Hugh Miles Milman

'Contrary to the generally accepted belief, the Department of Stamps, with which in Queensland are incorporated probate and succession duties, is one of the most important in the colony.

Although some writers have contended that collection of money by means of impressed stamps dates back from remote antiquity, they are clearly wrong for all the best authorities concur in attributing the origin of stamp duties, as they are known to us now, to Holland, where duties of this description were first imposed in the year 1624.

'Under his control the whole department (much to the colony's benefit) has been submitted to drastic reform and exact organisation'

Hugh Miles Milman, the subject of this biographical notice, was born in London on the 3rd day of August, 1845. At the age of 14 years, but after duly and creditably serving five years as a midshipman, he was invalided home, and in the year 1865 arrived in the colony of Queensland.

In the year 1890, the necessity was strongly felt in the Colony of remodelling and reorganising the administration of its stamps and death duties, and what amounted to practically a new department was constituted for that purpose.

The Executive unanimously decided to offer the post of Chief Commissioner of Stamps to Mr Milman.

Under his control the whole department (much to the colony’s benefit) has been submitted to drastic reform and exact organisation. Much that was old and useless has been swept away by the Chief Commissioner, whilst much that is new and advantageous has been introduced by him into his department, which now works with all the regularity and absence of friction of a well-oiled machine.'