MILLER, Sir Denison Samuel King (1860-1923)

banker

was born at Fairy Meadow, near Wollongong, New South Wales, on 8 March 1860. His father, Samuel King Miller, a man of much foresight, was head teacher of the Deniliquin public school, where the boy completed his education. He entered the service of the Bank of New South Wales at Deniliquin in 1876, and six years later was transferred at his own request to the head office at Sydney. Showing great attention to his work Miller became accountant in 1896, and four years later, assistant to the general manager. In 1909 he was appointed metropolitan inspector. In 1911 the federal Labour party decided to bring in a bill to establish a national bank, and Miller was summoned to Melbourne to see the prime minister, Andrew Fisher (q.v.). The bill was discussed and Miller was asked to become the first governor. The appointment was something of a surprise, but no doubt discreet inquiries had been made which satisfied Fisher that Miller was a man with the knowledge, courage and caution, required for the office. His appointment was dated 1 June 1912, and in July the bank's business was started in a small room in Collins-street, Melbourne, the staff consisting of Miller, and a messenger lent by the department of the treasury. The sole capital was £10,000 advanced by the government. The first step was the establishment of a savings bank department, which was followed by the opening of the general banking department on 20 January 1913. On the opening day over £2,000,000 was received in deposits, the greater part being Commonwealth government accounts. Miller began his work with great soundness and caution, it was essential that the public should have complete faith in the new venture, and nothing was to be gained by entering into any kind of competition with the established banks which might be considered unfair. For the first 12 months progress was comparatively slow though steady, but the bank soon began to expand, and when the war came in August 1914 it was in a position to do most important work. In the uncertain early days of the war it made advances to the government, and it took complete charge of the issue of war loans in Australia. Before the war had ended £190,000,000 had been subscribed. The government took control of the primary products of Australia, and the control of the issuing of new capital by public companies. In the transactions which consequently arose Miller's advice and the resources of the bank were always at the service of the various governments, and were sources of great strength to them. By the end of the war the bank was firmly established, with its head office at Sydney, about 40 branches, and 2758 agencies and receiving offices in Australia, the islands, and London.

After the war the bank was able to be of great use in connexion with repatriation, and in 1920 it was given control of the Australian note issue. Miller had great powers which he used wisely, and was an indefatigable worker until his unexpected death at Sydney on 6 June 1923. He married in 1895 Laura Constance, daughter of Dr J. T. Heeley, who survived him with four sons and two daughters. He was created K.C.M.G. in 1920. A Denison Miller memorial scholarship was founded in his memory at the university of Sydney. He was interested in various charities, and was a founder and for some time honorary treasurer of the New South Wales Institute of Bankers. He advocated a strong immigration policy after the war, and had great confidence in the future of Australia in spite of the war debt. The Commonwealth Bank was his life work, his control of it was absolute, and he had a faculty for getting good assistants. Since his death profits from the note issue have brought large sums to the consolidated revenue every year, and the combined capital and reserves of the bank in 1940 were approaching £10,000,000, all built up out of profits. It was fortunate for Australia that a man so sane, shrewd, and hardworking should have laid its foundations.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 7 and 8 June 1923; The Argus, Melbourne, 7 June 1923; The Australian Insurance and Banking Record, 21 June 1923, 21 October 1940; Article by Miller reprinted from the Bankers Magazine, New York, 1918; Vance Palmer, National Portraits.