State Retailers Hold Annual Convention in San Diego

Responding to the excellent program arranged for the annual convention of the California Retail Lumbermen's Association, held at Hotel San Diego, San Diego, November 6, 7 and 8, there was a good attendance of dealers.

Close attention was paid at the various business sessions to interesting and instructive addresses on such subjects as taxation, new costs of doing business, merchandising of building materials, the National Housing Act, and others.

Grade-marking Endorsed

The convention went on record as unanimously favoring grade.marking of lumber at the source of supply, and F. Dean Prescott, member of the executive committee of the Nationai Retail Lumber Dealers' Association for District 7 (California) was instructed by the board of directors to support grade-marking and the extension for another year of Title I of the National Housing Act at the meeting of the executive committee of the National Association in Chicago, November 13.

The advisability of the reorganization of the Association was discussed by the board of directors.

Geo. K. Adams, Noah Adams Lumber Co., Walnut Creek, was elected vice president of the Northern district. Mr. Adams, Allen Clements, Clements Lumber Co., Ontario, and A. L. Hansen, S. H. Chase Lumber Co., San Jose, were elected directors. The other officers and directors will be elected at the next full meeting of the board.

Those attending the convention took full advantage of the opportunity to see the California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego's beautiful Balboa Park. Many expressions of appreciation were heard for the complete arrangements made for the comfort and entertainment of the visitors by the lumbermen of the San Diego district. Orrie W. Hamilton, secretary-manager of the Lumbermen's Service Bureau of San Diego, was general chairman of the convention committees.

Wednesday

Thursday Morning

The breakfast meeting of the Redwood manufacturers and the Lumber Committee of the State Association was the first item on the program. W. K. Kendrick, Valley Lumber Co., Fresno, presided. There was a good attendance, and problems common to both groups were discussed.

President Harry A. Lake opened the business session, which took the form of an open forum, by asking for free discussion of the retailers' problems. The forum was ably conducted by Paul Hallingby, Hammond Lumber Co., Los Angeles, who suggested discussion of the direct sale through certain channels of Red Cedar shingles to applicators, the five per cent cash discount, and the question of contractors buying lumber direct.

Members who took part in the discussion included E. C. Parker, Patten-Blinn Lumber Co., Los Angeles; Geo. N. Swartz, secretary, Harbor District Lumber Dealers' Association, Long Beach; Phil Curran, Curran Bros., Pomona; Glenn Miner, Whiting-Mead Co., San Diego; Paul Hallingby, Ifammond Lumber Co., Los Angeles; C. H. Chapman, C. H. Chapman Lumber Co., Santa Ana; Harry Lake, Garden Grove Lumber Co., Garden Grove; Jerry Sullivan, Jr., Sullivan Hardwood Co., San Diego; T. O. Herzog, Herzog Lumber & Door Co., Los Angeles; A. E. Fickling, Fickling Lumber Co., Long Beach; Frank Nolan, PattenBlinn Lumber Co., San Diego; J. F. Wright, Brey-Wright Lumber Co., Porterville; W. S. Cowling, Dixie Lumber Co., San Diego; E. Steffensen, Orange County Lumbermen's Club, Santa Ana, and S. J. Hathaway, Sunkist Lumber Co., Monrovia.

In the discussion of the question of the cash discount the consensus was that the giving of five per cent cash discount has been a great help in making collections.

Mr. Lake spoke briefly on the necessity for a strong National Retail Lumber Dealers' Association, and stressed the importance of increasing the membership of the State As-

Following registration in the morning the lumbermen sociation. and their ladies were taken on a boat trip at noon through The session concluded with a short talk by G. F. Hoff, San Diego Harbor to the Benson Lumber Company's six attorney for the Lumbermen's Service Bureau of San million foot log raft, and on a tour through their sawmill, Diego. the only one in the world that brings its logs in by raft

Thursday Afternoon and Evening from the forest to the mill by way of the ocean. Luncheon A dual program was arranged by the convention comwas served on the boat. The return trip from the mill was mittee for convention members to choose from for the made by boat, and the rest of the afternoon and evening afternoon and evening. There was a golf tournament at were spent at the California Pacific fnternational Exposi- La Mesa Country Club for those who wished to play golf. tion. This was Jollowed by a buffet supper and a stag party-.- A program of interest to lumbermen and their ladies was arranged at America's Exposition for the afternoon and evening.

