Introducing the new line

NEW Abitibi paneling line was introduced at lhe recent Globe International 4th annual intro party to nearly 150, representing some 43 southern Calilornia companies. Star attraclion at City of Commerce gathering was the Ceylon panel, a combination of cork with walnut lnlay. Also unveiled was new brick series on 1/a" hardboard. Sales and merchandising tools were outlined along with a special one-night-only price for the lines. (1) Globe prexy Lou Massing, Carter Ludwig ol Vornado, Inc. (2) Don Ledbury, Waldo Tinsley. (3) Tim Knox, Jefl Ruf, Steve Jones, Bill Anderson. (4) Globe's Jim Conomikes, Tom Abbott. (5) Frank Dybdall, Charles Shupe. (6) Craig Doolaege, Mike mMadau, Harold Lewis. (7) John King, Tony Mora, Clayton Colton, Westmark's John Bates. (8) Jim Gladd, Don Eyer. (9) Paul Mayott, Willis Skewes. (10) Ray Hansen, Jim Grossman, Bob Newton. (11) Jim Pubols, J.C. Foster, Kevin Strauch. (12) Ed Tatman, Joe Marques, Tom Hippie. (13) Walt Homrighausen, Harry Llewellyn, John Golby. (14) Toby Hunter, Joel Thrasher. (15) Joe Roush, Julius Kornell. (16) Bill Anderson, Larry Baugh of Westmark. (17) Jim Conomikes, Tom Thomas. (18) John Bates, Dennis Ballam. (19) H.L. Parson, Linda Welsch. (20) Jerry Peterson.

The outlook seems widespread that the housing slump is bottom. ing during the I st quarter and that the necessary conditions for a furnarourd are gathering strength ...No. I question: when does the recovery begin?...

S&ls, source for most of the mortgage $$ for housing, report a strong influx of lendable funds; the prime interest rate is now down to 8t/z7o amidst predictions of further declines to come; the inventory of unsold homes declines, tho slowly, and is now below 400,000; mortgage interest rates in Ca. are down to 9% on single family homes...

For the lst time since Sept., ' housing starts rose (yea!!) but bldg. permits fell to a record low (boo!!) during Jan. (latest available figs.)...starts at a seasonal- ly adjusted annual rate were 987,000, up l3%: bldg. permits were off 2A% ftomDec. and 48% from the previous year...

The Jan. permit rate was the lowest since '46. when the feds began keeping housing stats...the rate "was a shock" according to Michael Sumichrast, head econornist for the builders' assn.; he now says "we'll be lucky " to get a housing recovery by mid-year...

Finmcial statenpnts re veal Louistana-Fagificwith sales up lO.4% (a record); Georgia-Paciftc set sales, net income and earnings per share records in '74: Boise-Ca* code had a record income, the most profitable year in its history ; (h amp i on In t er na t i o nal had record high sales and earnings in '74; Pope & Talbot reported its 2nd best year ever for revenue & earnings; Southwest Forest Industies had higher sales for'74, but lower earnings;...

Evans Products' '74 loss may reach $45 million, final figs. are due later; losses are expected for lst half '75. followed by gains later; Kaibab Industries sales dip- ped from '73 in '74 and they lost $28l$25;Dant & Russell had sales and income losses; Kaiser Cement's earnings took "a substantial decline'; F"i b rebtard Corp. income declined, despite a sales hike...

G-Phasphased out sanded plywood production at its Coos Bay, Or., plant-tho veneer & chip mfg. continue- "due to federal timber policy "; it plans to start 5 new operations this year... Mountain Fir Lumber, Independence, Or. hopes to be in production in 60 days with its rebuilt sawmill...

Cashway has opened a 65,000 sq. ft. new home center in Salt Lake City...Chandler Lumber has delayed a grand opening of their Van Nuys, Ca., home center... Fisher Lumben Santa Monica, Ca., has an Aug. or Sept. opening set for their lst home improvement

As we went to press on this issue, we learned from a principal of a major Northwest materials supplier of their suspicions of possible mortgage irregularities involving a major, nationallyoperating mortgage company. It is suspected that materials suppliers in at least three Western states were not paid on certain jobs becaup they were prematurely foreclosed. If any readers have any reason to suspect their job losses may be due to the same or similar circumstances, we urge you to contac t as at our . editorial headquarters, 4500 Campus Drive, suite 476,Newport Beach, Ca.92660, (714) 549-8393. We will then put you in contact with the above materials supplier who is seeking fur,' -,,ther information; ,:,,, center...Ray and Chris Athun are the new owners of the Fort Laramie Lumber Yarcl, Torrington, Wy...

The dock workers and West Coast shippers have agreed on a labor pact that bars any strikes when the current contract expires July l...Weyerhaeuser has purchased the 5A% ownership Sr Regis Paper had in the R-lt/ Paper Co., Longview, Wa., that the two firms have jointly owned for 20 years; no price revealed...

The treasurer of Certain-teed Products has been charged by the FBI with defrauding the firm of $500,000 and is under investigation in the disappearance of $ I million more that's missing from the corp. ttll..Narional Gypsum Co. is currently trying to fight off a proxy battle that seeks to oust current management...

Palmer G. Lewis Co. isrnoving to bigger quarters in Seattle (3490 W. Marginal Way, S.W.) after outgrowing their ldaho St. distribu- tion center...Labor Dept. figs show wholesale prices of lumberl plywood declined in Jan. for the 9tlt consecutive mo., prices for most other bldg. mtls. continued to nse...

During the entire mo. of May, the National Home Improvement Month program is keying this year's push on energy-conservation; don't miss a chance to prepare now for this important program...national publicity this year is expected to surpass previous levels...

There is a growing body of opinion surfacing into public view that holds a lumber famine in late '75-'76 will occur due to the many lumber manufacturers forced out of business during the 4th quarter of 'last year...

Daylin lnc., the national retailing & drug chain has filed for Chapter ll bankruptcy; Handy Dan Home Improvement Centers, anSl% owned subsidiary, willnot be included in the proceedings.