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NRLDA Adopts Ten-Point Program jor lgsz

In addition to rejecting a proposal to introduce new lumber sizes for use in home building, the Board of Directors of the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association at its annual meeting in Chicago last month (October) adopted a Ten-Point Program for 1952, approved the gradual preparation of a Handbook and Training Manual for dealers and their employees, and heard enthusiastic reports about several tvpes of Management Conferences being held by a number of State and Regional Associations.

At the well-attended neeting, all officers of the National were re-elected to serve again in 1952, as follows : President, Clyde A. Fulton; Vice President, C. W. Gamble; Treasurer, Fred R. Stair; Executive Vice Pre:ident, H. R. Northup; Secretary, Edward H. Libbey.

District Executive Committeemen, analyzing the state of the industry, reported that sales generally have been good so far in 1951, that inventories are declining somewhat from the high levels reached earlier in the year, that materials are in fairly good supllv, except for some scattered shortages, and that a relatively good volume of business is in prospect for the coming year.

The budget for 1952, which is approximately the same as that adopted for the current year, was approved as presented by the Budget Committee. Treasurer Stair stated that the finances of the National are in sound condition, but pointed out that ihere are no large reserves with which to meet any special emergencies which might arise.

President Fulton praised the cooperation r,vhich the National has received from its officers, directors, committee members, and staff and said that the Association has been renderir-rg excellent service to its members in carrying the load of influencing and analyzing defense regulations on top of its normal programs. He stated that the retail lumber and building materials industry had come through the early stages of the emergency in fine shape and expressed confidence that it n'ould continue on a relatively stable keel in the 1.ear ahead

Executivc Vice President Northup analyred the forces and pressures at rvork in Washington and emphasized the need for keeping Congress and defense officials thoroughly aware of the nation's housing and light construction needs so long as controls remain in for,ce. He said that controls had not proved too rrnworkable or unduly burdensome so far, but reminded the Directors that the atmosphere could change overnight unless the industry and its representatives in Washington remain alert.

Members of the National's staff analyzed recent and prospective controls over production and construction, prices, and wages, emphasizing th: great difficulty of getting clean-cut rulings and interpretations in some fields, especially 'ivage stabilization. It was announced that a revised retail pricing order is in the works but that the details have not yet been agreed on.

John H. Else, the National's Legislative Counsel, pointed out that, thanks to splendid support from the National Affairs Committee, the legislation passed by the 82nd Congress had been modified in many important respects afiecting the ret;iil lumber industry. He said that Congressional leaders do not expect any really important legislative developments in 1952, an election year, but expressed the opinion that a good rnany bills designed to amend emergency controls and further social legislation would be introduced for political reasons.

The recent hearings at which the Wage-Hour Divisiou sought testimony on rvhich to base a nelv definition of retailing were described by John Alexander Jr.. chairman of the National's Labor Relations Committee. and C. Bovd Mahin, counsel. After praising the expert testimony given by various dealers and other witnesses presented by the National, Mr. Mahin predicted that the final decision probably would not be forthcoming in the immediate future because the staff of the Division was placing great emphasis on considerations to which the industry is unable to attach real importance.

W C. Bell, Chairman of the Educational Committee, reported that 14 nerv 30-day Courses are being scheduled and that a satisfactory enrollment is anticipated, considering current conditions. He stated that the benefits of this train-

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H. B. Northup Re-elected Executive Vice President

(Continued from Page 28) ing have been established beyond any question and urged dealers to enroll every possible employee.

He also reviewed the Management Conferences being held at various points and said the Committee was exceedingly interested but would withold any definite recommendations until after several forthcoming Conferences have been held.

A total of 3400 Dealer Data Books have been placed in the hands of dealers, according to Russell Nowels, Chairman of the Data Book Subcommittee. He said that, in view of the excellent reception the data Book has received, the Committee would redouble its efforts to get more books distributed and to induce more manufacturers to provide data sheets for the book.

C. B. Sweet, chairman of the Minute Man Committee, presented solid gold lapel buttons to the following five dealers whose results in the program have been outstanding: George P. Darby, Builders Supply Company, Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Carl A. Henkle, Andrews Lumber & Mill Company, Charleston, Illinois; W. T. Jameson, Jameson & Sayre, Norman, Okl;ihoma; Glenn D. Poarch, Economy Lumber Company, Miami, Oklahoma; and D. Morton Rose, D. M. Rose & Company, Knoxville, Tennessee.

The National's Public Relations prog'ram was analyzed by Phil Creden, chairman of the Public Relations Committee, and by Everett B. Wilson, Public Relations director. Mr. Creden characterized the Minute Man program as one of the most successful ever undertaken in the field and expressed the hope that the Committee c.ould be expanded Irom its present 1l5O members to at least 2000.

