VIRGINIA NEWS

JACK ALLISON executlve dlrector

tl/l/tITH the 1983 General Assembly

'JU convened. there is a lot of doubt as to where the action will be.

Water allocation issues, the coal slurry pipeline, and uranium mining are the most talked about, but in a short session it is questionable that any of these will result in meaningful legislation.

Of course, the shortfalls in state revenue have received a lot of publicity, and certainly there will be some tax bills, as always. But with the rash of tax increases passed last session, substantive changes are more likely to fall on the expenditure side.

Every member of the General Assem- bly has to stand for election this year, so there will be a full slate of bills introduced, regardless of their importance.

VBMA is not sponsoring any bills, but will be there looking out for your interests.

The ITC will issue a final decision on the request for a countervailing duty on all Canadian lumber shipped into the U.S., but an interim ruling could result in a duty as early as March 7. The uncertainty of the issue has already caused some distortion in lumber futures markets, and this will increase as the March 7 date approaches.

We will try to keep you abreast of the situation, but watch your other trade sources as well. It will definitely be a factor in your spring buying decisions.

We continue to urge members to analyze their specific trade areas and to not worry about national stats. The S.E. United States is faring much better than other areas. Most members indicate spotty conditions. Most firms now have good control of inventory and receivables and are really hustling. Although times are difficult, most indicate they are at least breaking even. Let's hope some of the uncertainty goes away soon.

Interest rates have declined considerably. Maybe because Paul Volcker has abandoned the tight money policy in hopes of achieving single digit rates in late'83.

National Conference with Congress is very near. In that light, the committee met in Washington, D.C. to finalize the Conference program. The format has been changed to provide for five educational seminars. Issues packages will be mailed to Congress prior to delegate arrival, March 15.

I admit, as chairman of the conference, I am really depending on many Louisianans being in attendance. Please "hep" me!

As of today, it appears that th€ Mortgage Retirement Account (MRA) will be one of the key issues. What is MRA? Same as IRA except one may apply up to $2000towards payoff of his home loantax free. Senator John Tower, Texas, is introducing the bill to Congress.

Pressure Treaters Chairmen

Committee appointments have been announced by the Southern Pressure Treaters Association, Shreveport, La.

Chairmen include R.K. Wagner, Koppers Co., Inc.; Jeff Hughes, Crown Zellerbach; R.H. Gardner, ITT Rayonier Inc.; Clyde Norton, Colfax Creosote Co.; C.B. Compton, Atlantic Wood Ind.; Herman Chelette, International Paper Co.; W.H. Davis, Escambia Treating Co.; R.D. Russell, International Paper Co.; R.A. Watson, ITT Rayonier, Inc.; Dennis Stallworth, Stallworth Timber Co.; H.M. Hawthorne, Jr., Conroe Creosote Co.; C.A. Burdell, Southern Wood Piedmont.

Renovation's Growing Market

Lower costs, easier financing, faster project completion and tax incentives have made building renovation the new growth market for the construction industry in the 1980s.

Sweet's Division of McGraw-Hill Information Systems Co. estimates that at least $100 billion will be spent this year in the renovation ofresidential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Their data indicates that at least one third of all construction dollars are spent on renovating existing structures, which analysts indicate is about double the share of l0 years ago. Sweet's notes, "In response to this growing trend, we expect to see building product manufacturers placing far more emphasis on reaching renovators with their existing product lines, most of which are applicable to renovation projects."

Housing Policy Meetings

A series of meetings with industry and government leaders designed to create a dialogue on the state of the housing industry and what to do about it is being launched by the Brick Institute of America, Mclean, Va.

BIA points out that for every thousand dollars spent in construction, $l0l goes to lumber and wood and $108 to wholesale and retail trade.

To earn the quality mark of the American Wood Preservers Bureau pressure treated wood products must meet rigid technical standards. Questions of quality are answered before the material reaches the job sites. When you call for plywood, lumber or timber from treating @ plants qualified by the

American Wood Preseruers Bureau you can be sure that the material will meet or surpass your standards. No question about it.

AWPB mark of quality assurance is backed by independent, thirdparty sampling and quality control. For more information, write or call today.

ATERICAN WOOD PRESERI'ERS BUREAU

Box 6O85 - 27 7 2 S. Randolph St.Arl ington, VA 222C6703 931€180

Please send me intormation about selecting and specifying pressure treated wood products that have been awarded the AWPB quality mark.

Iil0USTRY LEA0ERS appointed to the advisory board of the National Home Center/ Home lmprovemenl Congress & Exposition include (hp t0 bothm) Richard E. Ingram, ores., dealer div., Euilder Marts of America, Inc., Greenville, S.C.; Georges A. Hanzi, ores.. Homecrafters Centers. Inc.. Birmingham, Al.; Don R. MacPherson, pres., The Cooper Group, Raleigh, N.C. They will be introduced at lhe Feb. 27-March 2 show in Dallas, Tx., and serve the 1984, 1985 and 1986 shows, according to William Fishman, seminar director.