jnstitut ions.