Evening star., 1941-11-06
Realtors 10 Gather
Facts for Fight on
Home Building Curb
Tide Of Revolt Against
Priorities Rises in
Detroit Session
By JAMES Y. NEWTON,
Star Staff Correspondent.

DETROIT, Nov. Ga rising tide
of revolt against priorities forcing q
shutdown of private building ac-
tivities led home builders attending
the National Association of Real
Estate Boards Convention here to-
day to set in motion machinery for
a fact-finding agency to investigate
the materials situation to deter
mine If the shortage the Govern
ment alleges actually exists.
Many builders were openly skep-
tical of the o. P. M. claim OF
lack of so-called critical materials.
1t was compared by these build
ers to the recent scare over the oil
shortage in the East, a situation
which now has been Strengthened
out. The builders said there must
be vast supplies on hand OF steel,
copper and other metals manufac-
tured especially for construction,
which would be unit for armament
building They say wise use OF
these stores would enable many of
them to remain In business who
now are faced with losing means OF
livelihood.
From the attitude Of the build
ers. it is obvious that they will be
hard to convince that drastic meas
ures being taken by priority OFF,
cials are necessary in the present
state Of national emergency. Many
feel their operations should not be
so drastically restricted except IN
case Of actual declaration Of war.
Data Not Available.
In asking that an agency be es-
tablished to survey the materials
situation, John McC. Mowbray OF
Baltimore said: Nobody knows
how many houses are being built in
the United States and what the
inventory of building materials &C
tually is and who holds this in
ventory. Until accurate informa-
ton about actual material supply
is available, neither the Govern
ment nor the home building industry
itself is able to speak for the home
building situation. There Is great
need that home builders be repre-
sented by a committee to collect
information, especially about the
materials supply, the inventory on
hand and who holds 1t, and to make
these data available to groups most
concerned. The Home Builders In
stitute of America is proposing to
set up such a committee equipped
with funds for fact gathering and
for the distribution Of essential in
formation in regard to the home
building industry.
Prom the basis Of accurate facts
and figures, home builders may be
able to convince the governmental
agencies concerned that it takes
no more of critical materials to
build an 5000 house for a defense
worker in a city such as Washing
ton than 1t does to build $6 1000
house in defense area where build
ing costs are lower. We believe
that in order to meet the need for
conservation of critical materials.
that emphasis might be better
pldCeO OIL QudutItdtlEc AuII4tdlIOii
Of actual critical materials used
rather than on limiting the price
Of q house.
Must Work TO Present Case.
There will be no more business
as usual for home building or for
anything else. The only way for
home builders to save their business
is to give adequate support to a
committee which can represent
them by gathering the facts. To
present the case of our business in
Washington, we need research and
hard work"
Funds for the builders fact-find-
ing agency will be appropriated by
the national association and its