80th Anniversary Commemorative Book - Singapore Manufacturing ...

• It was necessary to advance the interests of small up-and-coming localenterprises. Singapore already had in place the factories and plantsto make items like tobacco, biscuits, tin, trunks, soap, cement, sauces,artificial manure, aluminium, brass beds, tiles, essential oils and buildingmaterials but they needed a champion to look after their collective needs.• The general lack of awareness within Singapore of the manufacturingindustry. In a Straits Times editorial in January 1932, the editor wrote:“We doubt whether the average member of the public was aware of theextent of our local manufacturing industries.” An association would helpto raise the profile of many of the local manufacturers.• Singapore could capitalise on its position as a sea port to export locallymadegoods overseas. Being a free port, raw materials and finishedproducts could enter and leave the country without the burden of taxes.The exhibitors continued to meet after the exhibition with the intention ofsetting up an organisation to nurture local manufacturers. Six months later,on 20 September 1932, the association was formally incorporated as aCompany Limited by Guarantee. Its first meeting was held three monthslater, on 16 December.Some pioneer members were United Engineers, Singapore Cold Storage,Malayan Paintworks, Fraser & Neave, Ho Hong Oil Mills and Lam SoonCannery.DID YOU KNOW?• As far back as the1920s, Jurong had beenearmarked as the spot forlocal factories but it wasnot until the 1960s that itwas properly developed. Inan article published in 24August 1931 in The StraitsTimes, a certain Mr RolandBraddell wrote: “I believethat the area aroundJurong Road has been allocated for factory sites but this is useless.It is nine miles from town and has no water, gas or electricity.”• Apart from the railway station, alternative venues considered forthe manufacturers’ exhibition included amusement parks likeHappy World at Geylang Road, Great World at Kim Seng Roadand New World at Jalan Besar, as well as the Victoria Theatre andthe Memorial Hall.• Some of the items on display at the FMS Railwaysterminal station exhibition included:o Balloon toys from the Nanyang Manufacturing Company.o A book rest which could be used in a dozen different positions –on the bed, on the chair, and as a note stand for public speakers– from the Papyrus Book Rest Company.o Grey and green-coloured lift gates from United Metal Works,which were set up in front of its booth.o The model of a man made of soap, surrounded by baskets offlowers, from the Eng Moh soap company.o A $1,000 bronze coffin from the Singapore Casket company.o A bunch of fresh flowers embedded in a big block of ice by theAtlas Ice Company.o An entire boat was placed in the centre of the railway track byThornycroft (Singapore), a company which dealt in boats.28 Prelude: The Founding