N. R. L. D. A. Directors Vote 5-Point Program

(Continued from Page 21) of shortages, lack and limitations on housings may be substantiated by government figures, but such unimaginative ac'counts do not take into consideration the techniques and abilities the building industry has learned during the war.

Clarifying the point that the home building industry has no real reconversion problems except those connected rvith the current strikes, Mr. Northup suggested that the government settle the strike situation, provide sensible u'age and hour regulations, and let the building industry put to work the nine million men and women. it is capable of employing. Returned servicemen and women want jobs and only production and the return to a peacetime economy can put them to work.

It rvas trrought out during the meeting that before the rvar lumber dealers built 73/o of the homes constructed ir.r the United States; that during the rvar approximately 65/o of the lumber dealers prefabricated portable farm buildings for the farmers and that 80/" of. these lumber dealers plan to continue to manufacture portable farm buildings. It r"'as not surprising therefore, to find that if prefabricated homes were to become a factor in the home building market, lumber dealers would handle and distribute them also.

Although many lumber dealers have not yet begun to experience a flow of materials through their yards, the mood prevailed that the pipelines of distribution rvould fill in March and April when building in most sections of the country actually begins. Freed from most of the building restrictions and shackled bnly to OPA price controls, the consensus of the meeting was tllat if the strike situation were straightened out, production and employment lvould be the salvation of the country during the reconversion period.

Wednesday, November 7th, morning sessions were featured by election of officers. S. L. Forrest was reelected president by acclamation. His devotion to the industrv and personal sacrifices for the good of all rvon him recognition frorn all present. All other officers rvere reelected for the outstanding job done. The officers are as follows:

President, S. L. Forrest, Forrest Lumber Company, Lubbock, Texas; Vice-President, Norman P. Mason, Wm. P' Proctor Co., North Chelmsford, Mass.; Treasurer, G. W. LaPointe, Jt., O & N Lumber Co., Menbmonie, Wisc.;

Secretary-Manager, H. R. Northup, National Retail Lumber Dealers Assn., Washington, D. C.

Norman P. Mason. who as a member of the United States Chamber of Commerce Construction Industry Advisory Council has been "pitched into some of the roughest spots possible," in an address on housing and construction problems expressed the opinion that the Wagner-Ellender Bill, norv before Congress, would be withdrawn and rewritten as a result of opposition by the Chamber of Commerce group. "Thc bill gives lip service to private industry in every paragraph while setting up a platform for government housing," he said. The Chamber group likewise has drafted a private housing bill for consideration.

The GI Bill of Rights housing provisions were termed ineffective and not well thought out. The Chamber group, Mr. Mason said, has been active in seeking an improved program for GI housing.

H. R. Northup, in an address on industry cooperation, outiined rrork done by the National Lumber Manufacturers Association and the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association on joint committees. The manufacturers' building codc experts have been offered to lumber dealers for the solution of local problems.

The manufacturers, he said, also are preparing a motion picture for use by retail dealers, showing consumers how wood may be used in home construction and have engaged W. A. Ross of the Department of Education, Washington, to write a manual for employees of lumber yards so they may give better information to customers.

Edward H. Libbey of the NRLDA, Washington, declared little surplus lumber from Army and Navy projects would reach retail dealers, because the Services intend to live oft their stockpiles.

A college course for prospective lumbermen will be offered by the $tate of Washington University beginning in January, forerunner of similar courses expe,cted to be established in other schools of higher learning, W. C. Bell, secretary of the Western Retail Lumbermens Association told members of the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association, Thursday morning, November 8. Directors voted "adoption" of the program. The course is designed for men