Forest Industries F ederation Proposed

Chicago, Jan. 25.-The executive committee of the Directors of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association 'and chairmen of standing committees met here today to consider plans for trade extension and other association activities during 1932. Reports were also presented on work accomplished during the past year.

Wilson Compton, secretary and manager, reviewed the work of the year and outlined imperative objectives.of the immediate future. A report on activities and accomplishments during 1931 was contained in the January issue of the National Lumber Bulletin, distributed at the meeting. A budget and program for promotional activities during the coming year was presented by Walter F. Shaw, trade extension manager.

A novel and perhaps the most interest-provoking proposal on the agenda submitted by Mr. Compton was one for an examination of the advisability of extending the scope of the national association in the direction of a federation of the wood producing industries, as has been advocated by the U. S. Timber Conservation Board. Pointing to the nine-billion-dollar investm,ent in timber, Mr. Compton said that the present and prospective demand for lumber alone could not be expected to carry it. The forests of the lumber industries need a diversification of products. As an aid and encourag'ement to progress in this direction he proposed the formation of an American Forest Products Industries federation. of which the lumber industry would be the backbone. The method advocated was one of gradual growth rather than complete pre-planmg.

Regional Cooperation

Next in general interest was the recommendation for mote inter-regional cooperation, the idea being that the plight of the industry is more dependent upon outside conditions that affect lumber as a whole than bv conditions peculiar to species and regions. Adoption of a practical rule in accordance with this conception would mean that particular species could be recommended for special uses.

Other matters placed before the meeting by Mr. Compton for consideration included:

The status and pians for continuation of National Trade Extension;

Means of further broadening support of lumber trade extension, both National and regional, including relation bbtween National and regional activities;

Cooperation with the indicated program of the U. S. Timber Conservation Board;

The possibilities of federated forest products industries, giving united representation to timber and wood conversion products;

Anti-trust and unfair competition laws; Federal emergency legislation; the Federal building program;

Lumbermen's Blue Book, and Inter-Insurance Exchange -changes in management;

The Kendall and Oddie Bills;

A permanent joint committee on Trade Practices in cooperation with retail and wholesale lumber distributors.

Trade Extension Plans

The 1932 budget, although paralleling in general plan programs of former years, and capable of expansion as conditions warrant, provided for curtailments in keeping with conditions as thev now are. Provision is made for continuation of the present promotional organization and its fundamental activities but no attempt will be made to expand the present conservative program unless and until general conditions of business warrant. The 1932 budget provides for expenditure of less than a half million dollars.

Essential research work. both to discover the facts underlying the merits of wood as an industrial material and to find the media for adapting it to the changing r'equirements of modern progress, is made a highlight in the program. Much of this investigation will be of a continuing character, providing for completion of work initiated in the recent past. In keeping with the rest of the program, new work in this field has been limited to essential advances designed largely to take advantage of past accomplishments.

The developing and furnishing of retailer sales helps takes a position of importance in the new program. While this work has been conducted since the beginning of trade extension, conditions during 1931 made possible its development as a leading activity. The response from dealers proved so immediate and satisfactory that Retailer Cooperation has been incl'uded among the five major objectives f.or 1932. The Building Cod.e and Engineering Service, the promotion of lumber utilization in Federal, State and Public Utilities fields, and for Fabricated and Industrial IJses, form with Research and Retailer Cooperation, the five principal objectives of the year's program.