Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/280



IXTY-TWO reforms—one for each year of his life—were drawn up by H. H. on his retirement from Parliament, 1910, and presented to the Postmaster-General —with the following letter:

My dear Postmaster-General,

You will have observed the tendency of men who have taken part in political affairs to set forth—I will not say bequeath—on their retirement a scheme of general improvement for the benefit of their fellows.

Although wanting the profound sagacity and dazzling imagination of the great Utopians of past years, I would yet crave permission to enumerate certain reforms in the great postal department over which you preside, which might render it still more efficient. None knows better than a close student of all the post offices of the countries of the world, how splendid is our record of achievement m the British Post Office. Much courage is required to point out any remaining defects or failings. But we all know our truest friend is he who tells us of our faults. From this point of view I am the best friend the Post Office ever had.

This is not the first time I have ventured on a summing-up of postal grievances. Each of your predecessors during the past quarter of a century has received such a list at my hands. Many of these demands—nearly one hundred—have been conceded,