NNONTANA NtrWS

By R. V. PETERSEN executive secretary

IY/HAT the lumber industry needs' vY apparently, is a Moses to lead the way out of a wilderness cvf confusion.

A nation endowed with 500 million acres of commercial forest land is presently struggling to overcome an artificially induqed wood products shortage. With tlmberlands that contain an estimated 1.9 trillion board feet of timber, half of that in federal forests, it seems unbelievable that the nation might be short of 2x4s.

Five years ago Congress established a 10-year housing goal of 26 million units. In 7972, lhe country reached a record level of 2.4 million new hous- ing starts-an approach to the average suggested by Congress. Housing subsidies and mortgage gudrantees supported the housing program. But, somewhere along the trail, bureaucracy lost sight of the fact that one essential element in the chain of progress is supply of materials.'This became evident during the period of general price controls. And, as a result of federal action-or possibly inaction-there has been an alarming reduction in the supply of timber to supply the grist for the housing mill.

Ill-considered controls were saddled on some segments of the industry, none on others, resulting in distortion

Bill McCormick, Salem, Oregor\ chairman of Oregon's WBMA legislative committee, reports on the hearing he attended that Oregon seems ready and anxious to administer OSHA with g millions from the U. S. in compensation.

President C. E. Link testified for the industry in Boise, Idaho, pointing out a number of needed corrections. Quoting a vitally important criticiem offered by President Link: of the market. Uncontrolled import of lumber products-to the extent of 9 billion feet in 1972 from Canadaadded to the chaotic condition. Profit margin limitations further complicated and confused matters, as did negation of traditional marketing and pricing patterns.

"The single most important problem of OSIIA is the inability of the small businessman to leara what is expected of him. TheY cannot find out exactly which standards apply to them and which do not. There should be a provision to permit consultation inspections without imposing penalties or citations or Provide that on the first visitation no penalties would be assessed and a thirty day abatement period be provided."

In discussing this matter with Washington's Department of Labor and industry, WBMA has been advised that the federal government will not allow them a contract that does not specify the impositions of penalties for violations discovered on the first call.

The resulting short-suPPlY, highcost market is a condition requiring concerted industry-wide co-operation to develop a solution to the problem. A move in this dircction is a planned conference in Washington between retail dealers from every state and their Conglessional delegates in an efrort to achieve factual discussion toward solution of the problems. It is hoped that the "town-meeting" approach will be heartily endorsed and supported with lumber dealers from every section of the country participating in the conference.