Orrie W. Hamilton, secretary-manager of the Lumbermen's Service Bureau of San Diego, and Stuart Ripley, manager of the FHA exhibit, were hosts to those who visited the Exposition. A visit was paid to FHA Modeltown, and there was a lecture tour of the CCC exhibit. A log-rolling exhibition held in the Plaza del Pacifico reflecting pool was well attended. Log-rollers who took part were Al Jennings, runner-up for the world's championship, and Eddie Clark.

Many attended the dinner dance and floor show at the Cafe of the World, and a large crowd saw the premiere of the Red Cedar Shingle Bureau picture, "Ilome of the Wooden Soldiers", at the lfouse of Hospitality. Lila Lee, star of the picture, made a special plane trip from Hollywood to make a personal appearance. Jack lvqy, representative of the Bureau, who takes the part of "Happy" in the picture, was in charge of the evening program.

Friday Morning

Directors of the Association and Association secretaries and managers held breakfast meetings at 7:3O a.m.

Glenn M. Miner, Whiting-Mead Co., San Diego, presided at the morning session and welcomed the large gathering to San Diego.

J. O. Cameron, Cameron Lumber Co., Victoria, B. C., formerly of Texas, introduced by Geo. M. Cornwall, gave a short talk.

The Western Pine Association talking picture, "Harvesting the'Western Pine," showing scenes of the logging and manufacturing operations, created much interest.

"Taxation, Local, State and National," an address by James Mussatti, executive secretary, California Taxpayers' Association, Los Angeles, was well received. It will be published in full in our December first issue, by request of the Association.

The address of E. C. Parker, secretary-treasurer, PattenBlinn Lumber Co., Los Angeles, on the subject of "New Costs of Doing Business," was heartily applauded. This will be published in full in an early issue.

W. K. Kendrick, in discussing this subject, said the industry needs a simplified method of accounting, and described Mr. Parker's talk as the best statement he had ever heard on the costs of doing business.

Others who commended the address were Sam T. Hay- ward, Hayward Lumber & Investment Co., Los Angeles; Ira E. Brink, The Diamond Match Co., Chico; Jerry Sullivan, Jr., San Diego; E. Stefiensen, Santa Ana, and Paul Hallingby, Los Angeles.

Friday Afternoon

Mr. Hallingby presided at the afternoon session, which opened with the showing of the Red Cedar Shingle Buteau's picture, "lfome of the Wooden Soldiers," first industrial picture to be made with a Hollywood cast, which included Charlie Murray, Lila Lee, Lee Shumway and Tom Post. The story and dialogue of the picture were written by William W. Woodbridge, manager of the Bureau. It should be much in demand for showing at group gatherings throughout the country, judged by its favorable reception at this convention.

"Trade Association Activities" was the title of the subject assigned to R. M. Ingram, E. C. Miller Lumber Co., Aberdeen, Wash., trustee of the Red Cedar Shingle Bureau.

F. W. Marlow, director for Southern California of the Federal Housing Administration, spoke on "Title II of the National Housing Act." He reviewed the benefits that have come to dealers from the NHA, and pointed out the value to the dealers of thoroughly examining the act and learning all there is to be known about it, so that they may be able to answer any question that may be asked by a prospective customer. Mr. Marlow answered a question by B.J. Boorman, Boorman Lumber Co., Oakland, regarding bank loans.

W. C. Bell, managing director, Westerf Retail Lumbermen's Association, Seattle, in his talk on "Coordination of Local, State and National Associations," said that the National Association has already more than justified the support of all the regional associations, and that "it is the medium through which the regionals and locals can finally begin to get results which will satisfy our members and finally justify our existence."

The talk on "Merchandising of Building Materials" by George Ream, Kerckhoff-Cuzner Mill & Lumber Co., Los geles, showed that he has devoted much thought to this subject. His address is published in this issue.

The last talk on the program was a report of the State Association's Lumber Relations Committee by W.K. Kendrick, Valley Lumber Co., Fresno, chairman of the committee.

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