16 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 19

would not otherwise be able to secure safe and sanitary dwell-
ings, but no Housing Authority shall initiate the development
of any such project pursuant to this Act after June 1, 1945.

In the ownership, development or administration of such
projects, a Housing Authority shall have all the rights, powers,
privileges and immunities that such Authority has under any
provision of law relating to the ownership, development or
administration of slum clearance and housing projects for
persons of low income, in the same manner as though all the
provisions of law applicable to slum clearance and housing
projects for persons of low income were applicable to projects
developed or administered to assure the availability of safe
and sanitary dwellings for persons engaged in national-defense
activities as provided in this sub-title, and housing projects
developed or administered hereunder shall constitute "housing
projects" under the sections of this Article other than this sub-
title^ as that term is used therein; provided, that during that
period (herein called the "National-Defense Period") that a
Housing Authority finds (which finding shall be conclusive in
any suit, action or proceeding) that within its area of opera-
tion (as defined in said Article), or any part thereof, there is
an acute shortage of safe and sanitary dwellings which im-
pedes the national-defense program in this State and that the
necessary safe and sanitary dwellings would not otherwise be
provided when needed for persons engaged in national-defense
activities, any project developed or administered by such
Sousing Authority (or by any Housing Authority co-operat-
ing with it) in such area pursuant to this sub-title, with the
financial aid of the Federal Government (or as agent for the
-Federal Government as hereinafter provided) shall not be sub-
ject to the limitations provided in Section 10 and the second
sentence of Section 9 of this Article; or any other limitation
relating to the amount of rentals or eligibility of tenants other
than as provided under this sub-title; and provided further,
that, during the National-Defense Period, a Housing Authority
may make payments in such amounts as it finds necessary or
desirable for any services, facilities, works, privileges or im-
provements furnished for or in connection with any such
projects. After the National-Defense Period, any such projects
owned and administered by a Housing Authority shall be ad-
ministered for the purposes and in accordance with the pro-
visions of this Article other than the sub-title.

30. (e) The development of a project shall be deemed to be
"initiated", within the meaning of this Article, if a Housing
Authority has issued any bonds, notes or other obligations
with respect to financing the development of such project of
the Housing Authority, or has contracted with the Federal