NRLDA Spring Meeting Finds Deolers Optimistic; Riding Crest of Repcrir, Remodeling Business Wcrve

Retail lumber dealers can look forward to gradual improvement in the mortgage situation, helpful changes and innovations in FHA's programs and regulatibns, an expanded_ progr-a- 9f- employee training, ind a bigger and better NRLDAtsxposition planned to appeal to both srnall and larg.e dealers, according to reports made to the board of directors of the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association at its well-attended Spring meeting held in Washington last month.

Paul R. Ely, the association's president, told the board that in his travels to state and regional conventions he found a decided spirit of optimism among dealers everywhere Dealers, he said, are foru'ard-looking and progressive and are gearing themselves to give the public increasingly better service, so that their associations also must gear themseives to the needs of their members and help them provide those services. Mr. Ely also said that it was highly desirable to broaden the membership of the state and regional associations and urged that the problem be given prompt consideration.

H. R. Northup, NRLDA's executive vice-president, reported that the associa-tion rvas continuously cooperating with other industry organizations to increase the flow of mortgage money and predicted that the mortgage situation will improve gradually, although not as rapidly as the industry would like. He said NRLDA vvould continue to urge the adoption of a system of flexible interest rates, 'ivhich would go far toward preventing shortages such as have been experienced in recent months.

Miles L. Colean, construction economist, supported Mr. Northup's opinion that a gradual improvement in the flolv of mortgage money could be expected and said that,'while 1957 u'ould be a year of readjustment and turn-around in housing, 1958 definitely would be a year of expanded homebuilding activity. Another encouraging factor in the home building picture, aside from the better outlook for mortgage money, he said, is the fact that tl-re number of vacant and unsold homes is lower than at any time since 1950.

' He pointed out that dealers currently are faring better than the home-building trend would indicate because of ttre strong demand for repair and modernization.

Huge Remodeling Morket Seen

"We expect a minimum 1957 national market of $10 billion for additions, remodeling and repairs in the residential field alone, compared with an estimated 9 billion in 1956. For every dollar now being spent on new construction, approximately 80 cents is being spent on additions, alterations and repair of existing homes," recently declared Harold R. Berlin, Johns-Manville Corp. vice-president.

Tl.re association's national affairs counsel, J. H. Else, reported on NRLDA's legislative activities and on the legislative outlook. He expressed the hope that Congress rvould refrain from extending the n'age-hottr bill to include retailers but said continuous, aggressive rvork rvottlcl be needed to prevent such action. It is tt>o early to tell just what the terms of the nevv housing bill rvill be, he said, but it should include some far'oritble features, including lower dorvnpayrnents on FHA loans. There is little likelihood that the interest rate on GI loans rvill be increased, he added.

NRLDA also is urging Congress to defeat the freightabsorption bill, supporting the Passage of the Federal Tax Lien bill, rvhich rvould recluire the Internal Reventte Service to file a notice in the state before snch a lien can become valid against a mechanic's lien, and endorsing the repeal of t!'te 3/o federal tax cin transportation of propertv.

Byron Gray, attorney rvho has been representing the association in opposing the increase in freight rates, saitl that the outcome of the railroads' request is in doubt lrrrt should be decided within six to eigl-rt rveeks. He said the request of the railroads lvould increase the nation's freight bill by about $1,500,000,000 in addition to the increase of $500,000,000 already granted, and explained that NRLDA