THE SOUTHLAITD

By WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president

Recently our national association asked each federated association to conduct a survey of its members regarding tne energy cnsls.

Two things were immediately obvious from our survey. First, the responses came from a majority of association members. Ten to 207o is usually considered a good response. Secondly, as big a problem as the fuel shortage appears to be, it's not hitting the average business too hard. However, the side eflects are causing some difficulties.

The responses indicated that the dealer buying gasoline from the local station is noticine some lack of availability of fuel.

The bulk purchasers were experiencing some shortages of fuel with allocations cut on the average by 2OVo.

Even though there is a shortage of fuel the dealers service to his customers has been maintained. To accomolish this. the primary steps being taken as indicated by the survey were the pooling of orders and raising the minimum shipment. This action is just good business and should assist in reducins deliverv costs and ruising of profits. An-d alter al[. that's why the doors of each business establishment are opened daily. f'utit irit, propane, and butane are not big items in Southern California and there werc too few resDonses to that section of the questionnaire for a determination to be made. Natural eas is used ior heating the ouildings bit no apparent problems were indicated in the resDonses. moderator, kept the program in balance. ln order to conserve the available energy (and who should be more conservation oriented than a group of businessmen who depend on a renewable, natural resource lor their major sales dollar) almost all indicated a reduction in heating their facilities, altering delivery practices, reducing interior and advertising Iighting, reduction in the business use of automobiles and conducting programs among the employees to urge them towards a wiser use of energy sources such as gasoline and electrrclty.

Diesel fuel availability did not seem to be anv oroblem.

With respect to electricity, the dealers indicated no oroblems. but their customers were hiving some problems with new hook uos.

Speaking to the question of financing were Dick Smiley, FmHA director; Orvin Fjare, FHA director; William Miller, Federal Land Bank manager; Martin Moss for Western Montana National Bank; and Lyle Grimes for Western Federal Savings & Loan. Roger Walsh (Walsh-Anderson Lumber Co., Great Falls) field-managed the session from the dealer ooint 6f view.

A significant element of the convention was Somers White's Manaeement Seminar, ably presented b! this nationally known financial and management consultant. This was followed by a diverting presentation on communications problems between dealer and.wife or emDlovees.

In dpit-e of problems posed by fuel shortage, transportation difficulties, weather and business, a good and beneficial program was enjoyed by all who felt this trip to be "necessary".

Almost everv resDondent indicated that the shortage of asphalt roofing varied from substantial to severe. The same was true of polyethylene material, nails, reinforcing steel and concrete mesh. In one instance nuint wus u ritten in as being in short supply.

So it can be said and oroven. there is an energy crisis. and it does have its eflect on the dealer and his customer. But the average retail and wholesale lumberman is about the most enterprising businessman around. Souring lumber prices didn't knock him down, sagging housing starts won't shoot him out of the saddle. and neither will some temporary dislocations from an energy crunch. Like the cat on the chinnins bar - they really hang in there.