The construction industry in Malta is  the main  sector that keeps the economic wheel turning.  Indeed,  Malta is one of  the most densely populated and built-up countries in the world. This was not the case when Malta emerged from the ravages of the aerial bombardments of the Second World War as the most bombed place on earth.

 

This feature examines the vital role played by the War Damage Commission to help lift  Malta from its post-war devastation.

The War Damage Commission was a body set up by the British Government under the War Damage Act 1941 to pay compensation for war damage to land and buildings and "'Fixed' plant and machinery", throughout the United Kingdom. It was not responsible for the repairs themselves, which were conducted by local authorities or private contractors.

After the World War II, Malta faced significant challenges in terms of reconstruction. The island had endured relentless aerial attacks during the war, causing widespread devastation. Other problems that post-war Malta faced were:

Mass unemployment: The debmobilisation of thousands of men from service posed a challenge of mass unemployment. The rehabilitation of ex-servicemen, especially conscripts, was a complex task. Training centres were set up to cover 23 different skilled trades. Despite these efforts, the lack of job opportunities, coupled with sudden population growth, led to mass migration to countries like Australia, Britain, Canada, and the USA.

Constitutional development: In July 1943, the British authorities announced their intention to restore internal self-government to Malta after the war. A National Assembly was formed to recommend a new constitution. The resulting constitution, announced on 5 September 1947, granted Malta responsible government for local affairs while retaining certain reserved matters under the British Crown. The first post-war Prime Minister was Dr. Paul Boffa of the Malta Labour Party.

Housing shortage: Malta entered the post-war era with an acute housing shortage. Over 10,000 private dwellings were either destroyed or needed reconstruction, and nearly twice that number required repair. Public and religious buildings were also affected.

Malta's journey toward recovery involved resilience, reconstruction, and constitutional reforms, shaping its path in the decades that followed.

From £10m to £30m

In 1942, the noble Viscount, Lord Hall pointed out, that Britain had voted the amount of £10m to make good for the war damage in Malta, and added the pledge that whatever further expenditure the Government of Malta might be put to under this head, which was beyond its own resources to produce, would be made good.

In April 1943, a War Damage Commission was set up under the War Damage Ordinance, 1943 to compensate for war damage to buildings, private property, and business equipment. The War Damage Commission was appointed by the Governor.  The Commission also had a Secretary, an Assistant Secretary and other officers, inlcuding technical assistants.  The actual payments was made by the Treasurer of the Government of Malta. In 1946, J. Anastasi Pace was secretary of the War Damage Commission.

The urgent  and immediate reconstruction bill allocated by the British Government rose to £30m as reconstruction efforts began earnestly. However, recovery was a slow process.

Another scheme for the insurance of private chattels againsty war damage came into force on 15 February 1944.  By March 1954, the commission had received over 50,000 claims. 

The compensaton was granted for war damage which had occurred at any time since the outbreak of war with Italy (10 June 1940) and caused directly from acts by or against the enemy such as damage caused by enemy aircraft or by an anti-aircraft shell.  Even damage direcly result from acts done under proper authority to restrict damage resulting from acts by or against the enemy were considered as war damage.

Various pamphlets were issued to help in understanding of the war damage compensation schemes, notices in the government gazette as well as in local newspapers. Forms were also drawn up to apply for compensation.

Several suggestions were made by members of the public on the reconstruction and war damage compensation scheme such as this interesting letter dated 9 December 1943 by Ralph Vassallo to the Hon Professor R.V. Galea O.B.E. A & CE, Rector of the University of Malta, who was involved in the reconstruction organisation.

 

Sir,

Confident that your kind disposition well-known to every citizen, will suffice my attempt to put forward a suggestion re: the reconstruction of dwelling houses when it comes about.

My project is by no means a thorough technical one, but I venture to say that it may prove to be considerably practical and help to solve the problem of reconstrucion to some degree. I must also say that I do not claim any credit whatsoever, but it having come to my mind, I humbly admit that there is no harm in putting it forward.

The project is simple and I consider it is quite feasible:

 

1.                 A standardized series of houses be created in which all the possible requirements of any prospective tenant will be kept in view and the designs of which entrusted to the expert designers, subject of course to the approval of the reconstruction boards and of course for obvious resons to the lanowners association and fixed rates assigned for every class of houses considering the rate where the building is erected.

 

2.                 The houses created should be classified A, B, C  etc.

Class A House is an ordinary workman's dwelling with as many comforts compatible to the value and rate of course.

Class B House will be a little larger and better equipped than A .

Class C House still larger and better equippted than B and so on and so forth.  It will be seen that with this method, prospective tenants would know that a particular class of a house be it selected in Valletta or Bormla would be of a given and known standard; the difference would be only in the rate which may differ according to the site on which it is situated, it will be observed that the value of the building material and labour are more or less the same be it erected in Valletta or Bormla.  The tenant will be able to say whether his household effects would fit in the new abode.  He  can perhaps afford to take a bigger class, again he will know what the differences will be.

 

3.                 War damage grants to the owners of damaged and demolished houses will be facilitated by this method to a considerable degree.

 

4.                 Building material required for the erection of any of the classes would be the same in value, dimensions and quality in every case.  Woodwork will be of the same workmanship and would fit exactly in any particular class of houses for which it is intended and may be prepared by the hundreds.

 

 

5.                 The scheme will further permit itself to a further exploit viz. Masons, carpenters and smiths detailed to deal only with a particular class or classes of the building.  I feel sure that after a few houses are erected by the same gang of people before very long the men will familiarize themselves with the various details of that particular class.

 

6.                 The aesthetic aspect of the site will find a beatitude far wider than by any other method.