Senqte Heors Testimony on Puerto Ricon lumber Morket

Lumbermen and port officials from Oregon, Washington and Cali{ornia seek the continued right to compete with foreign mills for the Puerto ltican lumber market.

The Senate Nlerchant N{arine committee heard testimony recently in support of legislation that would extend the current, one-year privilege of Lf.S. shippers to use foreign vessels {or transportation to Puerto Rico. It is the only domestic market in which the U.S. Northwest can compete evenly on the high seas with British Columbia lumber.

The legislation has been introduced by Sens. Magnuson and Jackson of Washington and Neuberger of Oregon.

The Western Forest Industries Association. Portland" led the testimony by stating that extension of competitive water transportation to Puerto Rico was of extreme importance to the cargo lumber industry in the U.S. Northwest. The WFIA represents more than 100 manufacturers of lumber products in the region.

Leonard B. Netzorg, V/FIA general counsel, said that in 1950 practically all lumber shipped from the west coast of North America to Puerto Rico was from U.S. mills. By 1961, this 70million board {oot market didn't use "a sinsle stick from Oreson. Washington or California." due largell' to cheaper water shipping rates that the Canadians could obtain on the world charter market.

Puerto Rico is not a big market, Netzor said, but the opportunity to compete evenly lor its markets has resulted in regained jobs for loggers, millworkers. longshoremen and stevedores.

Actually more than S-million board feet was shipped during the year, despite the delays caused by lengthy qualification procedures and in reestablishing sales outlets, according to Ernest Park, dent of the Brightwood Lumber Company, Arcata, Calif.

Dave James, Simpson Timber Company, told the committee that restrictions forcing U.S. shippers to use American vessels for intercoastal trade caused Simpson to lose two-thirds of its U.S. Atlantic Coast cargo lumber market, and its entire Puerto Rican market in just three years.

The season of even competition to Puerto Rico has proved that in equal competition with Canadian producers "we can sell lumber and thereby provide jobs essential to the U.S. economy," James said. Simpson shipped orders for I.S-million board feet to the Caribbean Island during 1963.

Henry E. Soike, Port of Grays Harbor, Aberdeen, told the committee that operation of mills in the area had been adversely affected by Canadian productionso much so that domestic cargo lumber shipments had declined 35/o since 1961.

The one-year's competition "brought back a market relatively small ,but important to our Northwest lumber economy," stated Gene W. Sibold, manager, Port of Olympia. That port's facilities were developed so that ocean vessels could service tidewater mills, he said; yet tonnage has dropped 60/o in two years because these mills could not compete in the domestic cargo lumber market with Canadian prodr""rs using low-cost foreigln vessels.

Hoenig Plywood Newesl IHPA Member

Gordon Ingraham, executive secretary, and Eric Wagner, president of the Imported Hardwood Plywood Association, welcomed Hoenig Plywood Corporation as a regular member of IHPA, effective September 9. Hoenig Plywood, of which Oldrich A. Pavlousek is vice-president, is located at 10 East Street, New York booklet to PR 63, West Coast Lumbermen's 5. Oregon.

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