NLMA Spokesman Urges Trade Groups to Tackle Controversial lssues

Trade associations in the lumber industtry are on notice that they face loss of membership and possible extinction if they refuse to become involved in controversial issues.

Mortimer B. Doyle, executive vice president of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association, also warned the industry's trade groups not to cut their dues rates in the hope of attracting new, or retaining old. members.

"I have had lumber association executives tell me that their association might lose members if they raise the dues or if they engage in controversial areas. Well, we have associations in this industry paying $2.70 a thousand for promotion and doing a darn good job. Sure, they have fewer members, but those they do have are getting a return that warrants such a payment," Doyle declared in a recent speech before the West Coast Lumbermen's Association in Portland, Oregon.

The NLMA executive reminded his audi- ence that members of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association are now paying 75 cents a thousand for promotion, although that organization is engaged in a number of controversial activities.

"Sure, they'll lose an occasional member who might disagree with a particular policy," Doyle noted, "but tley also are doing a darn good job for their members-let's not ever forget it." He continued: o'Your members would also pay 75 cents per thousand for lumber promotion and activities, instead of half that amount, but you must be prepared to lose the faint hearted-you'll eventually lose them anyway even i{ you eut the dues. t'If you have a program worth 75 cents per thousand you'll attract those companies tlat are willing to spend to progress and not just stand still or slip back. If your regional associations were handling all problems from the stump to sale in the house, you would have no reason to concern yourself with splinter groups or one-puf,pose associations. Rather, you would insist on , regionals lieing strongly led, optimistic in attitude, resolute in program implqmelta;:lli tion, fearless to'threats, and determined t0- r be efiective-jf for only two members." , '

Doyle stressed that NLMA will undertalce "any program of benefrt to the lumber. industryo controversial or not,o' because .l] 'ow€'re not afraid to tackle anything." He .l spelled out his philosophy on this subject, as follows:

"Today we are enmeshed in many con:' ,.{ troversial programsgrade simplification'-+ and standardization, Canadian imports and industry-government bargaining on timber matters. By their very nature, these pro-grams tend to divide the industry-but such division will sewe a purpose of eventu" ally unifying tle industry, particularly if' members of the various associations resist 1' acceding to the wishes of those who threaten l to resign if they don't get their own .way' or those who benefit from but are not will'

(Contilwed on Page 58)