Passing of Pioneer Flaxmiller and Farmer

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 191, 14 August 1945, Page 4

Passing of Pioneer Flaxmiller and Farmer

WIDESPREAD ACTIVITIES OF LATE MR. ALFRED SEIFERT

Few men connected with its evolution from primeval swamp and bush to smiling and fertile countryside have left on the Manawatu district so deep aud abiding an impress as Mr. Alfred Seifert, whose tragically sudden death on Saturday afternoon was received with a painful shock by his wide circle of friends and acquaintances. A flaxmill owner at 21, head of the largest mill in New Zealand at 29, large-scale farmer, chairman of directors of The Times, Electric Power Board member, City Councillor, drainage board and flood control pioneer, golfer and golf administrator —these were just some of his many interests, to all of which he brought wide knowledge and wise judgment. Efficient in business, possessed of unflagging energy, and of a sunny and charitable disposition, Mr. Seifert made friends in every walk of life, aud his passing will be widely and deeply regretted.

Born in 1877 at North Loburn near Rangiora, Mr. Seifert was one of a family of the seven sons and three daughters of Mr. John Herman Seifert. After a brief schooling he started work at the age of twelve. A varied experience of farming and flaxmilling followed in Canterbury and on the West Coast, and in 189 S Mr. Seifert came to the North Island and in partnership with his brothers George and Fred bought a mill at liangiotu. In 1900 he started a mill on his own at Turakina where he married Miss Esther Blondell, of Southland. In 1901 another mill was acquired at Piaka in the Moutoa. The following year he became a member of the Makerua Estate Company, the chief shareholders of which were Dr. W. A. Chappie, Hon. R. McNab, Mr. John Plimmer and Mr. S. Kirkcaldie. This concern took over from the Manawatu Railway Company some 13,500 acres of the Makerua swamp, hitherto untouched by the hand of man, and from that was launched

the great flaxmilling enterprise which became one of the most remarkable, and certainly one of the most successful pioneer developments in the Wellington province. In 1903 Mr. Seifert added to liis interests the Tasma Estate at Takapau (Hawke’s Bav) where he successfully conducted

sheep aud agricultural farming with a flaxmill as a side line. And he was then only 26! Three years later the Makerua Estate Company sold out its holdings, and disposing of his Tasma property Mr. Seifert with his brother Louis took over 4500 acres of swamp lands and formed the A. aud L. Seifert Co. Ltd. which erected and operated the Miranui mill near Shannon. Known as the “Big Mill,” it was the largest in New Zealand with seven strippers and employing over 200 men, with a payroll rising to £75,000 a year. During the 22 years of its operation Miranui marketed over £1,000,000 worth of hemp which was sold on a worldwide market under the “Mui” brand. And this was only one of many mills of varying sizes extracting wealth from the waste lands along the banks of the Manawatu River. It is interesting to note that six of the seven Seifert brothers, Messrs Herman, George, Fred, Alfred, Louis and Walter, were all actively engaged in this unique enterprise, the seventh (Robert) having died in South America. Always deeply concerned with the baffling problems of flood control in the Manawatu River basin, Mr. Alfred Seifert took a leading part in the various schemes to keep the wayward river within bounds. In 1919 he went to the Fnited States and selected dredges for the Makerua Drainage Board which put through a comprehensive banking scheme for the protection of the Makerua area, and he was largely concerned with the direction of this undertaking which involved 60 miles of protective banks.

Then came the yellow leaf disease which devastated the great flax producing areas, and millers faced a problem far more.menacing than the threat of periodic floods. The whole industry faced extinction. Indeed under the ravages of the disease, for all practical purposes flaxmilling disappeared. But undaunted by this grave setback, Mr. Seifert aud liis associates set about the formidable task of Converting the land from flax to farming. And today the plains of the Makerua are among the most fertile and highly productive in New 7 Zealand. In the latter years of his life Mr. Seifert was engaged in dairy farming and potato-growing, and was chairman for several years of the Potato Growers’ Association. Among the various offices he held was that of president of the N.Z. Flaxmillers’ Association. He was also a member of the Palmerston North City Council for two terms. He was chairman of the. Makerua Drainage Ifoard for some years and a member for 25 years. The ManawatuOroua River Board claimed a large interest in his activities and he w 7 as a member of that body at the time of his death. The Ilorowhenua Electric Power Board was still another body which had the advantage of his wide knowledge, and he was a member from its foundation in 1923 until he passed away. The consummation of Mr. Seifert’s work in flood control came only a few weeks before his death, aud he had the deep satisfaction of knowing that the once discarded plan to keep the Manawatu Ititer between its banks-—the plan for which he fought tenaciously for over 20 years—had been, finally adopted, while another project of which he had long beeu an enthusiastic advocate, a flood pumping scheme for the Makerua Central Area, started oxierations a few days before he died.

Golf was Mr. Seifert’s hobby and at the time of his death he was a life member and held the longest membership record of the Manawatu Golf Club, of which he was twice president and iu which he was keenly interested at all times. He gave to the game much of his tune and energy for its advancement aud he was chairman of the New Zealand Golf Council’s Greens Research Committee (controlling experimental greens at the Manawatu links at Hokowhitu). He won the Manawatu Club championship aud had

other successes in New Zealand tournaments. One of Mr. Seifert’s chief interest* was his connection with the Manawatu Daily Times. He was one of the founders of the company which took over The Times 32 years* ago, and continued to hold the position of chairman of directors w ithout a break until the time of his death. His wide knowledge of affairs and executive ability played an important part in the progress of this journal, and his generous and fairminded attitude to the executive staff and the employees generally earned their respect and affection, and his passing leaves them with a keen sense of personal loss. Mr. Seifert travelled much in former years and his knowledge in this direction included more than a passing association with the United States, the Continent, India and the East Indies. Much sympathy will be extended to Mr. Seifert’s widow, and to the members of the family, Mrs. A. C. Armstrong, of Russell Street, and Mr. H. A. Seifert, of Alan Street. Brothers'of tho late Mr. Seifert are Messrs Herman (Palmerston North), George (Hamilton), Frederick (Morrinsville), Walter (Feilding), and Louis Seifert (Palmerston North). Mrs. J. H. Scott (Rangiora) is a sister. One brother, Mr. Robert Seifert, and two sisters, Mesdanies A. McLeod (Palmerston North) and J. Gillespie (Auckland), predeceased him. A motion Of sympathy with tho relatives of tho late Mr. Seifert, who was a former member of the Palmerston North Rotary Club, was passed at tho weekly meeting of the club.

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