The Log Export Crisis

If/E applaud the groups and individuals here YY in The West and in Washington, D. C., that have been making an active gffort to stop the export of logs from this country.

It seems essential to us, in view of the current serious supply problems existing, that the outflow of logs be quickly reduced to a small percentage of its current level. We don't tlink vou need to be a forest products economist oi marketing panjandrum to realize that much of our supply problem will always plague us as long as we allow the raw material to leave the country.

The nation may have its balance of payments difficulties, but as it is our ox that is being gored in this case, we think it is high time to let others share more in shouldering the problems of balancing the flow of dollars in international trade. Our area of business, distribution, wholesaling and retailing, has enough problems without being asked to carry more than our fair share. This is one occasion when we say, let George do it.

In a time of inflation, to ask an industry that creates an upward inflationary push on prices when its supply and demand are out of whack, not to solve the problem because it is help- ing the balance of payments" is indulging in the worse kind of shortsightedness.

In addition to the associations in The West that have been working to marshall support for controls on log exports, Rep. Al Ullman (D-Ore.) wired President Nixon's special trade negotiator in Japan, William Eberle, asking him to seek a voluntary cutback by the Japanese in buying West Coast timber. Ullman also urged the Executive Branch to act under a 1969 law and cut back West Coast log exports.

Sens. Alan Cransron (D-Calif.) and Robert Packwood (R-Ore.) have urged President Nixon to declare a six.month embargo on all overseas shipments of softwood logs and lumber. They noted that the 1969 law cited by Ullman, gives the President authority to take such action in order o'to protect the domestic economy from the excessive drain of scarce materials and to reduce the serious inflationary impact of abnormal foreign dem4nd."

Let us hope these efforts produce the needed controls before the price of forest products rise to the point of losing markets, perhaps irrevocably, to substitute materials.