Melbourne Convention Shows FAWPCA's Increasing
of the
The second convention Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors' Associations held in Melbourne recently showed that although the Federation is only three years old, it is firmly established, and destined to play an increasingly im portant role in the huge area from Korea to New Zealand-represented by its members. The Federation still has problems to solve but it is, never- theless, an effective organisation.
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The gathering in Melbourne actually a fusion of the FAWPCA second convention with the 53rd Annual Convention of the Master Builders' Federation of Australia. This brought together 76 delegates from the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, the Republic of China and New Zealand, and more than 150 Australian builders, with every State in the Commonwealth represented. It was a gathering unique in Austra- lian history and one of the biggest international conferences ever staged in the country.
The convention was opened by Australia's Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, in Melbourne University's Wilson Hall one of the show-pieces of contemporary Australian architec-
ture.
Mr. Menzies reminded delegates of the importance of their industry in advancing human welfare and sug gested to them the goals of increasing efficiency, quality and economy-sug- gestions which were endorsed by Mr. Domingo V. Poblete of the Philip- pines, founder and foundation sident of the Federation.
Pre-
In his keynote address, the retiring President, Mr. Ken McGregor (Aus- tralia) emphasised the progress which the Federation had made towards its objectives - closer contact and co operation between members, exchange of technical information, and creation of cooperative working arrangements on specific projects.
Two recent examples of the last were mentioned by Mr. McGregor: a joint venture in Malaya between the Lewis Construction Co. of Australia and the firm of Chong Soon Lee of Kuala Lumpur, and the Marikina dam
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Effectiveness
project being undertaken by Japanese and Filipino contractors.
The sub-committee on construction methods, research and education, which met under the chairmanship of Mr. Yoshiro Ohbayashi, President of Ohbayashi-Gumi Ltd. and leader of the eight-strong Japanese delegation, drew up one of the most ambitious proposals of the convention scheme to arrange regular exchange of technical trainees between member countries.
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The idea was enthusiastically taken up by other delegations from the out- set and exhaustive discussion follow- ed on the types of trainees to be included in the scheme. The Japan- ese delegates had in mind young graduates in engineering and architec- ture who would be sent abroad for two or three years to further their practical experience in the field.
The Japanese resolution was endors ed by the plenary session and the Federation Secretariat was given the task of working out the plan in final form.
This sub-committee revealed one of the weak spots of the convention the absence of any original research reports. It was decided that the Secretariat should pay particular at- tention to this question in planning
the next convention.
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Reports on construction methods included a description by the New Zealand delegate of a new way of new way of repairing terra cotta walls which had been used in a hospital. The Aus- tralian representative raised an in- teresting point of construction econo- mics. Although, thanks to her rich iron ore deposits, Australian steel is amongst the cheapest in the world, her building industry had found con- crete frame structures cheaper than steel frame ones.
Stuttgart, West Germany. This, he said, had proved superior to the steam hammer and the air hammer, one big advantage being its portability.
The Japanese delegation reported that a number of these diesel hammers were in use in Japan.
The sub-committee on contract conditions, bidding procedures and builder-client relations met under the chairmanship of Mr. Paul Y. Tso, leader of the Hong Kong delegation and managing director of the Paul Y. Construction Co.
The sub-committee concerned itself largely with examining anomalies and unfair terms encountered in contracts. A proposal to carry out a systematic survey of terms and conditions of contracts used in member countries was agreed to and later endorsed by the plenary session.
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The final plenary session elected Mr. Dao Quer-ling, leader of the Chinese delegation, as the new Pre- sident of the Federation, and schedul- ed the next convention for Taipeh in 1962. Mr. Dao, who has been Manag- ing Director of the Voh Kee Con-
struction Co. Ltd. since 1922, and is President of the Chinese National Association of General Contractors,
expressed the hope that he would be able to undertake a presidential tour of all member countries before 1961.
Mr. Chien Ting, Managing Director poration, Taipeh, was designated new of the Continental Engineering Cor-
Secretary-General.
Members of the Executive Board (due to meet in Taipeh in April or May 1961) are: Mr. Yoshiro Ohbaya- shi (Japan), Mr. Paul Y. Tso (Hong Kong), Mr. Alec F. Ross (New Zealand) and Mr. Perfecto Manalac (Philippines). All ex-presidents are automatically members of the Board. Mr. Eduardo Escobar was re- elected Executive Director.
At the farewell dinner, Victoria's popular Governor, Sir Dallas Brooks, made a notable break with vice-regai precedent and sang a song. It was The Philippines delegate drew mem- 'Getting to Know You," a phrase bers' attention to a new diesel pile
which was strikingly appropriate to hammer devised at the University of the whole convention.
THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER — VOLUME 14. NUMBER 4