Reading “Chain Saw Reaction” (BDN, June 4-5) caused me to think the editorial writer only knows part of the story about labor in the Maine woods.

Alien H-2B workers are supposed to be temporary workers. Is woods labor temporary? Could this be part of the problem?

Thirty years ago the Maine Woodsmen Association predicted what would happen if we couldn’t improve woods labor wages. Now it’s happened and we still want more imported laborers. What goes around, comes around.

We’ve spent millions on training woodsmen. Why wouldn’t they want to work in the forest?

Wood prices are high at this time; some of us are starting to make a profit, and are able to buy new equipment. Why not let the system work instead of patching it up with more imported labor? When prices go down the supply of wood will drop too.

The solution is first to grow enough wood, pay adequate wages, keep a skilled labor force and make forestry a wanted profession.

Remember the wages paid to “all-around loggers” are about the same as paid 20 years ago.

Problems not solved will show up in your future.

Melvin Ames

Atkinson