Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/264

 but he was not discouraged. New Zealand, in 1900, under the guidance of Sir Joseph Ward, was the first to give a lead by announcing not only Imperial but Universal Penny Postage. This news was communicated to H. H. in a letter dated 16th August, 1900:

I have much pleasure in informing you that New Zealand will introduce Universal Penny Postage from the 1st January, 1901, as a befitting commemoration of the New Century and adding another link to the chain of Empire.

Five years elapsed before H. H. received the following letter from Lord Stanley, Postmaster-General of England:

I cannot allow the bald statement which will appear in Monday's papers to the effect that, so far as this country is concerned, a Penny Postage rate will come into force with Australia on 1st April to be the first announcement to you of the fulfilment of one of your postal dreams. You have worked for this reform with untiring energy, and I am glad to think that I am the first, though I shall certainly not be the last, to congratulate you. Credit to whom credit is due, and I should be the last to deny to you the credit of having to a great extent contributed to the success of negotiations which have terminated in a manner agreeable alike to you and to me. I trust now you will devote your attention to trying to induce the Commonwealth to lower, at the earliest possible moment, their tariff to a penny so that the Imperial Penny Postage between ourselves and the Colonies may be complete.