lmporters convene

HE Imported Hardwood Products Association started its third decade with a remarkable jump in attendance at its annual meeting, 30% more people than ever before, 411 in all. The 2lst annual was held at the La Costa Spa, Carlsbad, Ca. Next year's gathering will be on the Island of Maui, Hawaii, with dates yet to be announced.

Reflecting a membership from, literally, every comer of the globe, the program committee, chaired by John Osgood of Robert S. Osgood, Inc., Los Angeles, presented a strong program that covered domestic, Asian and European markets for lumber, plywood, hardboard, furniture, corestock, doorskins, timbers and, of course, hardwood products.

Among the many panel discussions and speeches the following examples are typical of the solid information generate d:

At the Lumber Group Session, David Bell-Salter noted the declining role of Africa in the world timber situation due to continued political unrest. T. Lee Robinson reprised a recent Phillippine Islands trip by noting logs as still somewhat scarce, though there was no significant change in present supply.

Central American and South

American supply Charlie Robinson covered by noted that was who Mexico consumes its own productionl Central America is mostly logged over; with Brazil as the largest source, but with mixed species and a large domestic consumption. Dan Swett described (Please turn to Page27)

PONDEROSA PINE

SUGAR PINE

INCENSE CEDAR

DOUGLAS FI R WHITE FIR

(916) 824-5427

HARRY MENDENHATT executive vice prcsidenl lumber Merchonls Associotion of Northern

I I tE WELCOME the Mountain ff_States_Association to the Westein-States Lumbermens Council. As reported before the WSLC is a periodic meeting of the presidents and executive vice presidents of the Western associations covered by this magazine. Its purpose is to develop programs of mutual interest to all dealer members in any of the Western associations. When there is a common need by all western dealers for information such as the warranty act, OSHA, or training programs the WSLC works in coordination to develop one program that may be used by all rather than each individual association developing its own. This saves manpower and dollars for each of us and pro- vides a better program for the dealers.

On April 27-28 dealers from across the nation will gather in Washington D.C. for our annual Conference with Congress. Dealers will be briefed on current issues that cause considerable concern to out industry. Issues such as situs picketing, land use, right to work laws and housing will be discussed. After the briefings, dealers will be armed with briefing packets and then move to Capitol Hill to meet with their respective Congressmen to urge them to support our requirements and needs rather than to bend to the pressures of the environmentalists and create further bottlenecks to housing, construction and employment.

The problem for us is that the Western States are a long way from the Nation's Capitol. The expense to make the trip is more than most dealers want to bear, but the need is urgent and the support of the industry is essential. During previous visits, our Congressmen have told us that they have thousands of letters, phone calls and visits from environmental groups but lumber dealers are considered very meek businessmen. They rarely complain or make their views known.

Maybe your business is not worth the approximately $500 to make the trip. If it isn't, throw in the towel, but, if you are concerned you'd better start planning to become involved in the political issues that affect your very existence. You and I are to blame for the condition of the government. We have permitted passage of bills, birth, growth and assumption of control of regulatory agencies that even Congress cannot curb.

We have permitted what was once a two-man federal office to grow into an organization that must now have a high rise building constructed to house it and must now have a $300 million share of the tax payers money to operate annually.

The environmental groups have developed into efficient adversaries and have become well organized while we have retreated further into the shadows. There are only a few dealers who recognize that personal contact with their federal and state legislators is as much a part of their operations as allocating funds for vehicle operation for the vear.

Importers Convene

(Continued from page 2 s) the future of South East Asian wood products as very bright indeed. He stressed the importance of good kiln drying.

Jim Summerlin of the Robert S. Osgood Co. spoke on the importance of proper handling, seasoning and drying of imported hardwoods. He also included an excellent layman's level explanation of how kiln drying actually works.

The Plywood Panel (no pun intended) had Dave Gentry relating the three price categories in paneling and a description of the highly competitive medium area of $5-$10 panels. Sol Kaplan said log export bans in various countries will inevitably increase prices. John Maurer then noted flame spread problems, relating how some large retailers are paying high prices to get panels that are safe-rated.

