Evening star., 1943-11-15
President Commends
Home Builders for
War Housing Effort
BY FRED H. MORHART, Jr..
0flH STAT Cnrrasnnxaa.A

sAAS ~>"eASAA"A @AocONidtlOll VI I1OlIl
Builders for its contribution towar,
the war housing effort and suggeste,
they "go forward with all their en-
-ergies to complete the job"
The letter, addressed to Frank w
Cortright, executive vice presiden
of the organization. added that pri
vate builders should be compli
mented. for their cooperation witt
Government housing agencies il
meeting emergencies incurred b,
builders in their search for propel
materials. ,-,t
The President noted that housin,
will be one of most important part.
Of this Nations postwar program.
He asked the Nations builders to be
ready to meet the challenge.
Text Of Message.
Text of President Roosevelt's mes.
sage follows:
Dear Mr. Cortright:
II am glad to take this opportunity
Of expressing my appreciation to the
builders Of the United States for the
contribution they have made to the
war housing program.
Your war conference can look
back with great deal of satisfac-
tion on the work that has been ac-
complished and all any one could
ask is that its members 60 forward
with all their energies to complete
the job.
L am thoroughly aware of the
problems which have faced you
Traditionally your members have
been free to build for those who
wanted homes; suddenly you were
forced to operate under restrictions
which must have been bad.
Il take pleasure in recalling to
you that your Government recog-
nized the problems confronting the
building industry: and that it CO.
operated with you in mapping out a
program in which your great re-
sources could be used to play a
vitally important part in the war
program
Il think that National Housing
Administrator John B. Blandford,
Jr., is proudest of the fact that Gov
eminent and private industry have
worked as team in the whole war
housing effort. 1 am equally con-
fldent with him that this teamwork
will continue until that program is
completed and will then be utilized
to tackle the great job ahead when
victory is won.
Housing will be one of the most
important parts of this Nations
postwar program, as every one
knows, Upon you will develop
great responsibility and I am sure
you will meet it.
Sincerely.
"Signed).
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
Score of Groups Meet.
The Home Builders Association is
one OF more than a score of groups
in connection with the Ma
tional Association of Real Estate
which this week will have
q number of Federal officials as
guest speakers and leaders Of panel
discussions on what the private
realtor may expect after the war.
Four points for the coming year
were presented the builders by Mr..
Cortright.
1T now appears that housing will
soon emerge as one of the most
tangible issues, spotlighted by wide
publicity and public interest,"" he
said. "The policies we evolve, and
the results of the action we take,
will have far-reaching effects upon
the whole economy and political
future Of this country.
Major Objectives.
Mr. Cortright proposed the follow
Ing major objectives for 1914:
= %. A rapid completion of the
war housing job
'2>. The early relaxation of L-41
permitting a gradual resumption of
civilian construction.
go. An independent and COM
pletely equipped FILA, prepared to
adequately serve the private build
Ing demands in the postwar period
"a. A vigorous opposition to the
expenditure of taxpayers funds for
public housing-a job private enter
prise, properly implemented, can do.
AT business session of the men,
berShip, policy statement was
agreed on which further urged the
objectives outlined by Mr.. Cort-
right.
Emergency requirements and
antl-lntlatlonary measures are
proper and necessary in waging
and winning q global war" he said.
However, with victory must come
the prompt removal of all wartime
rationing, and Govern
ment controls. We believe that the
people must be on guard.
With the cessation of hostilities.
they must be ready to demand a
prompt Reinstatement of all their
civilian liberties.
Critical Period Ahead.
although recognizing the pres
ent necessity of the L-41 order re-
stricting all nonwar construction.
it is hoped that its relaxation may
be possible next year. With the
of war plant construc-
ton and the leveling off of war
materials and manpow-
er for civilian production will be-
come available. In cooperation
with other groups in the construc-
tion industry, We will propose a
plan to distribute properly nom
war construction when permitted.
Only in this way can the necessary
be established to meet
quickly the demands of that criti-
cal period"
Further developments on housing
Is opposed by private builders will
be brought before the conference
later in the week.