HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 499

Annotated Code of Maryland (1943 Supplement), title
"Housing Authorities", sub-title "Defense Housing by Hous-
ing Authorities", extending the time within which any Hous-
ing Authority may initiate the development of defense
housing projects.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land j That Section 24 and Sub-section (e) of Section 30 of
Article 44A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1943 Supple-
ment), title "Housing Authorities", sub-title "Defense Housing
by Housing Authorities", be and they are hereby repealed and
re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

DEFENSE HOUSING BY HOUSING AUTHORITIES.

24. Any Housing Authority may undertake the development
and administration of projects to assure the availability of
safe and sanitary dwellings for persons engaged in national-
defense activities whom the Housing Authority determines
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, 1947.

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 "Hous-
ing 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 operation (as defined in said Article), or any part
thereof, there is an acute shortage of safe and sanitary dwell-
ings which impedes 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 Housing Authority (or by any Hous-
ing Authority co-operating with it) in such area pursuant to
this sub-title, with the financial aid of the Federal Govern-
ment (or as agent for the Federal Government as hereinafter