New Britain herald., 1930-12-10
Hager Tells Conn. Associa-
 ton at Banquet Here, Business Must Meet Mail
 Order Competition.

meeting and banquet of the Connec- ~tIcut Lumber Dealers association, sheld at the Shuttle Meadow club. last evening, fayed direct mail or ader houses which sell lumber and other building materials, and budget the cost over a long period of years to the home owner. naming one of the largest mail order houses in Chicago as the principal offender against the business of the retail lumber dealers.
 His speech was of several made following the dinner, at which more than 175 lumber dealers from all parts of Connecticut were present.
 John A. Dodd of Middletown, president of the association for two years. was elected d new member Of the board of directors, replacing H. j.. Thompson of Watertown, who was elected auditor. The directors elected for three years were MT. Dodd, Edgar F. Palmer of New Canaan. J. Otis Fox of Putnam and Harold B. Senior of eBthel, the last three named being reelected, their terms having ended yesterday.
 Mckenna Secretary
 The nominating committee re- ported the following slate of officers for 1881, and the nominees were elected: President, Frank H. Warr of Seymour. formerly first vice pres ident first vice president, George Il. Ioewenthal of Middletown, former ly second vice president; second vice president, Clarence F.. Crofut or South Norwalk; secretary, Hugh $. Mckenna of New Britain; treasurer, F. B. Grant of New Haven, reelcct- ed: national councillor, William J. Riley of Hartford; auditor, H. l.. Thompson of Watertown.
 Several resolutions were adopted, one being on the death of Albert Seibold Of New Haven, former ma tional councillor, who died short time ago. Another resolution adopt ed concerned the right to sell lnsu- lated roofing products as we'll as the roofing itself Another resolution adopted puts the association on rec ord as favoring a simple plan to sell asphalt shingles in carload lots with out discriminating trade discounts which are variable. A resolution was also adopted expressing dlssatsfdc- ton against the present methods or distribution of materials to Contrac- tors and dealers.
 A resolution expressing sorrow al the sudden serious illness Of Hugh McKenna, chairman of the banquet committee, who was stricken i'll on Monday and vas unable to be pres ert last night, was adopted and It vas voted to send flowers to hlm.
 OuigIey Welcomes Guests
 Mayor George A. Quigley eXtend- ed a welcorne.to the members and rralsed them for their work in the past and exhorted them to Keep oh' despite the present industrial oe- presslon.
 .It is a pleasure to welcome you lumber men here to Ne" brlta''l, the industrial town that IS so nara hit just now by the industrial de- presston. Like other towns, the cty feels the inactivity of business, but if is LID to you lumber men, who are in the building business to contrib nte to the building work that must and should be done. We must all face the crisis with courage ana d new line of thought in our business.
 .The real estate business and the building business are hit very nara by the present conditions, and when won are hit by something funda- mental. and a decline from the usual volume Of from 25 to 40 per cent IS felt, it takes d heap of optimism to keep on your feet and renaln pal ancnd We in Aew Britain are op- timists. not pessimists. While we are going through this tough time we have great hopes for the future.
 Calls Lumber Business Sick
 Alton J. Hager, of the national mmbermens body, congratulated the Connecticut association for be- ing present almost 100 per cent at the annual meeting. and said that is something few state associations ac- complish.
 "I'l bet you are all leaders in your communities, and by this lead ership have many responsibilities. That makes you trustees of good business in your towns. and means that you are men of vision, aggres- slve determination and courage. You have knowledge of the problems that are before you.
 Industry is not now in a healthy end prosperous condition. Several lines of business began to fail during the past year. The lumber business has not made money. Why? Because fl IS sick. There IS a lack of money, and money is the life blood of any industry.
 Should this condition exist? The volume of business has shown gradual increase each year since 1924, and this year the total amount of business in our line will be we'll over five billions of dollars, the largest amount since 1923.
 Several factors enter into the reasons for lack of profit this year. One reason is that We have changed from agriculture to industry in this country. We have automobiles, radios and other things, all Of which is in direct conflict with the lumber industry. We sell four or five mill lions of cars each year, radio sets, etc, and this volume of business makes a big dent in the lumber business.
 Too Much Competition
 "The question in my mind is M hut bar hp St selling our goods. The question is. have We not done too much compct- ing among ourselves in the grades Of goods we sell. The board insula tion business grew to 450, 100000 feet last year, but have we done our part in selling this material and