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14
fied as a result of the renewal of air attacks on this Country. During
the second half of the year the housing section of the public health
department was fully occupied in arranging and supervising repairs
to war-damaged properties, whilst the rehousing section was
equally extended in providing accommodation for the large number
of families rendered homeless during that period. Throughout these
six months, repairs to properties requisitioned for the inadequately
housed were of necessity discontinued, and properties previously
repaired were transferred to the "homeless persons" pool.
War Damage Repairs.
The flying bomb attacks first affected the Borough about the
middle of June, and the department was hard pressed to deal with
the damage caused by large incidents during this period of enemy
attack. The difficulty experienced by builders in obtaining essential
materials, owing to the introduction of controls at this time, made it
necessary for the department to set up a stores department for the
supply of all building materials required for war damage repairs.
This was a departure from the practice employed since the commencement
of the war, whereby contractors supplied materials from their
own stocks; and it necessitated a great deal of emergency organisation.
The services of all contractors—large and small—were utilised,
and the success of the emergency arrangements was evident by the
fact that at no time were repairs held up through lack of supplies.
In this period, some £60,000 worth of building material passed
through the department's stores.
One unfortunate fact must be recorded, namely, the necessity at
that time of introducing substitute materials of temporary lasting
value for reinstating walls and ceilings.
Shortage of building labour was always an acute problem, but
the Government later in the year placed war-damage repair work
under the Essential Works Order.
REHOUSING STATISTICS.
(Position at 31.12.44.)
Total number of houses and flats requisitioned1,050
Total number of persons rehoused 4,231
Total number of persons billeted 9,602