White Fir Grode Chqnge Neqred ot WPA Xleeting

White Fir Dimension grading rules, standardized and acceptable to both Western Pine and West Coast grading bureaus, moved a big step nearer actuality during Western Pine Association's semi-annual meeting week, Sept. 12-17.

In a Portland confab September 13 between the two associations, agreement was reached (1) to draw up specific grading rules for White Fir, (2) to retain present WCLA grade names, and (3) make certain revisions in rules as they tlow appear in the grade books of the two regional groups.

- ttre changes represent slight readjustment of standards as regards skip, wane, splits and knots.

The accord was ratified Sept. 16 by the Western Pine Association's board of directors after having been approved the previous day by the association's Grading committee.

FINGERJOINTED sTuDs, beginning to appear on mill production lines, get the once-over from wPA leaders (left to right) President l. D. Bronson, Yakima; Research Chairman R. A. Blaser, Phoenix; the WPA secretarymanager, W. D. Griffee, Portland, and WPA research director, C. A. Rasmussen, Portland

If approved by the West Coast grading ,committee at a meeiing October 20, they will 99 into effect as soon as sradini supplements are published.

Th"e plair would standardize the grade names of Construction, Standard, Utility and Economy for the four non-stress Dimension grades of White Fir produced in the 12 states covered by the two regional grading services.

Attendance of. 226 member company representatives at the fall meeting of WPA was but 14 under last year's and kept up the association's fine record of meeting interest.

In another of the major actions, the Board approved an Executive committee recommendation that the Association contribute 6 cents per M to the National Wood Promotiou Program without increase in WPA dues rate. This r,vould supplement the region'6 current contributions to the progr-m, now being made by individual mills on a voluntary issessment basis. The Board authorized appointment of a special committee to study the situation and feport to the Executive committee in December. This would be the basis for final decision on the matter next spring.

Preceding this action, the Board heard an 1d{res9 by Mortimer B. Doyle, executive vice-president of NLMA on "Our Industry's Greatest Challenge." Doyle questioned whether the lumber industry is waging the necessary allout effort to protect and improve its markets.

While complimenting the industry's combined and individual effort to date, he cited promotion in competitive fields and loss of realization for lumber products in the market place as pointing tciward need to consolidate gains already made by the National Wood Promotion Program.

Failure to sustain efforts already made will concede the field to competitive materials, he said.

Doyle also stressed that Western Pine action on an increased NWPP program should be thoroughly studied,