Con lerences Planned for Lumber Salesmen

Seattle, Wash., Dec. 26, 1939--J'Next to the steady promotion of low-cost housing-in fact, as an important part of it-should come the more effective training and stimulation of lumber salesmen. And not only salaried employees of manufacturing companies, but lumber wholesalers, commission salesmen, retail lumber dealers and their employees.

"This all has a vital bearing upon the success of the lumber industry-first, in putting the consumer's dollar into home building; and, second, putting the maximum share of those dollars into lumber."

Thus did Edmund Hayes, president of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, addressing the recent national meeting of lumber ma,nufacturers in San Francisco, California, outline what in his opinion constitutes a major oltjective in "What Ought To Be Done To Meet The Problems Ahead of The Lumber Industry." And, in doing so, he also sets forth a sort of working gospel for the series of nation-wide Salesmen's Conferences now being conducted by the West Coast branch of the lumber industry.

The first o{ the projected series was schedulecl to be held in New York City just before the start of the year, under the guidance and instructorship of R. T. Titus, rvell-known lumber fieldman and the new WCLA trade extension director.

"We hope and expect we can hold a score or more of these salesmen's conferences throughout the country in 1940," said Mr. Titus. "Wholesalers and commission salesmen (through whom some of our mills sell their lumber) are being cordially invited, as well as all representatives of our members." Mr. Titus added that plans are already virtually consummated for such meetings in Boston, Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Minneapolis, in addition to New York, and explained that in so far as it rvas possible to outline their 5q6pe ?t this writing, the conferences would concern themselves with such subjects as the following;

(1) Presentation of facts which will enable lumber salesmen to explode such anti-wood myths as the one that "this country is faced with a timber shortage, hence we should use less lumber": and the second that "wood construction is not permanent, is not fire-safe". the myth that "one can no longer get as good lumber as formerly"; a,nd the propaganda that "lumber prices and building costs are too high."

(2) Discussion of the projected WCLA Salesman's Nfanual. Which long-wanted handbook for lumber salesmen rvill contain r.'aluable selling ammunition in addition to essential technical data concerning West Coast woods and will have its contents built up as well as passed upon by the salesmen themselves.

(3) Explanation of the trade extension program of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association for 1940, with ,special emphasis upon those features involving the cooperation of the Association and lumber salesmen in the problem of creating a wider and more stable market for West Coast lumber.

Mr. Titus explained that an invitation had bee.n extended to members of the National Association of Commission Lumber Salesmen to join in the conferences rvherever possible and that he hoped that others who are, or may be, interested in the distribution of West Coast forest products would attend and profit by the cooperative effort. Dates and specific locations of forthcoming meetings are to be announced and given wide circulation early in the year, Mr. Titus announced.

F. G. HANSON ON "RIM" TOUR

F. G. Hanson of the West Coast Screen Co., Los Angeles, and Mrs. Hanson left January 13 on a business and pleasure tour around the rim of the United States.

They will be gone about six weeks, starting off by r.vay of San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, and going East from there to Nlinneapolis, Chicago, Detroit and New York. From New York they will go to Florida and will visit a number of cities in the Southern states, including the principal Texas cities.