British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 811

CHAPTER XVIII.

seen that Housing Associations have not been given, and will not be given, any advantage over the private individual desiring to build; it must, however, be recognised that Associations will always have a slight advantage over the individual from their ability to purchase materials in larger quantities and to take delivery in bulk. There is nothing, however, which would prevent private individuals joining together for the purpose of cooperative buying and considerable public advantage is to be anticipated from such operations.

10. It is hoped that sufficient materials will have arrived to enable the scheme of distribution of materials to be commenced in the first week of August and a specially devised simplification of the normal procedure for the release of materials will be put into force. This system is briefly as follows:-

(a) In the case of the private builder the grant of a building permit by the local Building and Town Planning Authority will automatically entitle the permit holder to the grant of release of the necessary materials on an approved scale, which is based upon the number of Nominal Room Units to be built. In the case of a Housing Association, this body must produce evidence to the local authority that the scheme in respect of which the application is made is one which has been approved by the Controller of Heavy Industries.

(b) Upon the grant of a Building Permit the local authority will inform the Controller of Heavy Industries and provide a certificate as to the number of Nominal Room Units comprised in the Building Permit.

(c) Upon receipt of the certificate, the Controller of Heavy Industries will prepare a book of coupons which will entitle the Building Permit holder to apply to any merchant holding stocks for the amount of materials represented by the book of coupons. These coupons, of which there will be one for each material required, may be presented to any merchant. In this way it is hoped to stimulate competition between merchants and to secure the more advantageous prices which normally result from competition. Once the coupons have been issued to the Building Permit holder by the Controller of Heavy Industries, through the Building Authority, the holder can go straight ahead with his building operations.

(d) It must be noted that any person who is provided with a book of coupons engages himself to build the house in respect of which the coupons have been granted. If he does not so build he will be required to account for the materials released and, if he cannot do so in a satisfactory manner, will be prosecuted under the Defence Regulations and Orders made thereunder.

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