He also explained that the new Public Relations Contest, the rules of rvhich soon will be announced, has been so planned that any dealer can participate and said a large number of entries was anticipated. In addition, Mr. Creden reported that the nerv Picture Brochure will be published soon and distributed rvidely to dealers, public libraries, arrd leaders of publi.c opinion.

Mr. Wilson described plans for producing, over a period of years, a Handbook and Training Manual for retail lumber dealers, pointing out that it would be dealer-written and would form the basis for any training programs the industry might undertake, in addition to strengthening the industry's public relations.

The Directors approved a proposal whereby the Lunlber' Dealers Research Council would identify itself as being' "associated" rn'ith, though entirely separate from, the National and would reccive certain administrative and other services for u'hich the National rvould be fully compensatetl.

Clarence Thompson, chairman of LDRC, and James F. Lendrum of the Small Homes Council of the University of Illinois, described the painstaking procedure which the Council has follou'ed in conducting its Storage Wall Study, the results of rvhich lvill soon be announced. Mr. Thoml>son also reported that several other studies are under consideration by LDRC arrd urged wider support by indivirlrr:rl dealers.

Norman Mason, past president of NR[,DA, told of thc leading part which the retail lumber industry is playing in variotrs industry orgarizattons and cooperative efforts ;rn<l predicted that a great deal of progress rvill come frorn the broad collaboration in which the industry is engaging.

A plea for dealer support of constructive efforts to mo<lernize local building codes was presented by R. G. Kimbell, technical director of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. Mr. Kirnbell urged dealers to suPport statc legislation which would enable local communities to adopt model building codes by reference, thus facilitating thc otherwise monumental job of rewriting codes. He said the idea has industry-wide support.

A. L. Boisfontaine, chairman of the National I-umber Manufacturers Association's Standards Committee, and Nfr. Northup reviewed proposals which would require nanufacturers to produce and dealers to stock special sizes of construction lumber as a means of conserving materials and labor in home building during the emergency. Mr. Northup stated that the desired saving could be achieved by much less costly methods, if there were a sincdre desire to achieve the purpose, without requiring dealers to expand their inventories and, hence, increase the cost oi doing business.

The Ten-Point Program approved by the Board reads as follows:

As a means of maintaining a reasonable economic stability and preventing any further unnecessary drop in ccnstruction activities during the mobilization period, the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association urges the Federal Gor'ernment, including Ccngress and the Defense Agencies, to adopt the following objectives: of flexible pricing at the retlil traditional mark-ups over lancletl

1. Eliminate all unnecessary non-defense expenditures in order to control inflation and reduce the tax burden.

2. Distribute the tax burden equally over all branches of business and industry.

Restore the basing point system as a means of promoting free and even flc.w of goods.

Continue to expand the production of critical nraterials as rapidly as possible.

6.

Allocate to the construction industry a fair and reasouable share of the available supply of critical materials. Eliminate restrictions on use of materials in private construction as fast as the supply situation 'ivill permit. Maintain a Federal fiscal oolicv which will make available and ample supply cf mortgage money.

8. Relax credit restr-ictions as fast as increased production will permit.

9. Retain the principle level which permits cost of goods.

10. Apply wage controls dustry. equitably to all branches o[ irr- llArERm-s i..*,1-';.r'-"

Russell Edmonston, manager of the Diamond \\r. Supply Co. Los Angeles, returned recently from two l'eeks' r.acation trip up the Redwood Highway. He u,as accompanied by his wife. They made headquarters at Hartsool; Inn, near Garberville. On the way home they spent a ferv days in the San Francisco Bay district.

Elmer Frutchey and his son, Jim Frutchey, of Los-Cal Lumber Company, Los Angeies, attended the CaliforniarJ/ashington football game at Berkeley, October 10.

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The Blue Diamond Plaster Lath production line is equipped .' and is synchronized from beginning to end. != t.:,!!5i.I"::.11'ji;x l6s0 s. ATAmEDA srREEr F#rF us ArcErEs 54, cruFoniln

Oregon and Cqlilorniq Firms Hold Sales Meeting in Medlord

The H. W. Aldrich Lumber Co. of Eugene, Oregon, and the Cords Lumber Company of San Francisco, held a sales meeting and annual get-together of their personnel at Crater Inn. Medford, Oregon, October 15 through the 19th. Cords Lumber Company has acted for a number of years as sales representative of H. W. Aldrich Lumber Co.

Those present included H. W. Aldrich, "Hank" Aldrich, James Martin and James Mills from Oregon; Tom Gore, Salt Lake City, Aldrich's representative in the Intermountain area; Norm Cords, James Richardson and Lewis Godard from California; Joe King from Waco, Texas. Also in attendance was Russell llogue, sales manager of Medforcl Corporation. Medford.

Fall Red Book Just Published

It's just off the press-the November 1951 edition of the authoritative Red Book. This service u'as established in 1876 or 75 years ago.

