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By KENT executive president

MOXEY vice

T HE "Forest and Rangeland Re- I newable Resource Planning Act of 1974" (the Humphrey-Rarick bill), signed by President Ford, provides a foundation for lons term manasement of the National ForEst, with a loal of maximum sustained production.

It requires the Forest Service to prepare programs for the next 40 years in l0 year stages. The Secretary ofAgriculture is directed to assure that development and administration of the renewable resources are in full accord with concepts of multiple use and sustained vield. The vear 2000 is the target dat6 for catching up on needed reforestation and other needed treatment.

The system anticipates close supervision by Congress, requiring periodic reports on demand and supply, cost/benefit. research and evaluation of opp6rtunities for improving yield. A balance must be sought between economic factors and environmental oualitv factors. ' Your National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Assn. worked very hard in Washington promoting the concepts that this new law puts into practice. Until the end of the world, housing will be in constant demand. Logic dictates that we must, as a people through our government, plan for production of wood products necessary to build houses in the foreseeable future, while maintaining or improving the ecological system. The new law provides the framework for attaining this goal.

The new "Housing and Community

Development Bill" signed shortly thereafter by President Ford provides $11.9 billion in srants over the next three years, $8.4 lillion of which is for community development grants.

The law increases the maximum on mortgages made under the several programs for single family houses and also reduces the down payment required. This is a very detailed bill with rent subsidy, home loans for the elderly. community housing, etc. It is a medium range program and is not expected to greatly affect the housing business very soon.

We recommend you attend and participate in the NLBMDA annual meeting, Scottsdale. Az.. Oct. 20-23. Theme of the convention is The Opportunities of Chanee.

Thdidea is: there is change - do we see it as a threat, or a challenge? This meeting explores the positive approach.

O Ntan A

By R.V. PETERSEN executive secretary

ANAGEMENT requirements in lYl ttre operation of a retail building material business have become increasingly demanding under today's market conditions. Market fluctuations make constant attention to costs and pricing imperative. Prices must be adjusted up as costs go up, or conversely. Price books reouire continual revision for all items oi lines not piece-priced. But revisions must of necessity be made with a view toward maintaining competitive levels.

Inventories may tend to rise to compensate for hard-to-get, short-su-pply items, and to increase margin for offsetting spiraling costs. Thus. greater time, effort and attention must be gi gtven to lnventory control. A review of purchase ol. purchase be in order for achievins a practlces may be achlevlng better rate of turn on merchandise lines. Good inventory control might predicate discontinuance of slow moving items or lines. High priced inventory replacement mav not be iustified when considered in the'light of high interest costs.

Equally important in management praciice is expense control, demanding constant attention and application. Payroll costs, especially overtime, must always be under scrutiny.

Everv manaser must strive for maximum iroducti-vity from personnel, and to achieve this involves continuing trainine and -Customarymotivation.overhead expenses must be manased for minimization deliveries, -telephone, supplies, energy. Advertising practices (and expense) must be reviewed to produce better promotion and better sales.

The hats worn by management are manv and varied. but the successful manager wears them all with distinction.

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