North ern California Retailers Annual lvleeting

Discussion of various problems affecting the retail lurnber industry and interesting talks by excellent speakers on topical subjects featured the Fifth Annual Meeting bf the Lumber Merchants Association of Northern California. held at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, October 20. All officers ritere re-elected, President Ray Clotfelter and Secretary Bernie Barber being chosen for "fourth terms."

The officers are Ray Clotfelter, W. R. Spalding Lumber Co., Visalia, president; J. H. Kirk, Southern Pacific Milling Co., San Luis Obispo, vice president; I. E. Horton, South City Lumber Co., South San Francisco, treasurer, and Bernard B. Barber, Fresno, secretary.

The executive committee was re-electerl. This consists of Ray Clotfelter, J. H. Kirk, I. E. Horton, George Adams, Noah Adams Lumber Co., Walnut Grove, and Walter Peterson, Bakersfield Building Materials Co., Bakersfield.

The new board of directors is as follows: San Francisco County-F. L. Dettmann, San Francisco; Alameda County -Frank G. Duttle, Oakland; Peninsula-Ed Pohle, San Jose, Z. T. Thorning, Redwood City, and I. E. Horton, South San Francisco; Coast Counties-Lloyd Hebbron, Santa Cruz, Earle Johnson, Watsonville, and J. H. Kirk, San Luis Obispo; Northern Counties-Charles Shepard, Sacramento, Wendell Robie, Auburn, and George Adams, Walnut Grove; Central Valley-Robert Fuller, Lodi, and O. D. Ruse, Stockton; San Joaquin Valley-Milt Cross, Merced, E. E. Schlotthauer, Fresno, Ray Clotfelter, Visalia, and S. P. Ross, Hanford; Kern County-Walter Peterson, Bakersfield; Redwood Empire- Eli Destruel, Santa Rosa, Henry Laws, Santa Rosa; Napa County-James Clarke, St. Helena; Stanislaus County-Burt Gartin, Turlock. Directors-at-large: Frank Murphy, Carmel; Frank Baxley, Porterville, and Henry Hansen, Monterey.

Business Session

Secretary Bernard B. Barber in his annual report said the membership had grown from less than 100 at the reorganization of the Association to 306 retail lumber dealers, plus 62 subscribers to the weekly news letter. The report showed a substantial cash ,balance, but the secretary emphasized the necessity for a much larger cash balance as a reserve for dealing with the many problems that will face the industry in the future.

The report also announced that the legislative committee will be active on all legislative matters, both State and National, affecting the retail lumbermen; and that the committee, consisting of George Adams, Chairman, George C. Burnett, Robert Fuller, Wendell Robie and Henry Laws, has instructed the secretary to represent the industry at Sacramento when the Legislature convenes.

The secretbry expressed the hope for greater interest in the affairs of the Association by individuals, who have been very busy during the war period with their own pro,blems, and said all are looking forward to the time when more meetings can be held in various localities.

Dis,cussion on a new retail markup of $5.00 and 25 per cent, believed to be under consideration by the Office of Price Administration, resulted in a unanimous resolution that the markup remain as it is. Those joining in the discussion included E. S. Brush, W. K. Kendrick, Ira E. Horton, J. H. Kirk, Wendell Robie, Fritz Dettmann, Charles Shepard, Frank Minard, Mike Tynan, Elmore King, George Burnett and S. P. Ross.

In the matter of the proposed California OPA sub-committee, it was resolved after discussion to refer the matter of suggesting representatives to the executive committee. The OPA proposal is to appoint a committee of seven, four of whom will represent country yards and three the metropolitan yards.

Another resolution requested that members contribute what they can to build up a Postwar Fund.

A resolution of sympathy was ordered to be sent to the widow of Merle D. Bishop, who passed arvay in Berkeley, September 24.

,George M. Comrvall, publisher of The Timberman, spoke briefly on the probable postwar lumber demand from abroad.

Jack Dionne, publisher of T"he California Lumber NIer(Continued on Page 19)