Thousands of important credit rating and business changes are reflected in this, the 140th issue of the Reference Book of the Lumbermen's National Red Book Service.

In these days of many rating changes, the Red Bocik Service is essential to those concerns selling to the vast lumber, u'oodworking and furniture manufacturing industries. Generally acknowledged as the authoritative credit rating guicie for these industries and others rvho sell ther:eto, Red Book listings include a financial strength and a manner of payment rating and also give complete business classification.

An outstanding feature is the important Twicea-\\'eek supplemental sheets, which keep the Red Book continually up-to-date. These sheets advise of all ,credit rating and business changes. Currently, items published in these sheets average more than 3,000 a month-reflecting the continual readjustment of activity within the industry.

For those seeking neu' suppliers, the supplemented Reference Book lists names of nerv sarvmills, lumber manufacturers, and manufacturers of rvood products. The producers of those products, in turn, look foru.ard to publication of the narries of new buyers that are seeking mill connections. Other Red Book Service subscribers inciude concerns selling various products to retail yards, as well as machinery and equipment manufacturers selling to mills and manufacturers in the industry.

The Lumbermen's National Red Book Service is published by Lumbermen's Credit Association, Inc., 608 Scuth Dearborn Street, Chicago 5, Illinois. The Eastern of,fice is located at 99 Wall Street, Nerv York 5, Nerv York.

Annuql Sports Night OI Scrn Jocquin Hoo-Hoo Club Wqs Grecrt Success

The annual sports meeting of San Joaquin Hoo-Hoo Club No. 31 r,vas very .lvell attended. and the sixty who were there had a fine time. The meeting \\'as held at the \\rashington Country Club on Octolter 26, following the golf tournament in the afternoon.

Fifteen members and guests plar-ed golf during the early afternoon hours. John Biagi n-on the lou' net prize, the Mathervs trophy.

Dutch Derr gave his usual high-class talk on sports.

Tacoma lnmber $ales, Inc.

714 W. Olympic Blvd.

tOS ANGEIES 15, CAHF.

Telephone PRospect ll08

Branch OIIice: 1030 G Street, Arcctcr, Calil, Phone 705

CABGO and EAIL fIR and REDWOOD REPRESENTING

St. Pcul & Tcrcomc Lumber C,o. Tccomcr, Wash.

Defiance Mill Co. Tcrcomcr, Wash.

Dickrrrcrn Lumber Compcrny Tccomcr, Wash.

Kcrlen-Dcrvis Compcny Tqcomc, Wash.

Tqcomcr Harbor Lumber d Timber Co, TccomcL Wcrsh.

G. L Speier Co.

Arccrtcr, Ccrlil. Also Northern Ccdifornicr crnd Southern Oregon FIR crnd REDWOOD MIIJ-S

Named Assistant to President

James B. Wiseman is now assistant to president of E. L. IJruce Co. His promotion was announced by company president, ll. L. Bruce, Jr.

Mr. Wiseman has been with Bruce since 1938. For the pasr Iive years he has been manager of the Industrial Relations Division. He has been a member of the executive committee, wood products section, of the Nationai Safety Council since 1947.

,.,X".T,i: flTlll';"f,?,h;1,

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and is a graduate of Southern Jcmes B. Wieemcn with the American Lumber Comowned by his father, Ian Men-

Law University. In l94Z he enlisted in the Army Air Force and was discharged as a major in 1945.

E. L. Bruce Co. home offices have been located in Mempl-ris since'1922. Other plants are at Nashville, Tenn.; Little Rock, Ark.; Cairo, Ill. ; Bruce, Miss. ; Columbus, Miss.; Laurel, Miss.: and Boligee, Ala.

Mason Kline, Jr., of Kline & Ruf, San Francisco wholesale firm, will leave around the middle of November to go into the Navy. He will enter officers' training school at Providence, Rhode Island. Incidentally, Mason is a crack shot. He recently won the National Rifle Association's small bore championship held at Sharp Park, Calif.

E. G. Gallagher, manager of the Associated Plywood N{ills, Inc. 'l,varehouse in San Francisco, recently attended a company sales meeting in the Palmer lfouse, Chicago, in rvhich the managers of the various warehouses met with the president, sales manag'er, and advertising manager.

Fred Mensinger is now pany, Modesto, which is singer.

Paul Gaboury, sales manager, Co., San Leandro, Calif., was a pany's Los Angeles office.

Gosslin-Harding Lumber recent visitor to the com-

Jess Brown is buyer for Pacific Forest Products, Inc., with headquarters in Grants Pass, Oregon. He is a graduate of Oregon State College.

Al Bell, of Hobbs Wall Lumber Co., San Francisco, and his wife and two children returned October 17 from two rnonths'trip to England, Scotland. France, Switzerland and Germany. They flew both ways across the Atlantic. Al reports that all of them had a wonderful time.

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