February, -1913. 



tlistory of the iVionin 



XXVI 1. 



Pholo. 



Alice Mills. 



MR. ALFRED DEIAKIN. 



Who has retired from the Federal Liberal Leadeiship. 



Photo. Talma and Co. 



MR. JOSEPH COOK, 

 The New Federal Liberal Leader. 



the age of 25, with his wife, he came to Australia. 

 He commenced his new life at his old occupation 

 as a coal miner at Lithgow, N.S.W., and two 

 vears later was elected general secretary of the local 

 Miners' Lodge, with an honorarium of ;£jo a year. 

 This position he retained for several years. It was 

 the first foot on the political ladder. INlr. Cook 

 made his debut in Parlianient as the iState member 

 for Hartley, in the New South Wales Assembly. 

 He subsequently became a member of Mr. (now 

 Sir) George H. Reid''S Government, and successively 

 held the portfolios of Po.stmaster-General and JNIin- 

 istt-r of Mines and Agriculture. Retiring from State 

 politics at the time of Federation, Mr. Cook con- 

 tested the Parramatta seat in the Federal Parlia- 

 ment, and when in course of time the fusion of the 

 Ccok-Deakin party came about, he accepted office 

 as Minister for Defence. He has represented Par- 

 ramatta ever since he entered the Federal Parlia- 

 ment. ,, 



On Monday, January 20, the doors 

 O'f the Commonwealth Bank were 

 simultaneously opened for busi- 

 ness in all the State centres, and in 



.The Common- 

 vrealth Bank. 



Lx)ndon, for 



the transaction of general banking 



business. The f\t-nt was signalise<f by tiie receipt 

 bv the Go\-ernor of the Bank (Mr. Denison Miller) 

 of many expressions of goodwill from all parts of 

 the Commonwealth. It was certainlv an important 

 occasion, for, as the Governor of the Bank declared, 

 it is only a matter of time when the Commonwealth 

 Bank will be classed as one of the great banks of 

 the world, and become an important factor in deal- 

 ing with the finances of the States individuallv, 

 and the Commonwealth as a whole. The bank has 

 been started without capital. None is required at 

 the present time, but, as Mr. Miller points out. it is 

 backed by the entire wealth and credit of the Com- 

 monwealth, which is its best guarantee. It is in- 

 tended to conduct the business of the bank on sound 

 lines, and at the same time to establish^everv rea- 

 sonable facilitv to me<'t the growing requirements 

 of trade an<l commerce and the development of the 

 country's resources. The total deposits on the open- 

 ing day were ;^8i6.8o3 13s. lod. At the opening 

 of the Melbourne branch the Federal ^[inisters, who 

 opened accounts, and the Lord Mayor attended. 



