More Thon 75O Artend 64th N-AWIA Convention

More than 750 men and women attenddd the 64th annual meeting of the National-American Wholesale Lumber Association at Vancouver, British Columbia, June lB-21. The enthusiasm carried right through to the last day, when some 300 attended an 8 a.m. breakfast at the closing session. This was not only the N-AWLA's first convention in the Dominion of Canada but its very first on the Pacific coast.

The following officers were all re-elected: president, J. Philip Boyd, Boyd & Company, Chicago; first vice-president, Martin T. Wiegand, Wiegand, Inc., Washington, D.C., and second vice-president, Donald R. Meredith, Meredith Lumber, fnc., New York City. By by-law amendment, the office of secretary-directing manager was dis- solved and Sid L. Darling, who has held this title 20 years, was elected executive vice-president, first man to hold this office in the N-AWLA. Charles J. Fisher of New York was elected secretary. Paul C. Stevens and Donald S. Andrews, Portland, Ore., were reappointed western manager and assistant manager, respectively.

Pre-convention activities on June 18 consisted of the annual directors meeting, their luncheon, and reconvening of the board. The British Columbia Lumber Mfgrs. Assn. hosted an informal reception that evening.

The 64th convention was officially opened at 10 a.m., June 19, with a welcome by His Worship Fred J. Hume, mayor of Vancouver, in the Panorama Roof room of the Hotel Vancouver, where all sessions were held. He was

Excerpts from Address of Presidenf J. Philip Boyd

It is truly remarkable, in my humble opinion, that in the realm of forest products in which the sovereign Dominion of Canada and the United States excel production-wise, nothing more serious than the slight token tariffs interfere with the free interchange of these products betwee,n the two countries . Whil€ there are differences in philosophy, such as Canada's desire to reduce its national debt, and our apparent desire to increase ours, such differences do not interfere with the free interchange of goods and of ideas. Some people on the United States side are not too happy with the ready flow of Canadian lumber into their markets, and this is understandable. However, the production in Canada supplements that of the United States, and together they supp y a very large percentage of the timber requirements of the world. The only reason that they do not supply more of the world's needs is due to the great difference in the standard of living in North America as compared to the rest of the world We are enjoying the greatest attendance at this meeting that the NationalAmerican has ever enjoyed in 64 such annual meetings. . . Because of the fact that this meeting is being held in one of the ce,nters of western production, we have an unusually large attendance on the part of our mili members and mill guests. They are very welcome and we are indeed happy to have them sit in on our discussions.

One of the things that has made me wonder at times in the past, is what seems to be an attitude on the part of some lumber wholesalers which reflects a somewhat defensive position with regard to their business as compared to other segments of the industry. This I cannot understand, as I think this industry would fall flat on its face without the wholesalers. I do not say that it is not of paramount importance to buy and log timber and manufacture it into lumber, nor that it is not of paramount importance to have consumer distribution of this lumber through the retail lumber yard. They are both absolutely essential. But I do not think that either one of them is more essential in the process of transmitting the products of the forests to the ultimate consumer than is the lumber wholesaler. None of these three seg- ments of the industry could very well exist without the other two. I am very proud to be a wholesaler of lumber, and whilc I do not know, and perhaps it is not linown at all what percentage of lumber moves through the wholesaler, my guess is that it is in the neighborhood of. 7So/s, and without doubt the percentage is increasing. Just how sawmills, numbering many thousands in North America, would get this product to the even greater number of retailers and industrial buyers in North America without the help of the lumber wholesaler is a little bit beyond my comprehension.

And that brings me to a point which is a little delicate but which I see no reason to avoid or evade. And this is directed to a great extent to manufacturers in this part of the world. Do they give the proper recognition to their wholesale distributors? Do they make us a partner in their business, so to speak, or do they hold us to a position where we have to scurry and buy to the very best advantage that we can on each individual purchase? Just remember that wholesalers save the manufacturer a field sales organization; that we save him an extensive and worried credit department; that we save him the wearisome and minute contacts that he would have to maintain to get distribution without us. A little later on, listen to a report that will be made on the results of the cost survey. In the light of this nation-wide survey, it seems to rrte that the mills could e,nsure for themselves an ev€n better type of representation if the wholesaler did not have to scramble so much. Wholesalers should never let the mills forget that. But, at the same time, wholesalers should be prepared to deliver that superior type of service that would be expected of us.

