Hearing on Grade Marking of Lumber

\A/ashington, D. C., August 8.-Apparently the lumber industry, as represented in the NRA hearing on the subject, is virtually a unit in support of grade-marking and trade-marking as a fundamental of Code administration. At public hearing, July 31, on the proposed amendment 71 to the Lumber Code providing for mandatoty marking of lumber, guaranteeing to the consumer the quality and grade of his pur'chase, no difficult opposition was expressed to the principles of the amendment; discussion mainly had to do with its details, the purpose being to gain a clear understanding of its intent and the manner in which its provisions will be administered.

The hearing'was condu,cted by NRA Deputy Adminis' trator A. C. Dixon, assisted by C. Stowell Smith, assistant deputy administrator; Bernice l-otwin, legal division; C. C. Southworth and T. E. Gates, Consumers Advisory Board; Arthur Sturgis and William Sassaman, Labor Advisory Board; Lester Kintzing, Industrial Advisory Board, and William E. Yost, Division of Resear'ch and Planning'

The amendment was presented by Ray Wiess, chief of the Trade Practices Department of the Lumber Code Authority, and was explained in detail by Arthur T. Upson, Lumber Standards Advisor, National Lumber Manufacturers Association. Mr. Upson stated that the marking of lumber had long been an industry objective, and that it had been practiced with some degree of success, but that as a Code regulation the goal of universal marking in the industry could at last be achieved. The minority who heretofore have failed to cooperate in the program' and so have prevented permanent adoption, he said, could now be brought into line for the protection of the consumer and the assurance of fair trade practices among competitors' Mr. Upson stressed the need for approval of the amendment "in the interest of the consumer". David T. Mason, executive officer of the Lumber Code Authority, smilingly acknowledged it was also intended to protect members of the industry against one another'

The amendment, if approved, will require every producer to place upon his product his association grade-mark and trade-mark and would clearly indicate: (1) Authorized and published grading rules under which such products are manufactured, graded and sold1, (2) the manufacturer's name or number or trade-mark; (3) the species, (4) the standard grade; (5) the standard dimensions, 'and (6) whether products are seasoned or unseasoned'

Small Mill's Marking Problern

The question of the small mill owner, unequipped fcir and unable to employ competent lumber inspection for marking his lumber, was brought up by both William Petrie, oJ the LCA Cypress Division, and A. S. Boisfontaine, assistant secretary of the Southern Pine Association. It was explained by these men that the production of srnall mills largely consists of green lumber, and is sold for remanufacturing and refinement at concentration points. It was asked whether the amendment provided for marking at concentration points, and whether it should not be left to the discretion of each Division as to where the marking is to take place, thus, where feasible, relieving a small mill of that obligation. The Authority representatives offered no objection to having the marking done at concentration or remanufacture points provided they were subject to the jurisdiction of the Lumber Code and explained that the amendment is sufficiently broad in wording to permit that course.

Miss Lotwin, legal advisor of the NRA, was interested in establishing by questioning witnesses, that the stipulated use of the words "Association grade mark" would not mean that small mills which might, because of arrears in code assessments or for other reason, be barred from placing on their products such a brand. LCA spokesmen assured her there was no intention of barring such firms, though they might not be members of the Association.

Shop and Factory tumber

Walter Mitchell, secretary of the code authority of the Furniture Manufacturing Industry, and L. S. Beale, of the LCA Hardwood Division, expressed themselves as wishing to make certain that the amendment generally speaking, excludes shop and factory lumber from grade-marking requirements, it being their position that buyers in those fields are safeguarded sufficiently by their own inspectors and by the inspection system of the hardwood manufacturers' organizations. In reply, it was stated that Paragraph ("B") definitely provided for the exemption of both hardwood and softwood factory and shop lumber. In this same category is railroad material if and when accompanied by an association certificate of inspection or inspected by a railroad inspe'ctor at point of shipment.

C. V. Sweet. of the U. S. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis., made a number of suggestions towards further clarification of the program. Among those were that the seasoning standards should reasonably meet the requirements of use, and that the grading to be officially designated should conform to the American Lumber Standards. No objections were offered to his suggestion that the public shall be fully advised dnd understand grademarking and trade-marking.

The vexed subject of marking green lumber when shipped by water from mills in cargo lots was discussed at some length, and it was noted that the Administration representatives seemed particularly interested and made searching inquiries as to the proposals regarding marking of green lumber.

A provision in the Retail Lumber Code provides that when and if grade-marking and trade-marking becomes an established practice among lumber manufacturers by regulation under the Lumber Code, it shall be considered unfair competition for a retail ltrmberman to buy urrmiu'ked lumber.