Nation al-American Wholesalers Meet

Twenty-five wholesalers from different sections of the country attended three important meetings held in the offices of the National-American Wholesale Lumber Association, New York, on Sbptember 25-26, covering trade extension, the 'relations between manufacturers and wholesalers and the usual fall meeting of the Exec-utive Committee.

The trade extension committee, met on the morning of September 25th, to further consider the wholesalers' relation to the trade extension campaign, especially in connection with the promotion of grade marking and Ndtional "Tree" Lumber. The National-American has endor.sed the principle of grade and association trade marking so long as nothing appears in the symbol to reveal the identity of the mill, It is unalterably opposed to individual trade marking, which is not part of the trade extension campaign, and at its meeting the Committee recommended: After carefully considering the developments of the lumber trade extension campaign to date, especially in reference to the promo- tionof grade-marking and trade-marking, without due mention of unmarked lumber which we hold is not fair in view of the fact that the greater portion of all the lumber produced is still unmarked, we are still of the opinion that sufficient has been accomplished in the way of promoting the use of lumber generally, through advertising, home modernizi.ng, research, building code activity and other lines of development to warrant our continued adherence to the movement. We rernain in hearty accord with the resolution adopted at our last convention, favoring the orderly promotion of grade- and trade-marking without prejudice to unmarked lumber, with the wholesalers' rights properly safeguarded

The discussions brought out the fact that in some instances grade-marked lumber was not available to wholesalers on a basis which recognized the wholesalers' proper cost of distribution, and as complete cooperation in grademarked promotion must be linked with a merchandising arrangement which recognizes distribution costs, the trade extension committee further recommended that "Our Committee on joint relations between wholesalers and manufacturers'be requested to take up definitely with the manufacturers at the earliest opportunity the question of proper remuneration to the wholesaler for the service rendered and that this question be considered in connection with the question of promoting grade-marking and association tradeManufacturers Association. The committee recolnmended

Relations Between Manufacturers And Wholesalers

Relations between manufacturers and wholesalers, proper remuneration to wholesalers to adequately cover their distribution costs and other phases of cooperation between manufacturers and wholesalers, as well as among wholesalers themselves, were considered at a special meeting on the morning of the 26th; in fact, the broad exchange of views from different sections of the country constituted a miniature convention.

Secretary Schupner covered the status of the sub-committee report of the joint manufacturers-wholesalers committee which recommends a distribution policy between mills and wholesalers and which has been approved by some of the regional manufacturers associations, and the joint recommendation of last September between manufac- turers and retailers covering a distribution policy in which the National-American could not ioin because of the lack of reference to that large class oi industrial trade which has always been recognized as wholesale and must remain so.

A letter was received showing these recommendations had beeh considered at the last directors' meeting of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association and suggesting a conference of manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers to discuss a general national distribution policy and inquiring as to the desirability of a federal trade practice industry conference. It was the general opinion of the wholesalers present that certain established conditions now handled satisfactorily through local committees would make it impractical to agree on a national policy, and the idea of a trade practice conference was not generally acceptable although the National-American holds itself in readiness to consider these questions.

Recommend Approval Of Revised Car Certificate

A report was received from the special committee which met with other associations to consider the car certificate originally proposed by the Northern Hemlock & Hardwood Manufacturers Association. The committee recommended approval of the revised form of certificate, which, when adapted to meet regional conditions, will likely come into general use. It was noted that participation in such practical conferences helped in the development of industry relations.

The meeting w?s pleased with the recent action of the Roofer Club on its fund to guarantee payment of arbitration claims on sales made to wholesalers.

There was much interest in the Association's cooperation in the maple flooring code of merchandising practices, and while this code is incomplete, steps have been taken to put some of its provisions into actual practice. Some wholesalers have been selected as sole distributors to cover stated territory on a more remunerative arrangement than heretofore existed. In these discussions emphasis was laid on the necessity for higher compensation and on the difficulties arising from allowing the wholesale discount to retailers who either clai'm to be wholesalers or who are listed in agency books as "wholebale and retail" and it is believed a sincere effort is being made to discontinue this discount to those not entitled to it. If this general code plan is extended it will undoubtedly improve merchandising conditions in the flooring industry and enable closer contacts between mill and wholesaler.

Report On Group Meetings

President Mauk reported at lengtfr upon the recent group meetings held on the'North Coast, attended by himself, Secretary Schupner and North Coast Manager R. A. Dailey. These meetings brought together 135 manufacturers and wholesalers, at which there was general discussion on many questions of mutual interest, the exchange of ideas bringing a more sympathetic viewpoint on the problems of both branches of the industry, especially in connection with the visits with officials of westetn associations. A ioint committee of 16 outstanding western manufacturers- and

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