Tight money problems anolyzed oI lmported Hordwood Producfs meel

THE CL RRENT squeeze in the monel' r market. which has depressed every phase of the building products industry, emerged as the number one topic of discussion at the recent annual convention o{ the Imported Hardwood Products Association at Palm Desert, Calif.

Keynote speaker Barry Thompson, vice president o{ United California Bank, outlined the prevailing problems of the industry for the gathered importmen in his speech, "Tight Money and the Building Industry."

Thompson defined the past year's chaotic monev picture as simply the result of o'requirements for financing the Vietnam war, providing plant and material for the outstanding producing achievements and the generally high level of spending in our booming economy which has pushed the demand for money far beyond the supply."

Other tight money factors included the savings and loan dilemma where a sharp decline of deposits in saving; {orced savings institutions to virtually go out of the long-term lending business for the latter part o{ 1966.

IHPA members present were also heartened to hear Thompson estimate that the existing home inventory should be sold out by mid-1967, and that in fast-growing areas such as California, Arizona and

Western lumber t Building Moteriqls IIERCHANT the Pacific Northwest, migration of people seeking employment should put additional pressure on renewed residential construction.

Since changing the name and scope of the association last year, IHPA has swelled its membership to an all-time high, and this year's gathering drew nearly 160 import, steamship and trading company executives. Until last year, the group had operated as the Imported Hardwood Plywood Asscrciation and members consisted of only importers of hardwood plywood, veneers and doorskins.

Newly elected President Jack Baser wel" comed speakers from trade associations representing various levels of the building products industry, all of whom demonstrated willingness to work more closely with IHPA for the good of the industry.

M. B. Pendleton, secretary-manager of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, explained his association's reinspection services which for the first time have

ICONVENTI0il SPEAKER l. Bany Thompson, (l) vicepresident of UCB's international depadment, his subject' "Tight money and the building industry." P) Marvin Crass of Conklin Co., Bob Storm and "Pen" Pendleton. (3) Wayne Gardner, executive-v.p., Lumber Association of Southern California, gave retailer's point of view. (4) 0sgood's Kurt Gelbard and Mrs. John Vanguard. (5) Yukio lchihashi and A. B. Herbold. (6) IHPA's Washington counsel Myron Solter, Bruce Weston, Korean Consul Moon Bom Park, Jerry Linares and Mrs. Weston. 0) Bruce McLean, General Hardwood. (8) Henri Muth of International Paper and Mrs. Hans Rainer. (9) Pat Young of Potlatch, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Mackay, Philippine Mahogany Assn. and George Richardson. (10) Joe Durra. (11) Mr. and Mrs. Jim Bley. (12) Cal-Wood's Bud Critchfield amid pretty surroundings. (13) Al Bell, president o'f National-American Wholesale Lumber Assn., presented the complete picture on wood promotion. (14) Bud Radditz, WoodMosaic's Baron Drewry and Stan Swafford. (15) Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Gwerder. (16) M. B. Pendleton. sec.manager of the National Hardwood Lumber Assn., outlining NHLA's reinspection service available to IHPA members. (17) Time for a little golf too (just look at that February sunshine): Gunter Silmar, Jack Baser, John 0sgood and Clark McDonald. (18) Mr. Jim McJunkin. (19) Francis Haley. (20) Mr. and Mrs. Bob Van Keulen. 01) Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dovle of Center Lumber Co. Despite a lag in present birsiness, many felt ootimistic about the rest of 1967. been made available to members of IHPA. Prior to negotiating this service with NHLA, members of IHPA had to arbitrate their claims individually.

Clark McDonald, managing director of the Hardwood Plywood Manufacturers Association, urged closer cooperation between their two groups, particularly in building code work, product quality control and promotion of hardwood products.

Al Bell, president of the National-American Wholesale Lumber Association, reviewed the tremendous job being done on a national level in the promotion of all wood products and invited the importers to join hands with the movement to extend wood's position in the construction industry of the future.

The importer i were also treated to a view of their industry for the first time from the retail lumber merchant's position. Wayne Gardner, executive-vice-president of the Lumber Association of Southern California, outlined the retail dealer's place in the distribution of imported hardwood products and stressed the dealer's need for better merchandising and product knowledge. While most dealers and their employees are well versed in softwood lumber, hardware, etc., their knowledee of hardwood products is woefully lacki"g. Gardner noted. In order to do a better job of selling hardwood products to the end-user, dealers and their employees must be ooreached" by producers and distributors of these products.

4M0!9 THE sheltering patms, outgoing president G. Arnold- Smith. (righ0 gives new prexy-Jdck Baser a grip of good luck. New officers and directors of IHPA.

(1. to R.)' Randolph Valensi, Randolph E. Valensi Co.: Bob Storm, William L. Marshall, Ltd.; Jim Blev. Evans Products Co.; Hans Rainer, Rainer'Tradins-Co.: G.

Arno,ld Smith, U. S. Plywood Corp.; John 0sg-ood, hobert S. Osgood, Inc.; Bud Radditz, J. E. Higgins Lumber Co.; Jack Baser, Baser & Company, Inc.r-Bill Johnson. William Johnson, lnc.; Robert.Van Keulen. Van Keulen & Winchester Lumber Co.; Gunter Silmjr, Silmarco hternational Div. .of AFPC; Jack Davidson, pacific Wood Products and IHPA exec. sec. Charlie Schmitt. Not Pictured: Joe Stearns, Insular Lumber Sales. Lon {9hma1, Atkins, Krotl & Co. and Henry Fulchei, Jr., Sitco Lumber Co.

New officers elected at the three-day session were: president, Jack Baser, Baser & Co., Los Angeles; vice-president, IHPA lumber-division Bob Storm of New York; vice-president, IHPA plywood.division Lon Ashman of San Francisco; vice-president, IHPA millwork-division Joe Stearns of Philadelphia, and treasurer, Gunter Silmar. New IHPA directors for the coming year include Randolph Valensi of Connecticut, Robert Van Keulen of Michigan, Baron Drewry of Louisville, Bill Johnson and Henry Fulcher, Jr. of Dallas, Bud Radditz and Hans Rainier of San Francis. co, John Osgood and Jack Davidson of Los Angeles, G. Arnold Smith of New York and Jim Bley of Corona, California.