Coronado ConJerence of Retail Lumbermen

The Southern California Retail Lumber Association held its semi-annual conference September 26,27, and 8, at the llotel del Coronado, Coronado, California.

This semi-annual meeting is not in the nature of an open convention, and was attended only by retailers of lumber, and by the prin'cipals in the various concerns. The first meeting of the kind was held last year at Lake Arrowhead, and proved such a success that they tried it again, and the 1951 conference proved an even greater success. The meetings are largely informal. The men who own and operate the lumber yards simply get together and talk things over.

Orrie W. Hamilton, of Los Angeles, executive vice president of the Association made the arrangements, built up the program, and managed the affair throughout in his customary finished style. Most of the delegates brought their ladies along, and the meeting was a success socially as well as otherwise.

A committee of San Diego lumbermen made the local arrang'ements, and did a fine job, the committee being George Cordrey, of the Patten-Blinn Lumber Company, San Diego; C. E. Irving, Western Lumber Company; W. S. Cowling, Dixie Lumber & Supply Company; and Harry A. McGahey, San Diego Lumber Company.

The meeting started with registration the morning of the 26th, follo'ived by a group luncheon in the main dining room of the Hotel. That afternoon there was a tea and fashion show for the ladies. The annual banquet took place that night in the main dining room of the hotel. I{. Park Arnold, vice president and general manager of the Fox-Woodsum Lumber Company, Glendale, was the speaker of the' evening. lle was introduced by Jack Dionne. He delivered an inspirational address on "Freedom Is Not Free," warning Americans against the dangers that beset us frorn rvithin.

On Thursday noon there was a lunch around the hotel pool, with a water aquacade for entertainment. A Canasta tournament for the ladies was held in the hotel ball room Thursday afternoon, with Mary Cou'ling, Agnes Irving, Ida Parker, Louise Hamilton, and Ina McGahey acting as hostesses. There was dinner ln the ball room, dancing in the circus room, and bingo in the ballroom that night. The meeting closed with a luncheon in the main dining room on Friday, September 28.

There were several real highlights to thc business program. Everett C. Parker, president of the Association, held his audience in interested attention while he arrayed amazing facts and figures to sho'iv rvhat it costs to operate a lumber yard in Southern California today. Leo E. Hubbartl, secretary of the Hayu'ald Lumber & fnvestment Company, held the floor for several hours talking on the new lien law that went into efiect on September' 22, and answered an army of questions on details of the new law. Mr. Hubbard is a lien law specialist, as well as a man well able to think on his feet. He really gave a great performance. And Hal V. Simpson, of Portland, Oregon, executive vice president of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, spoke for more than two hours on the entire Douglas Fir situation, likervise answering innumerable cluestions propounded. from the floor. Mr. Simpson is one of the keenest men in the entire lumber industry of the nation, and a great catch-ascatch-can rough-and-tumble orator. A mighty storehouse of Iumber and timber information of the most practical character, he put on a great show.

E. C. Parker was chairman of the Wednesday afternoon session; Rexford L. Hall was in charge of the banquet Wedr.resday night; Lathrop K. Leishman, Crown City Lumber & Mill Company, Pasadena, was chairman Thursday morning; H. Park Arnold was chairman of the Thursday afternoon session; and Thomas J. Fox, John W" Fisher Lumber Company, Santa Monica, lvas chairman of the final session Friday morning.

One of the interesting speakers at the meeting was Homer H. Burnaby, vice president and general manager, Sun Lumber Company, who told "How to cheat your customers, vour competitors, and yourself." Wayne F. Mullin, general manager, the Mullin Lumber Company, talked on "Safety Practices," and 'rvho was assisted on this subject by Cliff Gorce, Hammond Lumber Company, Jim K. Lawler, Patten-Blinn Lumber Company, and Glenn M. Miner, WhitingMead Company. Ralph N. Baker, who is vice president and manager of the Barr Lumber Company, at Santa Ana, talked on "Nlerchandising With Knowledge," and invested most of his time explaining how valuable could be a cost information program.

Ben M. Bartels, J. H. Cline, and E. J. Thompson, all with The Peoples Lumber Company in Ventura County, put on a program of their own, discussing and demonstrating detailed ideas in merchandising building materials. Mr. Cline started fireworks by stvitching to politics, and suggesting that all good men get together and drive the "racketeers" out of Washington. He got a lot of applause.

Mr. Cline also put some humor into his remarks. He said that when he heard Leo Hubbard tell horv difficult it is for a dealer to protect his collections, he decided to g<t home and put the business on a ,cash basis; when he heard Park Arnold tell how dangerous is our national situatior.r, he decided to go home and say his prayers; but rvhen lre heard E. C. Parker tell how fast the cost of business is rising, he decided to sell out. Mr. Cline is from Santa Paula, Mr. Thompson from Oxnard, and Mr. Bartels, general manager of The Peoples Lumber Cornpany, is from Ventura.

The meeting closed Friday noon rvith appropriate remarks from President Parker.

: