R.etoil Deqlers Representing Thousqnds of Yqrds Heqr of NRTDA Progress crt Huge N. Y. Exposition

The first annual Lumber Dealers' Exposition and Forum, held at Kingsbridge Armory in New York City October 2-10, was hailed as a smash success by throngs of retail dealers, representing several thousand yards, who attended the event from every one of the 48 states.

Watson Malone III, of Philadelphia, was elected president of the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association at the annual meeting of the board held at the Commodore hotel, New York City, October 4-6, in conjunction with NRLDA's first annnual Exposition and F'orum. R A. Schaub, Whiting, Ind., was elected first vice-presideni, ancl Paul Ely, North Platte, Neb., was named second vice-president. The following of ficers were re-elected : H. W. Blackstock, Seattle, treasurer; H. R. Northup, executive vice-president, and E. H. Libbey, secretary.

In opening the meeting, llenrv -f. Munnerlyn, whom Mr. \4alone succeeded as president, stateci that the association had made great progress in expanding the scope of its activities during the past year, while at the same time maintaining the caliber of its traditional programs in the fields of national affairs, government relations, industrv relations, education, fact finding, trade promotion, and public relations.

He said that NRLDA now has a comprehens,ive merchandising program tailored directly to the needs and interests of its members, has assisted its federated associations in developing effective patterns of management vrorkshops, and has centered new interest on the lumber dealer by staging a highly successful exposition. Mr. Munnerlyn paid high tribute to the members of the exposition committees for arranging the organization's first exposition. In particular, he praised R. A. Schaub, general chairman, and Phil Creden, exposition chairman.

X4r. Northup said that, "Construcl-ion will approach its greatest year in total dollar volume, and housing starts as reported through August of this year were 3 percent or 25,000 units above 1954. 1954 may well be the second best housing year in history. Excepting areas of drought and disaster, the possibilities for construction should continue good in 1955."

He said that lumber retailing is cne of the few businesses with growing and untapped markets confronting it. "There are new trends in distribution developing in this nation, there are improvements in our own industry's distribution picture. There are definite signs of improved public acceptance of the services available through the retaii lumber and building materials deaier. There are even mor.e definite signs that this industry is determined to keep abreast of competition through

He expressed great pride in the lact that two of the association's past presidents-Norman P. Mason and C. B. Sweethad been selected to head the Adrninistration's housing and home improvement programs.

D. A. Campbell, chairman of the Standards committee, reported that gratifying progress had been made by West Coast lumber manufacturers in their ef fort to revise grade rules and substitute grade names for numbers and that his committee rvould continue to follow developments closely. He said that manufacturers were in closer agreement on details but that further work remained to be done. He reported a gradual acceptance of the belief that the objections to the proposed changes wrre outweighed by the advantages.

J. H. Else, NRLDA's legislative counsel, urged dealers to report immediately to their local FHA offices any illegal activities by illegitimate operators in the modernization field, promising that FHA would investigate and take action promptly on any complaints backed up with facts.

As a mernber of HHFA's Voluntary Mortgage Credit committee, Mr. Munnerlyn stated that rnachinery had been set up, in the form of district sub-cornmittees, to expedite the flow of government insured or guaranteed mortgage funds to smaller outlying communities, and to minority groups, with lumber dealers playing an active part in the committee's program.

The new A.C.T.LO.N. program (American Council to Improve Our Neighborhoods)was described by Mr. Campbell, who said that this program offers great opportunities for lumber dealers, especially those who assert leadership in bringing about action to raise local housing sta.ndards.

The board approved a unanimous report by the Committee on Statistics, recommending that a simplified Standard Chart of Accounts be used in compiling Cost of Doing Business Survevs by the federated associations.

W. C. Bell, chairman of the I'ducational committee, said that the instructional materials for lhe 30-Day Courses are be-

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C. D. Johnson rail orders are promptly filled and shipped direct from huge covered loading sheds at the Toledo mill. These promptly filled shipments arrive at destination in the same prime condition in which they left 0ur mill.,. easy to check, unload and dispatch. For rail lumber shipments to any point in the country, contact C. D. Johnson first. Mixed cars a specialty.