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(Continued from page 54) translate into acceptable returns for western lumber products. There continue to be more than adequate amounts of lumber to fill even the high levels of demand, he said. As a result, pressure will likely continue on prices.

"Last year, lumber consumption increased by 733 million board feet over 1984. Canada increased its exports to the United States by 1.3 billion board feet-almost twice the consumption increase," said Roberts.

Meanwhile, western shipments in 1985 were down nearly 47o from 1984 levels.

Canadian shipments to the U.S. are expected to hit a new record in 1986, he said, increasing to nearly 15 billion board feet.

Western lumber producers are expected to ship 17.96 billion board feet of lumber in 1986, '7.1Vo more than last year. Shipments from the South are forecast to rise 2Vo to 10.59 billion feet.

Export markets for lumber should also improve this year, predicted Roberts. U.S. mills are expected to ship

1.625 billion board feet abroad in 1986, 1Vo morc than last year.

"I am confident that we will, one day, see an improvement," he said. "Some day, we will be at a point where Canadian and U.S. supply capability will be stretched. We expect demand will continue at near record levels. These factors and others will one day provide a healthier climate in which to operate."

At the meeting lumbermen and forecasters alike expressed concern about national forest plans that are likely to reduce domestic timber harvesting by 2 billion board feet in California, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington each year for the next decade. That amount of timber is enough to construct 175,000 homes and is responsible for more than 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in the five states.

The decline in harvest levels will hurt not only the industry, but the many communities whose economic livelihood is based on forest products, noted Rus Fredsall. director of resources and environment for WWPA.

"The need for additional wilderness must be balanced with the needs of forest-based communities. These towns and counties are also part of the forest

Merchant Magazine ecosystem. They, too, must be considered in the forest plans," Fredsall urged.

At the industry luncheon, March 13, NBC correspondent Douglas Kiker, filling in for the previously scheduled Irving R. kvine, presented an optimistic, upbeat appraisal of the current U.S. economic and political scene. "We're nol out of control," he said.

Kiker said that the prime interest rate would decline to SVzVo for the balance of 1986, that more single issue politics would be evident and that despite our many troubles, "there is no challenge we can't meet." He described President Ronald Reagan as a "political heavyweight" who is accomplishing his main goal ofreducing the size ofgovernment and its spending, even if this produced a short term deficit.

As part of its stress on marketing, WWPA had a committee meeting with industry wholesalers to identify and work towards solutions of common problems. Part of the meeting dwelt on ways that wholesalers can use to tie in with on-going WWPA promotion programs.

In standing committee actions, the Executive Committee abolished the Tiansportation and Safety & Health com- miftees, projected an operating loss in 1986 of approximately $400000 and a loss of nearly $640,000 for fiscal 198687 and extended its joint UK/European representation (with the Southern Forest Products Association) until September, 1987.

The Marketing Services Committee accepted a budget of $2.4 million for its Impetus marketing program, noting that this is $522,000 less than originally planned. It also voted to support efforts to expand use of the raised wood floor system in western markets.

The Quality Standards Committee moved to the next meeting a joint WWPAAVood Moulding and Millwork Producers Association subcommittee to discuss a proposed change in the grade of moulding stock, section 92.00.

The fall meeting of WWPA will be in Monterey, Ca., September 27-30, 1986.

One year hence, in l98Z the fall meeting will be at the Coeur dAlene Resort, Coeur dAlene, Id. This spring's meeting was held in San Francisco, Ca., March

Richard B. Panish of Boise Cascade Corp. was elected chairman of WWPA at the board of directors meetins. Par-

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(Continued from previous page) rish is vice president, timber and wood products group for Boise Cascade in

Boise, Id. Lee C. Simpson of LouisianaPacific Corp. in Portland advanced to the first vice chairman spot. W.T. "Tom" Richards of Idaho Forest Industries in Coeur dAlene, Id., was elected as sec- ond vice chairman. In new staff officer appointments, Robert H. Hunt was elected secretary/treasurer of WWPA. Hunt succeeds Gordon Brown. who is retiring this year.