lmport situation keys hardwood meet

A REPORT on the current confuA sion in the Philippine mahogany situation was outlined by guest speaker Jim Summerlin to the opening session of the Pacific Coast Wholesale Hardwood Distributors at their 53rd annual meeting, held recently at the Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix.

Observing that the Philippine government has instituted a major log ban in addition to market complications that include rainy weather, financial problems in the islands, fewer log producers and an increase in trade activity in Japan, he said it is expected that the price will keep climbing and that a probable period of shortage was due.

The possibility of increased use of meranti if Philippine mahogany prices continue to climb was also noted by Summerlin, who is manager of the lumber department at Robert S. Osgood, Inc., Los Angeles.

In other business, the consensus of the sectional reports from a wide ranging area of the West was for continued strong hardwood business for the balance of 1976. Earlier, PCWHDA secretary G.O. "Bud" Baker

Story at a Glance

Ef fect of Far Eastern conditions on U.S. pricing and availability . .a report on the Southern hardwood market. . .a roundup of current hardwood industry practices features distributors' convention.

had reported last year's minutes stated that "business was not too good and not too bad." He noted that "you just can't imagine how often that line appears in the minutes."

Guest speaker the second day was Howard Gatewood, secretary-manager of the National Hardwood Lumber Assn., who forecast a generally good short term outlook. He said that the furniture business was up 51% in the fourth quarter of 1975,and that wood use per piece of furniture was up. An increase in the shipments of Southern lumber was also noted by Gatewood.

New officers for 1916-77 are Jim Spellman, pres.;"Bud" Baker, lst v.p.; Dick Quarg, 2nd v.p.; "Pat" White, sec.-treas. I and Lyle Bell, asst. sec.-treas. Directors include Leonard Hall, "Sid" Simmons, Bill Fahs, Bill MacBeath, G.T. Frost and Don White, Jr.