]THtr SOUTFHLAND

By WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president

D)ECENTLY an article appeared in |-t a local newspaper regarding a construction company which was involved in the purchase and use of improperly grade marked lumber,

The result was an indictment against the framing contractor and the company furnishing the lumber by the grand jury in ihe county in which the project was built.

The entire situation is one which it was felt would never occur again in southern California with the advent of luilding eodes requiring grade marked lumber, but somehow it did happen.

Sometime ago, LASC members developed a warranty form, as well as a contract form for lumber sold by an LASC member. the warranty goes along with the estimate and calls attention to the fact that the lumber company is a member of LASC, and that all lumber shown on the attached lumber list will be delivered in strict accordance with the grades, quantities and description shown. It further states that all structural lumber shall be grade marked by an agency approved by the International Conference of Building Officials.

The use of the warranty assures the contractor that he is dealing with a firm of substance and integrity. It can be used as a selling tool for the retail lumberman, denoting that his company is willing to stand behind the material it sells. In this day and age of consumerism it is advisable to have tools such as this available for use.

For self-employed, the tax rate stays at the present 7.5/o level bttt it applies to $9000 of wages instead of $7800. This is the cunent situation. But Congress could change it by passing HR 1 which would increase the tax rate to 5.4% on the first $10,000 of wages. Campaign slogans sometimes have haunting overtones.

We extend a hearty welcome to new members Troy and Don French, French's Building Materials, Hardin. This is the former Saunders Lumber Co., now owned by Troy and Don. Our best wishes to them.

Word has been received that the Montana Building Code Conference has approved and accepted the Uniform Building Code as the standard for Montana.

With minor reservations concerrred with institutional use of sprinkler systems, the code was adopted without change or modification. Thus is estab. Iished a uniforrn pattern for construction standards throughout the state. An effective date has not yet been established but should be forthcoming soon.

Similarly, the association had its legal counsel review and revise a contract form that was being utilized by some members.

It is a one page, four part document on NCR paper, which covers the necessities such as terms, prices, delivery schedules, etc., and is a valid legal document, tested in court. Here again is a sales tool that can be utilized to effectively bind an agreement for materials between buyer and seller.

Documents such as the above mentioned two have been in use for years in other industries. It is a mark of progress, an indication of a more sophisticated approach to business transactions for the lumber industry.

The need for their use is accentuated when news articles regarding indictments for using fraudulently grade marked lumber are carried in the newspapers.

The association encourag:es the use of these documents by association members, to indicate integrity and honesty to their customers.