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'I want you to know that in approaching the War Manpower Commission and in our discussion with Mr. McNutt, we were not basing our request for consideration on any question of selective service. We took the broader and perhaps more patriotic position that without a thorough understanding that the industry was essential, our inadequate labor supply would be unable to produce the tremendous tonnages of necessary scrap material. I believe the manpower question concerns every member of the industry. There is undoubtedly much more that will have to be done not only with the War Manpower Commission but with the National War Labor Board, and you can depend upon this organization to do everything possible to secure for the trade the manpower which it must have and should have as an essential industry. We have already literally given of our blood and tears, but now we must do our part and actually physically sweat with our labor to produce results. We must SCRAP, SCRAP and SCRAP to lick the Jap."

Two telegrams of importance were received and read during the convention, one from Donald M. Nelson, Chairman of WPB, in which he congratulated the industry upon its achievements in 1942 and urged the collection of all possible salvage material in 1943 with particular emphasis upon the collection of scrap copper. The other telegram was from Prentiss M. Brown, Administrator, Office of Price Administration, expressing his appreciation for the cooperation received from the waste material industry.

In dealing with the problem of manpower official notice was given of Category No. 12 of the War Manpower Commission essential industries in which the Waste Material Industry is treated as follows: Scrap Iron, Scrap Metal, Salvaging and Processing of Scrap; Collection, Sorting and processing of waste material.

The Index slates that its primary purpose is for the guidance of Selective Service Boards and United States Employment offices. In connection with the deferment of essential workers it was pointed out that the military services are now drafting men at the rate of 20,000 per day and this will continue throughout the rest of 1945 and while due consideration will be given to workers in essential industries the demands of the armed forces are still paramount.

In dealing with the woolen rag situation it was pointed out that "reworks" are still restricted because of government regulations and the only hope of improvement for these grades except knits which are now at ceiling was the development of civilian and lend-lease business. The outlook for this activity is not good. Some low value woolens were being sold for special wiper uses.

In the old cotton market wiping rags are strong and the demand is good. It is indicated that a regulation requiring the payment of at least 40cts per hour to workers in all sections of the wiping trade will be issued shortly and this will affect all Goodwill Industries making wiping rags.

The outlook for roofing rags is also good and it is expected that the ceiling price will hold firm the next several months.

The outlook for waste paper of all kinds is good. Ceiling prices on mixed and news are prevailing east of the Missouri River and collections are not excessive. It is thought that present conditions do not warrant a national waste paper campaign but local drives may be organized in areas where shortages may occur. Goodwill Industries Executives will do well to keep in close touch with local and state salvage committees.

The need for scrap metals of all kinds will continue and we may expect ceiling prices to hold firm for the next few months at least.

It was also pointed out during the several meetings that considerable salvage material is going overseas with the likelihood of its return almost nil. For instance, the paper container industry must set aside 25% of its total production for military use. A large part of this tonnage is in the form of the so-called "V" cartons, a special waterproof container developed to government specifications. Under ordinary conditions we could anticipate that from 40% to 60% of this tonnage could be salvaged and returned to the mills. Under the export conditions this tonnage is gone and is bound to affect the supply 90-120 days hence.

Another item of interest appeared in this week's issue of "Textile Age", relating how the U. S. Government had set up in Belfast, Ireland, a salvage depot to make from discarded army outfits uniforms for German prisoners. Using American machinery the depot is saving the War Department an estimated 5 million dollars annually and is also providing the British war industries thousands of tons of wool, cotton and rubber which formerly was a part of our export trade. These items are not likely to return to America for salvage use again. All of which adds up to a gradual strengthening of the waste material market.

During the convention there was considerable discussion relative to the possibility of the rationing of clothing and sentiment seems to favor a 50-50 chance of no rationing of clothing before July 1, but a 70-30 chance of rationing before September 30 this year.