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Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



May 25. 1917 



Exports Imports 



1912 $6,231,000 $ 838.265 



1913 7,295.256 959.723 



I9I4 6,529.249 1.017,201 



1915 2.923.203 722,385 



1916 3.090,809 610.389 



This record apparently does not show much to fear from im- 

 ports of furniture, but let me call your attention to the fact that 

 the import business was increasing fast, showing a 25 per 

 cent increase in 1914 over 1912, and this ratio of increase would 

 probably have prevailed had not the war come upon us. With 

 our increasing facilities, greater efficiency and productiveness, 

 the export of furniture from the United States should constantly 

 increase. We therefore should bear in mind the question of a 

 protective tariff. 



Here is a peculiar feature: Canada, which exacted a duty of 

 27|,2 per cent ad valorem in 1914 (35 per cent at the present 

 time) was interested enough in our furniture to run into mil- 

 lions until the war started. At the same time Canada sold us 

 nothing during the period previous to the war. and yet after 

 war was declared, face to face with forced economy in produc- 

 tion and undoubtedly a very great scarcity of labor, still shows an 

 interest in the United States as a market and increases her sales 

 to us during war times. Whether this is due to our going after 

 Canada and asking her to sell us because of our being over- 

 loaded in manufacturing capacity, or whether Canada is aw^ake to 

 our low tariff of 15 per cent is a question 1 cannot answ^er. It is 

 sufficient to say that if Canada can sell us goods during war 

 times, she probably will continue to do so after peace is de- 

 clared. If Canada finds she must protect her furniture industry by 

 a tariff of 35 per cent, which supposedly should be the difference 

 between her cost of manufacture and ours, how then can w^e by 

 any process of reasoning estimate that w^e require only a tariff of 

 I 5 per cent to protect our industry on this side? 



Table Manufacturers Meet 



The association of dining and extension table manufacturers of 

 the United States held its annual meeting in Chicago on May 9 

 and discussed past activities and planned for the future. The 

 association keeps tab on manufacturing and sales to enable it to 

 tell at any time the condition of business. This record has been 

 kept during the past five months and it has shown a constant 

 increase in business. 



M. Wulpi is commissioner of the table manufacturers* asso- 

 ciation. The membership is now^ larger than ever before, and 

 several new^ members were added during the recent meeting. 



The work of the audit bureau, which looks after collections, 

 was found highly satisfactory. More than a million and a half 

 dollars of delinquent accounts have been collected by the bureau. 



It was considered probable that an advance in price of about 

 fifteen per cent in tables will be necessary soon to meet the 

 greater cost of production. 



Outline of Veneer and Panel Sessions 



The annual meeting of the National Veneer & Panel Manufac- 

 turers* Association, to be held at the Auditorium Hotel. Chicago, 

 Tuesday and Wednesday. June 1 2 and I 3, will have a very 

 interesting program. The big question will be the consideration 

 of expanded association activity along the lines brought out at 

 the reorganization meeting some time ago, a paid secretary con- 

 nning himself to the association activities being one of the 

 probabilities. 



R. 5. Kellogg of the National Lumber Manufacturers' Associa- 

 tion w^ill read a paper boosting the broader association idea. 



John C. McCauslan of Henry Disston & Sons, saw and knife 

 manufacturers of Philadelphia, will give an illustrated talk on 

 saws and knives. He will use moving pictures. 



M. C. Dow of the Goshen Veneer Company, Goshen. Ind., 

 will submit some dope on tariffs and read a paper on the subject 



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