Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-02
Prefabricafed Home
Builders Soon 10 Gef
Material Priorities
By ROBERT J. LEWIS.

A little-noticed series of develop
ments this month is expected to re-
suit soon in Government action to
allow observation-disclosures manu-
facturers to apply for priorities as
sistance in the purchase of critical
building materials.
Prefabricators are now out in the
cold so far as priorities regulations
for veterans preference housing is
concerned.
No one seems to know exactly
how the prefabricators were left
out. The Civilian Production Ad-
ministration denies they were over
looked. The fact was, however,
that when the Governments pri-
orlty program started rolling in
mid-January there was no provision
qualifying prefabricators to apply.
Early last month, the Prefabri-
Gated Home Manufacturers Insti-
tute. Shoreham Building, an organ
1zation representing SO of the Ma
tons approximately 10 prefabri-
Gated home manufacturers, let out
q howl over this. fs
Protest by Institute.
The institute protested that the
priority plan was "of no practical
value" to the prefabricators, "since
all the requirements as to specifi-
cations, plans, price, land acquisi-
ton, financing and building per-
mlts must first be met before a
rating is granted"
The Civilian Production Admin
1stration Immediately got busy and
within a few weeks had selected an
industry adviser from among the
manufacturers to talk things over.
What the prefabricators wanted.
they said, was a STEADY flow of
materials and, more important, the
purchase of materials in carload
quantities"
This week the CPA people con-
ferred with the industry advisory
group over the practically of is
suing" an order "to direct to prefab-
ricators part of the building mate
rails assigned to the veterans hous-
ng program"
Proposed Order.
Under this proposed order pre-
fabricators could obtain authority
from CPA to use priorities to build
up an inventory of certain mate
rails. Materials needed at the site
could be obtained by the builder
through a Federal Housing Ad-
ministration field Office. The pre-
fabricators, however, are hit badly
by certain scarcities for which no
priority assistance is now granted.
They particularly want assistance
In obtaining cast-iron soil pipe
and fittings, gypsum board and
lath, lumber, plywood, millwork,
wallboard, wood shingles and bath
tubs. Plywood, wood shingles and
Wallboard are not listed by CPA
as critical items, and, therefore,
there is no provision for priorities
assistance on those items.
Some prefabricated manufacture
erS also suggested that CPA add
certain other materials to its crit
tcal list, but met some CPA re-
siStance. CPA wants to keep the
critical list "as small as possible"
a' Government spokesman pointed
out.
Ceiling Suggested.
Industry representatives suggest
ed that for their priorities pro-
gram a ceiling Of about $500 be
fixed.
The prefabricated home industry
has. been saying that its plants could
produce 100000 homes this year
provided essential building mate
rails are made available"
There is little doubt that a de-
termination of whether those plants
are to receive assistance, and how
much, will be taken to the highest
Government level. In this case the
highest level" would be Wilson w.
Wyatt, Federal housing expediter.
who will take over soon as Ma
tional Housing administrator.