Evening star., 1947-10-08
Fo|eyComnnends
D. +. Builders
ForHigh0utput
Housing Chief Cites
Lurge Volume of
Rental Projects
By Raymond M. Foley
Administrator, Housing ond Home Finance
Agency


In the two years since the sur
render of Japan, the BODYBUILDING
industry of the country has achieved
an unprecedented rate of increase
in home production. BY August of
this year, builders of America were
completing more than 10000 homes
and apartments In a month, and
were putting 5000 more under con-
struction.
Outstanding In this housing &C
complishment have been the build
ers and investors of Washington.
Here the volume Of all home con-
struction is high, and the volume
of rental construction planned or
launched has been one of the largest
in the Nation.
The complaints and difficulties
that arise from the still-serious
shortage of housing, which only a
longer period of high production
can relieve, should not obscure what
has been accomplished.
Should Not Be Satisfied.
This is the more impressive when
we remember that assembling hun
dreds of bits and pieces needed for
house and tailoring the product
to suit particular piece of land,
particular locality and particular
occupant, is, in many respects, more
difficult than most other production
problems.
This record is one that can crafty
us, but it should not satisfy us.
The job now is not only to sustain
and enlarge the volume of home
building. 1t is even more one of
lowering costs without lowering
standards, so that a larger proper
ton of those in need of homes, par
ticularlysveterans of modest income,
can be served.
The way toward a continued high
level of homebuilding and an ex-
panding market for homes, price
wise, points downward. That does
not mean q return to prewar dollar
costs. 1t does mean narrowing the
gap between the price and the
pocketbook of many homeseekers
that exists in spite of the higher in
come levels of today.
Doing this calls for great ingenuity
and teamwork by all who contribute
to the finished house. Greater eff
cheney and increased productivity
can effect savings in overall costs,
even at present price levels. 1t is
within the power of private industry
to reduce costs, and I believe it will
be done.
Praises New Housing Agency.
This means, also, understanding
and constructive aid from the Gov
ernment, to the extent that it can
help industry meet this goal. In
the newly created Housing and
Home Finance Agency, believe we
have an instrument for co-ordi-
mated and effective use of Federal
facilities to encourage and assist
private enterprise in meeting most
of our housing problems.
The Housing and Home Finance
Agency is the first permanent
peacetime agency for Federal team
work in the field of housing, sue
ceeding to the wartime organiza-
tion known at the National Housing
Agency.
Its role differs from the virtually
complete direction and control of
housing construction exercised by
Government during the war in
that its powers are designed to aid
and supplement the primary func-
tion of private enterprise.
Under the new agency, we can
bring the various tools of Govern
ment together, as In single plant,
for their fullest usefulness. AS ad-
minister, I intend to work closely
with all branches of the private
housing industry, I believe we can
advance understanding and team
, work between Government and in
dustry through liaison committees
and other means of consultation.
We have long way to go before
we can relax in the satisfaction
of having caught up with our hous-
ing responsibilities as democracy.
The time it takes to get there will
be lessened by the teamwork we
apply, not only In the Federal gov
ernmental scene, but also through
out all phases of both Government
and industry. 1t will be my purpose,
as HHFA administrator, to stimu-
late and promote such teamwork at
eyerv turn.