Bill Suiter opined that price fluctuation and instability in plywood will continue as production basically exceeds demand on a world wide basis. Moderator Vic Kaplan responded to a question by answering that little had been done overseas to improve flame spread ratings at the manufacturer level.

The Core Panelling session began with Russell Stadelman noting that Phillippine core and veneer suppliers are in a depressed market and have cut production. But other nations are buying so that current demand exceeds supply which seemed to indicate a short term (at least) rise in prices.

Moderator Kurt Gelbard noted the group's consensus that, in spite of the reduction of the need of core and veneer stock by domestic hardwood plywood manufacturers, the need of softwood plywood makers (especially structural plywood) should stimulate the market.

The Doorskin/Hardboard panel, moderated by Dant & Russell's Kit Draham, had a lively session, featuring a great deal ofinterplay between panel and audience. As she observed, "if the lunch hour had not caught up with the

- theY'd be there talking, Yet

Panelists agreed their volumes were (Please turn to page28)

lvith our ltt|ood Fire Door Framel

This label is for Delaney's Wood Fire Door Frame. In many communities a twenty minute rated frame is now required. Delaney is one of the few manufacturers who has this label for a Wood Door Frame.

ln addition to manufacturing Wood Fire Door Frames, Delaney Sash & Door Company manufactures Sash, Doors, Door and Window Frames, Wood Double Hung and Sliding Windows, Detail-Panel Doors, Louvered Doors, Prehung Doors, both built-up and K.D., custom and stock.

Importers Convene

(Continued from page 2 7 ) rising more slowly than those of plywood and expected the great bulk of skins, at least, to remain in brownpaper, rather than embossing. Customs matters and the need for assuring continued integrity of the documentation of plywood skin makers was a point two panelists emphasized.

Additionally, the problem of substitution of species other than lauan against lauan contracts was noted and it was strongly suggested that the practice would not be tolerated.

A small panel of reps met under moderator Frank Frampton, noting periodic changes in the thickness requirements of core stock consumers. John Lynn commented on the potential of Indonesian producers, when they become established.

W. D. Page of APA reported on the American Plywood Association's efforts toward establishing imported veneers for use in the Douglas fir industry to supplement their requirements for face stock.

Among the officers and directors elected were Jake Froelich, The Froelich Co., president; Joe DolneY, Abitibi Corp., senior v.p.: and Henry Dessauer, Pan American Trade Development Corp., treasurer.

Over the course of the three day meeting, many speakers added to the Imported Hardwood Products Association's growing reputation for meaningful convention output. The fun and games were also enjoyed, as a useful, relaxing adjunct to a fact-packed, fastpaced, information session.

AWWF Gets "A' in Tests

Tests of a full-sized basement assembly at the American Plywood Association's Tacoma, Wa. Research Center have demonstrated that the All-Weather Wood Foundation has superior resistance to horizontal forces, both wind and seismic. The in-ground tests gave proof that the system is far stronger than indicated by the highly satisfactory laboratory racking tests previously conducted.

Thirty-four tests were completed in the laboratory prior to the in-ground tests, utilizing an 8'x 8' wall segment. Field verification, witnessed by building code officials, archittects and builders, February 24, showed that the interaction of the walls and floors, together with passive resistance of the earth, developed strength more than three times that indicated by the laboratory work.

The International Conference of Building Officials is considering recommending that AWWF be included in the Uniform Buildine Code.

Thol's How lt Goes!

introducing eight new items!"

The Merchant Mogozine

0RIENTATI0N PAVlLl0N, 0ne of largesr structures at newly expanded Polynesian Cultural Center near Honolulu, Hawaii. is l50x 300'greeting house, soaring to height of 54 feet. Design utilizes Koppers Co. laminated wood arches. For protection against tropically accelerated decay and insect attack, arches, and beams, were pressure treated using "Cellon" process, developed by Koppers. All other structural wood was safeguarded by pressure treatment with "Wolman" preservative chemicals, also produced by Koppers. Thatched roof of pavilion, hailed as world's largest of its kind, took 18 weavers more than three months to complete.