Pacific Coast Wholesafe Hardwood Distributors Association Ffolds 25th Annual Convention

Golf-Ed Bauer, chairman; Sid Simmons, and Fred Smales.

Publicity-Don White and Stanton Swafford.

Sectional reports on business conditions were made by Bob Sullivan, San Diego; Roy Stanton, Sr., Los Angeles; Bob Kahn, San Francisco; Adolph Wanke, Portland; Dallas Donnan, Seattle; Bruce Mclean, Tacoma, and L. B. Culter, Vancouver, B. C.

W. F. (Bill) Fahs talked on "The Plywood Story." He discussed both the foreign and domestic situations saying that hardwood plywoods were plentiful, and that some foreign plywoods are now available. Referring to Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir plywoods, he said the situation is "tough" and they. are hard to buy. Plywood prices are high, he said, but he doesn't look for any reductions for some time as labor, logs, and other manufacturing costs are high. The Southern Californ,ia market, he declared, is active and is absor,bing all the plywood that is shipped in.

Frank J. Connolly reported on "The Philippine Mahogany Picture." He said: "The progress that has developed since the em,bargo was lifted in December has been slow but quite satisfactory when we consider that all the lumber cut is on circular mills left by the Army; no band rnills to my knowledge are yet in operation. So judging from the lumber that has been exported, and the equipment available, the results are okeh.

The 25th annual convention of the Pacific Coast Wholesale Hardwood Distributors Association was held at the beautiful Santa Barbara Biltmore, "garden estate by the sea," Santa Bar,bara, June 17-18-19. Delegates from all sections of the Pacific Coast were on hand for the meeting.

The first business session was held Thursday morning with President Clarence C. Bohnhoff presiding who extended greetings to the delegates. He also expressed his appreciation to Secretary-Treasurer Stanton Swafiord who handled the arrangements for the convention.

The members paid a silent tribute to the late Harry White, who was the first president of the Association.

A telegram was received from George Cornwall, The Timberman, Berkeley, Calif., extending greetings to the delegates, and expressing his regrets that he could not attend the ,conven'tion. It was moved that the Se,cretary send a wire of appreciation to Mr. Cornwall.

Secretary Stantorl Swafford read the minutes of the last meeting, and President Bohnhoff appointed the following committees:

Nominations-Bob Kahn, chairman; Bruce Mclean and K. E. MacBeath.

Resolutions-Roy Stanton, Sr., chairman; Bob Sullivan and Norman Sawers.

Membership-Sterling Stofle, chairman; Jim Davis, and Leonard Hall.

"We do have many problems. It is true, for instance, the amount of 5/4" and,6/4" available is very small due to the fact that very few of the mills are qualified to cut these thicknesses. In small mills the block setters can only figure runs of l" and 7'. The making of shims in these small mills is unheard of. However. as soon as a few resaws are installed then l0/4" a4d I2/4" can be resawn to 5/4,, and. 6/4" but this all takes time.

"The 60-day requirement, while a good thing, has a tendency to slow down shipments for export, also many of the operators lost everything due to the war and now do not have sufficient finances to carry much stock for that period, so they sell it in the local market.

"However, the banks are now evidencing some interest in this situation and we hope by means of warehouse receipts this condition can be improved and more good export lumber accumulated.

"The lifting of the em,bargo f.rom 20/o of the previous month's cut to 50/o will also be a great help, and I wouldn't be surprised but the additional volume which will be developing from now on will have some effect on the price structure which should result in lower costs and place Philippine mahogany in a more competitive position with native hardwoods.

"We know since the embargo on logs has been lifted entirely that log prices have dropped gradually, and with the price of logs lower, lumber should react in the same way in the next several months.

"We have a different condition in the Islands, now that (Continued on Page 18)