THE S@UTHLAND

By WAYNE executive vice president

WBMA's SAIF Group know for the third year in a row that membership does pay. A "bonus" dividend for group workrnents eompensation totaling $35,734 was distributed in September for the year ending June 30, 1970. This amount represented an additional $3 for every individual firm dividend earned.

Those members participating can can experience even g:neater $'s return by: a first hand report on the cour'rse, since he himself is taking it.

(1) Urging all 1VBMA members to sign up for the SAIF-WBMA group.

(2) Urgrng non-members to join their trade association.

WBMA and other associations have joined together to bring about the same opportunity in Workmen's Compensation in Washington.

On July L, 1972 the Home Builders Registration Act becomes effective. This Act (HB 1451) requires contractors to register with Builder's Boards before submitting bids for or doing work on structures less than 3,000 sq. ft. and less than three stories. Also required will be a surety bond or deposit and liability insurance.

I'll report on the Occupational Safety & Health Act, as well as the outlook for price controls, since the Wage-Price Stabilization order is to be rescinded effective November 14the Sunday following the close of the Conference.

I\IOVEMBER 11-13 are the dates for

*' the 21st annual Management Conference of the Lumber Association of Southern California.

This year it uriU be held again at the El Mirador Hotel in Palm Springs. This is one of the ffnest hotels in the desert and has a particular chann equaled perhaps only by the Del Coronado Hotel.

This yeat's theme: "The Critical Path." The format this year will b€ somewhat similar to previous years. Ttre opening speaker will be Michael McCa^ffrey, vp., Newman and Associates. His topic will be "Personal and Corlnrate Efiectiveness."

Thursday afternoon, two experts from the Bank of America who deal with various lumbermen will discuss different kinds of business financing, how they evaluate a business with respect to loans, the advantages and times to seek short term or long term loans, what they look for in a financial statement and the monthly statements, national averages for wholesale and retail business, and business loans.

Thursday night is the board of directors' reception for all members and guests, followed by a dinner dance.

Friday a.m. Blake Blakey of Anawalt Lumber & Materials Co. will discuss the association education course and the benefits derived from it by his employees, as well as giving

The highlight of the morning session will be a panel of retailers and wholesalers who will talk on "Return on fnvestment For A Lumber Dealert' and go into detail on how various facets of the business atrect that return. Miles Davidson of Sun Lumber Co., Wm. S. Cowling, Jr. of Dixieline Lumber Co., Collin Lovesee of Boyd Lovesee Lumber Co., and William Baugh of Baugh Forest Products will be the panelists.

At noon there will be the president's luncheon with all who attend the conference invited. This is the retirement of the outgoing president and installation of the incoming one.

Lowry Wyatt, senior vp. of Weyerhaeuser Co., will be the speaker.

By R. V. PETERSEN executive secretary

II/ORD has been received that the vt Department of Labor. charged with administration of the new Oecupational Safety and Health Act, he.s removed our segtrtent of the industry from the Target Industry Program.

The ruling cites "lumber and other building material dealers, or establishments engaged primarily in selling to building contractors or the general public a general line of building materials" as being classified as retail trade and, therefore, not ineluded in the so-called worst-first group.

"Such establishrnents will be cove;:i'd by our program for general inclustry compliance visits which will include selected firms in the retail tlade industry." Thus, while we no longer belong to a "worst first" group, the necessity for compliance is unchanged and the probability of compliance inspeetions is undiminished. Henee, our members now have the advantage of being forewarned and forearmed. The all-inclusive nature of the act and its ultimate application to all employers in all fields does not permit any relaxation of compliance actions. Appreciation must be expressed to MBMDA members for patience and cooperation on heavier - than - usual mailings, surveys and questionnaires. All mernbers have been provided with pertinent information on OSHA rules, regulations and requirements. WagePrice Freeze information was supplied as quiekly and extensively as possible. Surveys on credit-card utilization and benefits will assist in determining an association service, A questionnaire on combined convention - expositions will assist in reaching a consensus, And, as anticipated, the response and coop3ration was furnished primarily by those members who can regularly be depended upon for assistance. first five months of 1969. The vacancy ratio, the percentage of housing units vacant,. has remained very low; indicating a continued demand for more housing.

Recent personnal changes involve installation of Cordell Stern as manager for Aldrich & Co., Bridger, and Willis Fife as manager of Harding Lumber Co., Hardin. Troy and Don French have purchased Saunders Lumber, Hardin, and will operate as French's Building Materials. Because of a health problem, Al Hium is retiring as manag:er of Aldrich & Co., Bridger. He has our best wishes.

By FRANK DAVIS executive vice president

f, T the association's first quarter fI board of directors meeting in Flagstafr, August 27-28, Dt. Ted Hoff of NAU reviewed the association's 2nd annual Cost of Doing Business survey for the 1970 year of operations. Remarkable increases showed up in sales over 1969 with an increase of 31%. Net pre tax income increased M%.

The building industry experienced substantial growth in Arizona in 1970 as building permits issued in the state show a 17.6/o inerease in dollar valuation over the 1969 total. Part of this increase is due to inflation, but discounting the inflationary growth, real growth will still be about I2Vo, Construction employment grew approximately 10% witt. much of this increase realized in the residential construction sector. In the Phoenix area there was an increa,se of 77o in housing starts, while in Tucson, the increase was 28.7%.

The increase in construction in 19?0 seems to be carried along into 1971. While no detailed statistics are available, the Arizona Busiwss bulletin carries two regular series; (1) Maricopa County Building Permits, and (2) Maricopa County New Housing Starts. These series show that building permits issued for the first five months of 1971 are up 327o ovet one year ago. New housing starts have increased even more, up 50Vo over the number started during the

Population growth contributes heavily to new housing demand. PoPulation growth in Arizona is comprised of two major parts; job seekers and retired people. Growth in housing demand on the part of job seekers will be closely related to the economic growth of the state. Demand for housing on the part of retired people' however, is independent of the state's economic growth, but does contribute to it. Indicators of economic growth continue to be positive.

Fmm all indications after checking with dealers, they are experiencing for 1971 the largest sales volume in their history.

All Arizona association members have received a copy of the 1970 Cost of Doing Business Survey and should carefully study it to make comparisons of their operation with similar operations in their sales volume category.