THE CALIFOR}.IIA LUMBERMERCHANT Howlrumber lrooks

The 4.000 A. F. of L. lumber workers in the Redwood lumber manufacturing industry are still out, and as we go to press the strike has entered its twenty-fourth week. The union shop is the main issue in the controversy. The strike started on January 14,1946.

Seattle, Washington, June 17, 1946.--:lhe weekly average of West Coast lumber production in May (5 weeks) was 121,628,000 board feet, or 84.0 per cent of I942-t945 average, according to the West Coast Lumbermen's Association in its monthly surlrly of the industry. Orders averaged 119,476,0n b.f.; shipments 121,327,O00. Weekly averages for April were: Production t22,ffi3,0n bi. (84.7 per cent of the 1942-1945 average); orders 125,215,M; shipments 122,833,W.

The industry's unfilled order file stood at 601,289,000 b.f. at the end of May; gross stocks at368,127,M.

May production of \Arest Coast lumber continued at approximately the same level as the past four months, or roughly averaging I72 million board feet per week. The month showed a million feet loss in production. easily attributed to the Memorial day shutdorvn. Lumber orders averaged 119 million feet, which is 5 per cent less than in April and the lon'est volume booked in the past several months. This decrease was directly traceable to pending changes in OPA price regulations, which had long been dis'cussed u'ith intent commonly knorvn; the threat of another interruption in production due to labor difficulties ; and the issuance of nerv price regulations. These price changes should somewhat stimulate both production and sales of Douglas fir, West Coast hemlock, Western red cedar and Sitka spruce lumber. However, the bottleneck continues to be the log supply, which is very short, particularly in view of the probability of logging camp shutdorvns caused by precautionary forest fire control requirements in Oregon and Washington in the summer months ahead.

Unshipped lumber orders, although declining slowly for the past several months, remain at approximately double that which the industry would ordinarily carry and when related to gross stocks are still badly out of balance with ability to ship. There seems to be no evidence of a slowing up of desire to place business regardless of uncertainty in time of shipment.

The Western Pine Association for the rveek ended June 15, 90 mills reporting, gave orders as 52,510,000 feet, shipments 56,446,W feet, and production 66,6O1,00O feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaledZ28,524,N0 feet.

The Southern Pine Arro.iution for the week ended June 15, 8l trnits (l13 rnills) reporting, gave orders as 15,447,000 feet, shipments 16,173,000 feet, and production 17,014,000 feet. Orders on hand at the end of the week totaled 90,973,000 feet.

The West Coast Lumbermen's Association for the week ended June 15 gave orders as 70r?.57,000 feet, shipments 80,2&,000 feet, and production 86950,000 feet.

Canadian Lumber Strike Settled

Vancouver, (8.C.) June 19.-The 37-day-old strike of 35,000 British Columbia loggers and millworkers was ended today on the basis of Chief Justice Gordon Sloan's recommendations for a 15-cents-an-hour increase, 44-hou,r work week and voluntary irrevocable checkofi of union dues.

Announcement of the end of the long-drawn-out struggle was made by Harold Pritchett, president of the International Woodworkers of America (C.I.O.).

Original union demands called for 25-cents-an-hour incri:ase, 4o-hour week and union security.

The union announcement said the strike will officially terminate at 11 a.m. tomorrow when all strikers will return to their jobs. A "no strike" clause has been eliminated from the new agreement.

The strike threatened pulp production at Biitish Columbia mills which supply newsprint for many United States paPers.

Mcnufcrcturers oI Plumbing Fixtures

Grcmted Increcrse

Manufacturers. of brass plumbing fixtures, waste fittings and trimmings have been granted an additional increase of about 15/o. (Amendment 15 and 18 to order 48 under MPR 591, effective June 14.)

Buys Building crnd Milling Compcrny

Gene Reagan, who was recently discharged from the ,Navy, has bought the business and equipment of. the E-Z Builders and Milling Co. at Dinuba, which was operated by Robert Norton.

FHA Occupan cy Prelercncc for Veterans

The Federal Housing Administration requires a certification of veterans' occupancy preference at the time of insurance of mortgages under Section 603 of the National Housing Act. This provision of the law authorizes FHA insurance of mortgages ap to XJ/o of necessary current cost on dwellings built under the Veterans Emergency Housing Program.

The certificate reads: "I hereby certify that after completion of the dwelling or dwellings, to be covered by the mortgage for which application has been made for insurance, exclusive preference or priority will be given, for a period of 30 days to rent, or 60 days to purchase, to veterans of World War II and their immediate families, or to persons defined by the Commissioner as hardship cases. It is understood that the term Veteran of World War II shall include persons who have served in the active military or naval forces of the United States on or after September 16, 1940, and prior to the termination of hostilities in World War II, and who have been discharged or released the-refrom under conditions other than dishonorable, and persons serving in the military or naval forces of the United States requiring housing accommodations for their dependent families."

New Ycnd in Burbcnk

Dell Lumber Co. has started a yard at 120 South Victory Blvd., Burbank. Delmar H. Windsor, who was formerly with the Back & Derry Lumber Co., Los Angeles, is the owner.

o A los Angeles mon couldn', loke his sfoc& of lumber lo bed with lri,m, so he lelt thol sign on it. Thafs the woy lhe rno&es you feel. We donf hove much eifher-limiled ol valnut, oot qnd mahogany ponels ore becoming ::' ':'i:ioyqirqbre. But lhe quolity is high os ever. And everylhing we lrqve is ovoiloble Io lumber rnerchonfs.