MR HENNIKER HEATON IN AUSTRALIA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8532, 10 September 1907, Page 5

MR HENNIKER HEATON IN AUSTRALIA.

ADVANCE OF PENNY POSTAGE. CHANGES IN ENGLISH POLITICS. Mr Henniker Heaton, M.P., the well-known advocate of penny postage, is on a health trip to Australia, accompanied by his family. With regard" to penny postage, he pointed out during an interview with a press representative that Australia was the only country, except China and perhaps Turkey, tha*-, had not adopted fenny postage. Since New Zealand adopted penny postage there had been a great improvement in the finances of the Postal Department, and Canada showed a profit of £150,000 last year. Since Imperial penny postage was established, the profits of the British Post Office had increased from £4,000,000 to £5.000,000. There would be no difficulty whatever in carrying out the proposal in Australia, as the machinery for the purpose was perfect, and the increase in the number of letters carried would not make any appreciable difference, nor would it involve the employment of a single extra horse, cart, or coach. He felt sure that by the action of America universal penny postage would socn be an accomplished fact. Mr Heaton stated that important political changes were pending in England, and he did not think Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman would remain long at the head of the Government owing to his indifferent health. He considered Sir Henry CampbellBannerman's successor would be Mr Asquith, although soma favoured Mr Lloyd George, and others Sir Edward Grey. Mr Asquith was a strong man, with clear views, of great determination, perhaps not sympathetic, but a man of strong common sense. It appeared that he had the goodwill of the English people. Besides, h 3 was socially adapted to the leadership, being married to the most brilliant woman in Europe, formerly Miss Dorothy Tennant. With regard to his own party, the Unionist party, Mr Henniker Heaton said they were now casting round for a leader, and lie thought one would be chosen from Lord Curzon, Lord Milner, or the Maiquis of Lansdowne. The last-named had the disadvantage of being in the House of Lords, but if that House reformed itself, as was now expected, so that soma of its members might sit in the House of Commons, Lord Lansdowne would doubtless be one of them Such a reform would mean a great gain to the House of Commons, as it would get some able men from the other place He fully believed the Lords would reform themselves under the Bill in a most drastic manner. As to the Home Ru'e Bill, Mr Henniker Heaton said that would not be dealt with by the present Government; but the general elections, about two years hence, were certain to give the Irish party the controllii g vote,' after which some measure must be dealt with.