FLAXMILLERS’ ASSOCIATION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2672, 15 December 1923, Page 3

FLAXMILLERS’ ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Flaxmillers'’ Association was held at Palmerston on Thursday/the president, Mr A. Seifert, presiding. The annual report covering matters which have been dealt with in these columns from time to time, was adopted. Mr H. A. Seifert was elected a member of the association. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows : President, Mr A. Seifert; vice-president, Mr R. T. Bell; treasurer, Mr H. Akers; committee, Messrs A. Ross, C. Petersen, J. H. Stevens, H. Berry, C. A. Loughnan, A. A. Brown, H. A. Seifert, W. Nye, and A. King; auditors, Messrs Rutherford and Connell. Tn proposing the re-election of Mr A. Seifert as president, Mr R. T. Bell expressed (lie thanks of the members to Mr Seifert for his services to the industry during the year. Mr Bell laid emphasis on the effort which Mr Seifert had made in regard to the question of income tax as affecting flaxmillers. He had also rendered valuable assistance to the association during his visits abroad.

Returning thanks following his re-election, Mr Seifert briefly reviewed his activities in dealing with the income tax question. What had been contemplated was so alarming, he said, that he felt it his duty to get in touch with, the Northern Millers’ Association and other interests concerned, and he had also interviewed the public accounts committee in Wellington. He pointed out that, whereas the ordinary farmer was exempt from paying income tax, it. had been proposed that fiaxmillers. receiving royalties on their flax would be required to pay income tax. This position, he considered, would have meant the end of the industry. The upshot of the negotiations, he understood, was that millers dealing with flax would be exempt but that if they received royalties they would still have to pay. With regard to the latter point, lie had received advice that it was open to question. It was decided that legal opinion be obtained and further enquiries made into the matter.