The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-24

Boston, June N.- Repaintlng and redecorating without specific author ization are permitted under the terms of conservation order L-41 when they constitute maintenance" or repair" the War Production Board advised the Regional Information Office, OPM, 17 Court street, today.
 Conservation order L-41 places all civilian construction under rigid control. The intent of the order is to reduce nor-essential construction to a minimum so that all possible material, equipment and effort will be available for use in direct war production. To comply with this, all construction work = including re- painting and redecorating which is not absolutely necessary. should be deferred for the duration.
 Ordinary Maintenance
 Tn drawing the order the War Production Board made allowances for ordinary maintenance and re- pair work to return a structure to sound working condition without a change of design. Changes In ma terial or type of equipment are per- mitted if the architectural or struc- tural plan Is not substantially altered in effecting the change.
 Thus, repainting and redecorating needed to maintain an apartment, home or office in reasonably satis- factory condition or to return It to that condition is permissible. For example, if a new tenant occupies an apartment, home or office which has been left in an unsatisfactory condition by the previous occupant the landlord may redecorate. Alsc ordinary redecorating which is done as part of a customary maintenance program is permissible.
 On the other hand, unnecessary repainting or redecorating either by the landlord or the tenant dic- tated merely by change in taste is certainly not the kind of repaMting or redecorating which constitutes permissible maintenance or repair under the order. It should be. kept in mind that the tenant of the order is to limit maintenance and repair to that which Is absolutely necessary to keep a structure n sound working condition or to re- store 1t to that condition.
 Since material, equipment and labor are needed for essential mill. tary construction, they should moi be expended on ron- essential civil. ian work. When the Army anc Navy are trimming their own con- struction programs to make mater ial available for direct production of munitions, even greater consid' eration should be given by civilians in their demands for material te be used in work not even indirectly related to the war.
 The policy of the War Production Board in respect to maintenance ailt repair, as defined in L-4l. Is con. sistent with the requirement Of ths Office of Price Administration tfla' landlords carry out customary re pairs. maintenance and repairing for tenants once a rent ceiling hal been set.
 Clarifying Ruling
 The following questions and an swers are intended to clarify ths order:
 e. rent an apartment for slOl month. For a number of years ! 1 has been the custom of my land lord to repairlt and redecorate everl two years. This custom was taker | into consideration by the OPA wher 1t set a rent ceiling of &lO0 on my apartment. However, my landlort has informed me that he Is not per mitted by conservation order L-4l 1 issued by the War Production Board to repaint or redecorate, ever though such work Is included n the rent ceiling set by OPA. IS thi correct. or should my landlord con kinue his customary repainting alis redsCoratiiag prosraxng