EDITORIAL

Fine Trodition Continued

tl-tHE WOOD PRODUCTS industry, which has r such a fine record o{ cooperation and accomplishment during both World Wars and the Korean IVar, has again stepped forward to offer assistance and know-how as our country's involvement in the Vietnam IVar grows.

In a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, the American Plywood Association offered to turn over more than one hundred technical specialists to the armed forces "for as long as necessary" to help solve troop housing problems in Vietnam. Surely this is in the finest tradition of Ameri' can business' long record of giving aid to the national efiort.

Specifically, the association ofiered staff help in these four areas:

(I) Assistance in developing a set of specialized housing requirements.

(2) Design and engineering assistance in any degree.

(3) Help in locating potential contractors and specifi cations writing.

(4) Assistance in developing fast erecting procedures, including, if necessary, 'osending our people overseas to get things started."

Association Executive Vice President James R. Turnbull said that he was acting partly on the suggestion of Senator Warren G. Magnuson of Washington, who had pointed out that such buildings could be turned over later to the civilian population during a period of rebuilding when hostilities might cease. Turnbull's letter conceded that one of its motives in making the offer was to help the government develop new uses for its members' products, but also pointed out that this was in line with the administration's present policy to use U.S. products whenever possible to help cut down on the outflow of dollars.

We feel the American Plywood Association deserves credit and recognition for their publicspirited offer to the Defense Department and we congratulate them on their continuation of our industry's historic policy of contributing to the national delense effort.

lollipops qnd Lumber

nN A RECENT trip through the Middle West

V we decided to visit one of the lumber and building materials dealers who has a widespread reputation for always being in the lead when it comes to new sales techniques.

The store front was modern enough to please a l'rank Lloyd Wright, but on entering we noticed an old fashioned, slightly tired looking glass display case of the kind used long ago to sell candy. A closer look proved that the contents of the case were indeed a marvelously varicd assortment of five and ten cent candies!

Cornering the salesmanager we asked if he was really serious about the candy case or whether it was some sort of a gag. What he answered gave us pause to think.

He told us that many years ago the owner's wife had decided that she thought it would be nice if their contractor customers and the general walk-in trade could have something to nibble on while browsing or buying. And so the case, loaded with candies, was set up and operated on a self-service basis with all sales being on the honor system.

And to everyone's surprise but hers, the customers thought it was a great idea. It has proved profitable in a small way regarding income, but vastly profitable as a customer-pleaser.

A small operation in the art-science of pleasing the public to rbe sure, but one, nevertheless, that shows once again that the retailer who really wants to create good will can always do so by applying a little thoushtfulness.

Georgia-Pacific will precision-end trim to your specifications. Every piece of lumber will arrive clean and bright, orange-end painted.

All studs are from our own production of Douglas fir and hemlock. They're association grade stamped. We'll furnish standard and better, or 10-15% utility and better. Packaged units are double steel banded.

Georgia-Pacific ships studs by cargo, rail and truck direct to California customers from West Coast mills.

You can rely on Georgia-Pacific as a constant year round source of quality lumber products.

Annual production of studs over 100 million board feet from G-P mills at: Coquille, Ore.; Toledo, Ore.: Independence, Ore.; Springfield, Ore.; Samoa, Calif.

Union lumber grand old era

comDanv tevtves of the iron horsc