Singapore Chamber of Commerce Rubber Association is formed

The Singapore Chamber of Commerce Rubber Association was formed in 1911 with the primary aim of regulating and controlling rubber auctions, which had increased in tandem with rubber transactions. The association also aimed to promote rubber trading in Singapore, influence favourable legislation, facilitate business, arbitrate disputes, and regulate transactions.^[1] The by-laws and rules of the association were published in The Straits Times on 21 June 1911.^[2]

The formation of the rubber association resulted in a wider pool of buyers and sellers, and a larger volume of rubber traded.^[3] Previously, rubber had to be sent from Singapore to London for sale, but with the establishment of the rubber association rubber could now be sold locally. Quantities of rubber sold at auctions enjoyed a five-fold increase in just two years, from 522 tons in 1912 to 2,666 tons in 1914.^[4] The formation of the rubber association was an important milestone that helped steer Singapore towards becoming the rubber capital of the world by 1920.^[5]

References
1. Rubber Centenary Committee. (1977). Singapore rubber centenary, 1877–1977 (p. 7). Singapore: Rubber Centenary Committee. Call no.: RSING 338.1738952 SIN.
2. Rubber sales: New Chamber of Commerce Association formed. (1911, June 21). The Straits Times, p. 7. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Coates, A. (1987). The commerce in rubber: The first 250 years (p. 181). Singapore: Oxford University Press. Call no.: RSING 338.1738952 COA.
4. Drabble, J. H. (1973). Rubber in Malaya, 1876–1922; the genesis of the industry (p. 103). Kuala Lumpur, New York, Oxford University Press. Call no.: RSING 338.173895209595 DRA.
5. Rubber. In Koh, T. (Ed.). (2006). Singapore: The encyclopedia (p. 454). Singapore: Editions Didier Millet in association with the National Heritage Board. Call no.: RSING 959.57003 SIN-[HIS].