Directors of NRLDA Foresee Induqtry Problemg the Duration Period and Postwar

At the recent annual meeting of the board of directors of the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association held in Chicalo, over zffi Industry leaders discusseJ among themselves and with Government officials, problems affecting the Industry today-lumber production, procuremeflt and distribution; the status of wartime construction programs; price actions of the Office of Price Administration : and other current problems.

orderly disposal through accepted channels of trade, of these commodities on the basis that the Government' can realize more in dollars-and-cents return and yet ' disrupt trade as little as possible in the event a sound program is developed.

2. Analyses and studies of the postwar construction market.

3. Analysis and study of the merchandise that will be made available to the retail distributor in the postwar period and studies concerning the end product that will be offered the consumer.

4. The kind of postwar financing and credit which will be most desirable and will be needed to facilitate the overall postwar construction job.

Equally important, according to Leonard Lampert, Jr., of St. Paul, Minnesota, new president of the National Association. were discussions held at an executive meeting of the board of directors of the National Association in relation to the problems ,confronting the retail industry for the period of the duration of the war and the problems confronting the industry in the post war period.

Leoncrd Lampert, Jr.

"Our directors realize," states Mr. Lampert, "that the Government now controls almost every phase of the retail lumber business. Government agencies for the duration will continue to take action originating in Washington and affecting our business and these agencies look to the organized retail industry for information, assistance, and even guidance, in the writing of tllese orders. Even when the war is over, some of these controls may remain and the retail industry will be faced with many new and totally different problems. Important as are the problems of today, our directors believe that the retail industry in common wih other groups must give consideration now, and prepare now to meet the problems that we can foresee in respect to post war activities.

"Our directors feel also that the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association has become increasingly important to every individual dealer. They realize the amount of work that the National is being called upon to do and the importance of that work increases continuously. As business' men, we all agree that we should be prepared to meet nerv emergencies which will arise and to enlarge our present work with more benefit to every retail lumber yard.

"Anticipating the eventual cessation of hostilities, our directors are requesting that immediate consideration be given to such problems as the following: l. The disposition of surplus war materials, including the eventual disposition of temporary war housing-a problem of substantial interest to the retail lumber and building material distributors who will insist upon

5. The changes, il any, that the war period will bring about in the distribution system.

6. New sources of business available to the distribu- r. l: tor of lumber and building material.

7. The manner in which dealers will merchandise their products. The type of trade promotion and extent of cooperative building industry activities that can be carr.ied on between retailers and building materials and equipment manufacturers.

8. The extent to which the retail industry can profit: ably participate in public and building industry relations programs and what vehicles the retailer will have at his disposal to inform the public of the retailer's function and the services available from him.

"These and other problems," says President Lampert, ..., "are in the minds of our directors and these and other prob. ,,. lems are ones to which our National Association activitieS ""' will be directed.

"In order that this type of work may be done for thei 11f. industry as a whole, our directors have determined that in;":." order to enlarge the present work of the Association and;;! to meet new emergencies which will confront the relqit lumber industry, that a fund of over $100,000, as a reserlel will be sought from individual retail lumbermen through/i; out the country who are faced with continuing problem$ l;;i4 and who will benefit from programs such as I have menl''--,ft tioned herein which are fundamental to the continued well';,',1.j'-i being of our industry."

Home on Leave

Capt. J. C. Snead has returned to Walla Walla, Washi4 where he is Provost Marshal, after spending his leave wit&: his famity in Fresno, Calif. He also visited friends in.th€: San Francisco Bay area, including Wendling-Nathan Cd;'1{ with which firm he was associated for many years befole,;lijl going into the service.