Real estate talks open with flourish

Press, 19 October 1976, Page 6

Real estate talks open with flourish

By

JOHN McNEILL

Trumpets for a fan-! fare, the red carpet, and flags fluttering gaily. There could be no confusing the third Asia l Pacific Real Estate Federation’s §lOO,OOO conference with the locally organised $2OO alternative when A.P.R.E.F. delegates took their places in the James Hay! Theatre yesterday. In truth the flags did not flutter from the very beginning. The committee organising the conference had realised it had al! the makings of an international incident with a delegation from the Republic of China among the nine nations attending, and opening addresses scheduled on the first day from the Governor-General (Sir Denis Blundell) and the Minister of Housing (Mr Gair). In a nifty poly, the flags were produced only after the 1 Government representatives had departed. The stage of the theatre was a mass of greenery, hiding the master of mere-' monies, who merged fromtime to time to anounce the arrival of a delegate, or to introduce a speaker. A.P.R.E.F. office holders were “piped” by the Bob Bradford band on the long walk to the stage, and were seated to a roll of drums. Behind the stage hung the Union Jack and the flag of the

I Real Estate institute of Newi Zealand, together with the, ’A.P.R.E.F. symbol. The heavy- morning fog, threw some doubt on the (arrival of the Govemor'General, and the order of ■ speakers was changed to allow Mr Gair to leave early (for another engagement. Mr Hay welcomed visitors jto Christchurch, and was I quick to point out that his council’s record in housing, | especially of the elderly, was second to none, and that more I could be done if additional Government finance were I forthcoming. About 550 delegates and their wives are attending the (conference. Many attended the opening session and listened to the translation of •the address by the president ,of the federation (Mr Han!son Kwauk) into Japanese, land a later address in Japanese into English. , Headsets and a small receiver offered a broadcast (translation to all delegates. The rental of these sets and [the cost of flying speakers Co the conference were the two major items of expendiiture, said an organiser.

I Morning tea was a happy (intermingling, the delegates 'with no English nodding vigorously to the friendly conversation of the locals. The theme of the conference, chosen three years ago, is “New r Town Development.” A display inside the theatre describes the Rolleston project in the present tense, but after the trip to the site, and the comments of local agents, the delegates ■ returned with a clear knowledge that the project was (dead. However, the concept is likely to receive further scrutiny. Today, two speakers are to discuss new towns in New Zealand, and another speaker will present a case against them. Tonight, because there is no venue large enough to accommodate all the delegates, the men will banquet at the Great Hall at the Chateau Commodore, the ladies at the Limes Room of the Town Hall. If it achieves nothing else, the conference will draw attention to the need for a larger banqueting hall in Christchurch.