Obituaries Australia

OBITUARY

Mr. James Wilson

The death of Mr James Wilson formerly general manager of the Colonial Bank of Australasia occurrcd yesterday at his home in Torresdale road Toorak after a brief illness. Mr Wilson who was aged 66 years was born at Auckland (NZ) and began his banking career when he joined the Union Bank at Thames (NZ). In 1896 he went to Western Australia and was at the branch of the Union Bank at Menzies (WA) in the time of the "gold rush". From there he was transferred to the Perth branch. He returned to New Zealand about 1904 and was engaged in the banking business for some years before being, transfered in 1911 to the Ballarat branch where he was manager. In 1913 he joined the Colonial Bank of Australasia and was appointed general manager of the bank in 1917.

Mr Wilson took an active part in the bringing about the amalgamation of the Colonial Bank with the National Bank of Australasia in 1918 and he became deputy chief manager a position he held until his retirement from the bank in 1933. He continued his business activities and joined board of directors of Robert Harper and Co Ltd and later became a director of Foy and Gibson Pty Ltd. Recently he became chairman of directors of the Scottish Insurance Corporation Ltd. In his youth Mr Wilson was a keen foolballer and oarsman and he continued to take an active interest in sport. He was a member of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club the Victoria Racing Club and the Melbourne and Australian Clubs. He leaves a widow and two sons Mr John Wilson of the Puunyart Station Camperdown and Mr James W.P. Wilson of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co Ltd.

A service will be conducted at the Toorak Presbyterian Church by the Moderator General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia (the Right Rev John Mackcezie) this afternoon after which the funeral will leave the church at 1 o'clock for the Springvale Ccmetery. The arrangements are being made by A A Sleight Pty Ltd.