Hardwood Dealers Gather atVancouver

The Pacific Coast Hardwood Dealers' Association held its semi-annual meeting at Vancouver, B. C., on August 11 and 12. Headed by Mr. J. Fyfe Smith, the northern group, including the member hardwood concerns from Vancouver, Seattle and Portland, were the hosts. The keys of the city were turned over to the convention members, and nothing was left undone to make the convention most successful. A large number of the California, Oregon and Washington dealers combined the convention and their vacations and were accompanied by their wives and families. All were. enthusiastic over the delightful stay in Vancouver.

ber journals, exhibit rooms, direct mail; and uniform terms of sale. Some very illuminating information was brought out through the questionnaire on the cost of doing business. The outstanding feature in cost program was the great depreciation in both measurement and grade in the operation of kiln drying of hardwood. The average in depreciation of measurement shown by the four reporting concerns was 6 per cent; the depreciation in grade was 5l per cent; showing a grand total in depreciation in the operation of kilns of better than 11 per cent.

Installing Hardwood in the Homes

President Cahill threw open the meeting for a full discussion of How to Increase the Use of Hardwood Finish in the Home. Many practical suggestions were offered looking toward introducing hardwood interior trim in every home. Mr. Swafford brought out the fact that if the public understood the small footage required and the low cost to install hardwood trim in the main rooms of the home, such as the dining room, living room and hall, the specifications for all homes, from the small five-room bungalow up, would call for a hardwood interior finish.

President Cahill, in his opening address, plunged at once into the practical achievements of the association, and emphasized some of the outstanding accomplishments during the past year. Among these were:

First, the establishment on the Pacific Coast of an official inspection service by the National Hardwood Association.

Second, recognition of the Pacific Coast Hardwood Association by the National Association in the election of Mr. C. H. White to the board of directors.

Third, securing of modification of rule denying reinspection of lumber shipped by water, alreapy inspected by Association inspector.

Fourth, application for extension of S0-cent rate on hardwood lumber to certain territory east of the Mississippi River. Matter still pending. l

Fifth, application to National Association for change in rule covering grading of figured red gum. Subject under consideration.

Sixth, urged the use of hardwoods for interior finish, even for the smaller bungalows. The speaker brought out the fact that the cost for hardwood interior finish is only slightly more than for the soft woods.

Sevdnth, questionnaire on cost of doing business.

The Association has twenty-nine members, four new ones having been admitted at the Vancouver meeting, i.e., Exchange Lumber & Manufacturing Co., Spokane, Wash.

I. I. Matthews Hardwood Lumber Co., Seattle, 'Wash.

Hirdwood Lumber Co., Ltd., Vancouver, B. C.

Imported Hardwoods, Ltd., Vapcouver, B. C. Thirty-five representatives of these member firms were at the gathering.

Getting Down to Business

Some of the very practical featqres of the convention were: A full discussion of the figures shown by returns on a questionnaire relative to costs of doing business, item by item; uniform contract to protect dealers buying C.LF.; group advertising by means of billboards, newspapers, lum-

It was brought out that not more than 500 feet of hardwood trim is required in the three main rooms of an average home. Who would not pay $100 or so more for hardwood finish over the cost of a soft wood trim ? Everv wood has its proper place, and hardwoods are the standard of the world for interior finish. It was the concensus of opinion of the convention that for the dealers to quote hardwoods on the one-foot basis rather than the thousand feet unit would assist greatly in the ever:growing demand for hardwoods in the ho,me.

Advertising

The advantages of group advertising was brought out by one of the members who urged, first, a hardwood exhibit room; second, outside billboards; third, newspapers, and fourth, lumber periodicals. The convention went on record as recommending that every local division should organize to develop a practical advertising campaign for each territorial community.

The Convention at Play

A spirited golf tournament, bringing forth great talent from the hardwood fraternity, occupied the afternoon of Tuesday, and silver cups and other trophies were presented to the winners at the big banquet tendered the visitirrs by Mr. J. Fyfe Smith on Wednesday evening at the Vancouver Club. This banquet, by the way, was a fitting climax to the whole convention, and sent the delegates away with a splendid taste in their mouths and loud praises on their tongues for the hospitality of Vancouver and the great Northwest. Luncheons for the ladies, an afternoon at the home of Mr. Smith, and other festivities made the playtime of the convention a most delightful one.

Where Do We Go Frorn Here?

There were two contenders for the honor of entertaining the convention at its annual meeting, which will probably be held in either January or February, 1926. These were Oakland and Coronado, Calif. After fervent appeals by George Brown of the Bay City, and Jerry Sullivan on behalf of San Diego; the latter proved the favorite, and Oakland gracefully yielded.

These meetings are a great boon in many ways for the Hardwood Industry. As Mr. C. H. White, the first president of the Association, said in one of his addresses at the Convention, "The Association cultivates true friendship, therefore, confidence, between persons engaged in the hardwood industry, and this, if nothing else were accomplished, warrants the existence of the Association."