WWPA looks forward'to upward trend

]\TEW HOUSING starts will revitalize the 1\ .ugging lumber market in the next decade with emphasis on multiple'family dwellings.

Wendell B. Barnes, executive vice pre' sident of the Western Wood Products Asso' ciation, said that the nation's leading con' struction economists have predicted new housing starts will average 1.7 million in the 1965-70 period and step'up to about 2 million in l97I-75. Barnes said most of this volume will be in multi-family units which use an average of 4,000 bf. each.

Barnes made his remarks in the final meeting of the membership of WWPA at its 4-day third annual meeting in San Francisco. Work sessions and tJre general meeting were attended by more than 600 lumbermen of the 12 Western states. Member firms of WWPA, largest trade asso' ciation of its kind in the nation, in 1966 produced 29 percent of softwood lumber manufactured in the United States.

Barnes said that the WWPA market research department has just completed a survey of the nation's major lending institutions.

o'Their study confirms the general building and financial industry expecta' tions that mortage funds will be in better supply this year than last. Most institu' tions surveyed indicated willingness to finance an increased volume of home re' pair and remodeling."

Other major association business was the reelection of L. L. Stewart as WWPA president. He is also president of the Bohemia Lumber Company, Inc. in Culp Creek, Oregon.

Frank R. Gilchrist was reelected vice president and James H. Whitty, treasurer. Gilchrist is president of the Gilchrist Tim-