The fact that a number of sites were under tillage in 1946 made it impossible to begin the servicing and slabbing of these sites until towards the end of the year. This delay naturally held up progress, to an extent which cannot be accurately determined, on the erection of the houses on these particular sites, but did not seriously affect the number of houses completed in the last four months of the year. With the exception of the aluminium house, hulls were available to meet contractors' requirements in full. At the end of 1946, 13,268 slabs had been made available for all types of temporary houses except aluminium and 13,153 hulls had been delivered to those sites. More than sufficient hulls were in store to meet all immediate demands. As the aluminium house cannot be stored, a reserve of slabs—amounting to 3,392 at the end of 1946 has been specially built up in anticipation of the period when the house will be in full production.