59th NHIA Convention Adoprs New Groding Rules

Chicago-From the moment that the curtain went up on the 59th convention to the strident tunes of a little German band parading the corridors and meeting rooms of the world's largest hotel, until the last strains of music for the dancing feet of members and guests many hours later, the big annual event of the hardwood industry was a rousing suciess. New grading rules were adopted, a new president and a dozen directors were chosen, stirring speeches were heard, a grand banquet and brilliant show was enjoyed and all departed with highest praise for the entire program. President Millett sounded his gavel in the spacious grand ballroom of the Conrad Hilton hotel rvith all seats filled and standing room at a premium.

Before Mr. Millett could get th,e meeting formally under way, a loud burst of applause went up in recognition of the splendid work that he had done for the National Hardwood Lumber Association during the past two years. Not in recent years had any president attended so many meetings, traveled so many hundreds of miles and taken such an active part in the day-to-day affairs of the association as had the immediate past president.

In his formal address, President Millett emphasized that the cooperative work of NHLA and its members is never finished. lIe warned against the advocating of change merely for the sake of changing things. Following President Millett's inspirational speech, the annual report of the secretary-manager was presented to the membership.

The featured speaker of the morning, the Honorable A. B. Chandler, governor of Kentucky, was introduced. The governor mixed r.vith his entertaining narration a world of common sense on the subject of conservation of our natural resources and a sensible approach to the subject through the cooperation of federal and state governments with the lumber and forestry industries. He was given a standing ovation by the packed assembly. Later in the day he n'as the guest of honor at the first annual reunion and luncheon of the graduates of the Inspection Training School.

At the Friday morning session, the president called upon Boyd Adams, chairman of the Inspection Rules committee, for presentation of the proposed rules changes. Mr. Adams r,'i'ent over the proposals and gave a brief summary of the reasoning back of his committee's findings. The rules rvere taken up individually and a considerable amount of discus- sion took place, resulting in the president calling for u,ritten ballots on several of the proposals. With the exception of those on dunnage and Philippine l\Iahogany, all rvere adopted as presented.

The first guest speaker of the morning, Dr. Alfred P. Haake, widely knor'vn economist and consultant to General Motors and for many years managing director of the National Association of Furniture Manufacturers, presented a most interesting and thought-provoking speech under the title, "What's Ahead for America." Dr. Haake is a long time friend of the association and held in exceptionally high regard due in part to his fine assistance in bringing about the acceptance of major rules revisions lty the NHLA in 1930.

The following address, by E. A. Clevenger of the Corley Manufacturing Company, covered ways and means of improving mill operations. His speech was very u'ell received and the information rvhich he gave was of real benefit to all those concerned with producing a better product at a lorver cost.

The final speech of the morning was delivered by William LeClair, secretary of the Canadian Lumbermen's Association. Mr. LeClair recently returned from an extended trip through Soviet Russia as a guest of the government and was privileged to view literally scores of lumber operations in the Soviet Union.

Departing from previous custom, an afternoon session was held and the first speaker was Charles E. Sell, director of the NHLA's Training School in Memphis. Mr. Sell reported on the progress of the school and on the present class which will complete its course of study in February. A. J. McGuire, a graduate of the school, gave a short talk in which he outlined the advantages accruing to a graduate in working his way up in the hardwood industry.

Directors elected for a period of three years include Don F. White, Oakland, Calif.

Upon nomination from the floor, Franklin T. Griffin was elected first vice-president, Bernard Bock, second vice-president, and Mark Townsend, third vice-president.

As the climax of the meeting, Hou'ard A. Hanlon of Odessa, N. Y., 'was unanimously chosen presiclent for the ensuing year. His firm is one of the most prominent in the eastern section of the country and he has been a member of

WAYNE C. ERVINE Decrler-Service

the association for many years, serving as a director and, more recently, as a vice-president.

Both the pre-registration and final registration was one of the largest the association has ever enjoyed. Nearly 1,700 tickets rvere given out for the banquet and entertainment.

On the evening of the close of the convention, the grand ballroom of the Conrad Hilton hotel was filled to capacity with members, their ladies and guests. They were treated to an exceptionally fine dinner, followed by seven acts of vaudeville. Some of the country's top headliners of stage and television combined to put on a show which was pronounced one of the best that NHLA has ever presented. Dancing followed until midnight.

on the late afternoon preceding the banquet and their hospitality was much appreciated by hundreds of guests. The Junior Conference held its customary cocktail party with a capacity number of younger me.mbers and their ladies enjoying a most sociable get-together. Nearly 300 ladies were guests of the association at a luncheon and entertainment given in their honor at the Sheraton-Blackstone hotel.

As previously mentioned, the first meeting of the graduates of the Inspection Training School was held Thursday noon with former Director L. C. Nicely as guest of honor. In addition to 80 former studeuts, a large number of officers and directors were present to add their best wishes to Mr. Nicely, who is norv retiring from active work. Tucker Grif(Continued on Page 67)