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,:Stat@,'.' Retflli ]A s sociatic
Paul rHallingby,,;
.fhe fifth annual convention of the California Retail Lumbermen's $ssociation was held at the Senator Hotel,, 53g{arrrent% on/ October 21, 22, and 23, The conyention was largely attended, and it was one of the largest representa- tive gatherings of lumbermen ever assemlEa in the state, their being over 400 in attendance. It was a very successful convention and much constructive legislation resulted from the two day business sessions.
The members of the Sacramento Valley Lumbermen's Club showed the visitors that Sacrarnento is an ideal Convention city. There were several delightful entertainment programs fot the ladies who attended the Convention, consisting of bridge luncheons, sight seeing trips and an inspection trip through the State Capitol. There was always something of interest for the men folks to do when they were not in business sessions. Too much praise cannot b; given the members of the Sacramento Vall-y Lumbermen's Club and their wives for providing such a delightful program for the visiting lumbermen and their families.
The business sessions progressed rapidly and there were
Thursday Morning
The Convention was officially opened by President C. .W. Pinkerton, Whittier Lumber Co., Whittier, at 9:30 A. M.
President Pinkerton introduced Captain Baldwin, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., San Francisco, who gave an excellent talk on the historical development of the P. G. & E. Co. He stated that the company has 12,000 employees, and discussed the educatioqal work in hydro.electricity that is carried on in the various branches of their organization, also describing in detail the company's large Pitt River Power Project. His remarks were illustrated by stereopticon pictures showing the development and progress of the P. G. & E. Co., frorn its beginning to their present large Pitt River'opera- tionp. California will have a populatiorr of 10,000,0fi) people in'1950, he stated, and the pres€nt development of the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has been based accordingly.
many excellent addresses, talks and discussions on subjects relating to the retail lumber business. Among the subjects disgussed were "Credits and Collections," 'jGrade Marking and Certified Lumber," "IJniform Building Code," "Local Association Management," rtl6attut"cturers Selling to Con. tractors" and "DiscuEsion on Side l-ines and their Relation to Volume."
At the annual meeting of the Board of Directors, Paul Hallingby, Los Angeles, was elected President. Elmore King, Bakersfield, was elected Vice President of the Northern District, and Chas. P. Curran, Pomona, was elected Vice Presidenl of the Southern District. J.E. Neighbor, Oakland, was rdelected Treasurer, as was J. E. FraJer reelected Secretary. Mr. Hallingby is one of the prominent lumbermen of the state, has always taken an active interest in the state association affairs, and the Association should prosper under his leadership.
The first two days of the Convention were devoted to the business sessions, while on the third day there was the competitive golf tournament.
C. G. Bird, Stockton Lumber Co., Stockton, and vicepresident of the Northern District, was introduced and prestded over the morning session.
_The gathering was welcomed to Sacramento by John A. Miller, Vice Mayor, and E. C. Porter, Secretary-Manager of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce.
Mr.Miller in his address said that Sacramento was the birthplace of the lumber industry in the state of California, referring to the old Sutter mill, built in 1859 and the first lumber mill in the state, and located near Sacramento. He referred to the Capitol City, as the "City Beautiful," calling special attention to the beautiful State Capitol grounds with its wonderful collection of ornamental trees. He suggested that trip! be made to the State Capitol, art gallery, state library, Fort Sutter, and other of their many pointi of interest. fn closing, he stated, "We want you all to have an
Elected, P-fesidenti
enjoyable time and a feeling that you will want to return to SacraRrento again," '
"Sacramento is now in a period of.development, is rnaking wonderful progress, and we ate glad to have you with us," Mr. Po:ter stated. In referriirg to th€ -wonderful' development of the city; he stated their population had doubled in the last eight years and during the year 1925 their building operationp reached the $11,000,000 mark.
'The response was made by G. F. Hoff, Manager San Diego Materialmenls Association. Mr. Hoff stated, "we appreciate this double welcome to Sacramento given us; and when we leave we will know that we have not been in a strange la4d but among ,friends and will be glad t<i return.'l "When I see this room filled today with lumber. men, you can see the remarkable change that has taken place in the lumber business in the past few years," he asserted. In speaking of the lumber business of today, he stated, that 1926 is the banner year in building in the United States, the building operations from January 1 to the present time are nearly $6,000,000,000, and now ranks with agriculture, mining, and the other larger industries of the couqtry. "It is getting nearer to be the industry of the country, we must act,accordingly, and the day is coming when the Golden Rule will prevail in the industry," he stated.
He urged the highest standard of ethics in the treatment to customers, and the proper treatment and cooperatio4 towards cornpetitors, which he said comes near the true ideal of the lumber dealer.
S. E. Mack, Secretary Material Dealers Credit Association, Sacramento, addressed the meeting on "Credits and Collections." In opening his remarks, he said that on their letter heads they have a slogan-"every sale is a loss until collected."
He discussed the various kinds of accounts that the lumber dealer comes in contact with which he classified as follows:
1. Transit buyers.
2. Regular Contractors.
3. Speculative Builders.,,
He also made reference to the Mechanics' Lien Law, Shying that efiorts were bbing made today to draft'a nart laiv by Secretary Hoover. He stated that the present Califortila
Mr. PauI Hallingby'General Sales Manager, Hammonil Lumber Co., Los Angeles, electetl presiilent
law can be improved on but the lumbermen do not want the law changed. To eliminate the "fly-by-night" contractors, he stated you want the priority of your lien,rights.
Mr. Mack recommended the creation of a trust fund to carry out tho financial transactions in building operations, and predictpd that speculation building would ultimately be conducted on a "clearing house plan."
In discussing "Legislative Outlook," Dudley Chandler' Los Angeles, referred to the good work accomplished by the representatives of the Association on the Mechanic Lien Law at the last session of the legislature. He stated that thirteen bills on the Lien Law were presented at thq last session. He said that the preseFt law is good and by
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