No wholesaler operating with a sales organization, at least east of the Rocky Mountains, can operate on 50/6 ADF. A few of the mills, recognizing the fact that the wholesalers' costs have gone up just like the sawmills, costs, have made adjustments in their sales allowances.

A couple of years ago a moveme,nt was started to promote a sustained publicity campaign to be of benefit to you as members, and to the mills and customers you (Continued on Page 64) introduced by J. Ward Allen, N-AWLA director in Vancouver, follorn'ing an invocation by Past President Bob Cowles. Other events on the first day's order of business rvere the roll call and reading of minutes, the president's address by Mr. Boyd, secretary's report by Mr. Darling, treasurer's report by Frank S. McNally, and the election of directors, discussion of resolutions, and passing of bylaw amendments.

A capacity audience acclaimed the two main addresses of the meeting, both delivered the first day. H. R. MacMillan, CBE, Vancouver, spoke on "Trading Relations Bet'ween the U. S. and Canada." Arthur H. Motley, New York City publisher, talked on "Use It or Lose It l', Resolutions rvere unanimously adopted as follows: (1) the N-AWLA endorsed the principle of grade-marking all lumber; (2) urged immediate discontinuance of the 3/o federal transportation tax; (3) urged Congress to enact legislation necessary to effect the savings in government operation as contained in the Hoover Commission report, and (4) recommended to Congress passage of S. J. IZI calling for immediate study of traffrc regulations and equipment facilities of rail carriers to avoid or minimize freight car shortages.

The June 20 sessions started with an B a.m. business breakfast at r,vhich new offrcers were introduced and response from visiting association representatives was heard. Nfr. Stevens's Portland report was given next and Don Andrews was introduced to the members. Snark of the Universe Dave Davis spoke next. He told the N-AWLA delegates of the history and .ivorkings of Hoo-Hoo and drummed for attendance at the big convention next month in San Francisco.

The executive session of the members convened next for a panel discussion on Wholesalers' Problems. Vice-President Wiegand moderated this r,vith the following panel members: west coast-Richard Stetson and J. Ward Allen; midwest-Walter Johnson and L. J. FitzPatrick; east coast Don Meredith and J. Albert Ballin. The discussion rvas proved very stimulating.

The entertainment events on the convention calendar included a dinner dance and pro show at 8 p.m. the evening of June 19 preceded by a get-acquainted cocktail party. W. Howard DeCew of Vancouver was toastmaster and Chief Joe Mathias Capilano of the Squamish Tribe officially inducted Princess Nawla.

For the ladies, a scenic bus drive was provided with high tea at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. Manufacturers tours provided choice of five sawmills including a shingle and a plywood operation. For those remaining over the extra day, June 21, an all-day logging camp trip was arranged.

The 65th annual meeting was set for June 10-11,1957, at the Mount Washington hotel in Bretton Woods, N.H. California directors of the N-AWLA include Ed Fountain, Los Angeles, and Lew Godard and Ralph Steele, San Francisco. Many Californians who had earlier been in Victoria for the PCWHDA annual (CLM, 7/L5/50) stayed in Canada for the N-A\\rlAnnual.

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Grqin Mohogony Hordwood Flush Doorsond fhe Finest Hqrdbotrrd Flush Door .'

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John M. Young

John Michael Young, 72, Hollywood theatre executive and former lumberman, died June 2 at Hollywood Presbyterian hospital after suffering a heart attack two weeks earlier. A native of Ohio. he went to Hollywood in 1903 ancl, in 1905, became manager of the old D. I. Nofzinger Lumber Co., then located on Hollywood boulevard between Hudson and Cherokee avenues. He entered the theatre business ]n l9I4 and formed a cir- cuit u,'hich was later affrliated with Fox West Coast. He was a member of the Lions club, Masonic Lodge 355, Masquers club of Hollywood and 50-Year Pioneers of Hollywood. He leaves his second wife of the home at 1917 N. Curson Ave.

Woyne Williqms

Wayne Williams, 45, lumber rnill foreman at Redlands, Calif., was killed June 19 in a mill accident. He had gone into the sawpit during the noon hour to work on the big blade. He was making an adjustment when the warning whistle blew and the saw was turned on. His leg was