Rubber Trade Association of Penang

Rubber Trade Association Of Penang (槟城树胶公会), one of the oldest surviving rubber trade associations in the country, represents the interests of members of the rubber trade in the state. It is also known as the Penang Rubber Trade Association.

Background

The oldest surviving rubber trade body from British Malaya is the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce Rubber Association,[1] formed at a special general meeting of the (then) Singapore Chamber of Commerce and Exchange, at the Exchange Room on 20 June 1911.[2][3] From its first auction on 12 September till the end of that year, the Singapore Chamber of Commerce Rubber Association held 12 auctions. 52 auctions were held in 1912.[4]

Shortly after, in 1913, the Penang Chamber of Commerce formed a Rubber Association to provide a market for this principal article of local agriculture through weekly auction sales. It was envisaged that large supplies of rubber would be attracted and that there would be regular buyers.[5] When the idea for the Rubber Association was first mooted, Allen Dennys & Co., who had already been performing auctions in Penang since November 1912, in an earlier circular to their clients, asked them to favour the firm by appointing them as their agents, promising to defray all fees due to The Chamber out of the 1 per cent commission charged.[6][7] The first auction was held on 12 November where 24,707 lbs. were offered of which 22,882 lbs were sold.[8] In January 1915, at the annual general meeting of the Penang Chamber of Commerce, Messrs. Allen Dennys and Company asked for a fixed fee of $5 be paid in respect of each occasion a seller conducts a sale in the chamber, instead of the prevailing brokerage of one-eighth percent, pointing out that the firm had been the sole supporter of the association and that 91.50 percent of the fees had been borne by them. The committee discussing the issue, objected, pointing out that while the facts relating to the percentage of fees were admitted, that percentage it was also necessary to acknowledge that the business had increased by more than 150 percent since the start of the association fourteen months earlier. At this point Allen Dennys and Company withdrew from membership in the association, which brought sales in the association room to a halt. Other members were called upon to step forward and fill the place vacated by Allen Dennys and Company.[9] In August 1915, at the half-yearly general meeting chaired by John Mitchell, it was revealed that the position remained the same as advised at the general meeting earlier - no member had come forward with any propositions and the committee had not taken any steps to re-establish sales under the Penang Chamber of Commerce Rubber Association.[10] There was nothing more heard on the subject and the interests of members of Penang's rubber trade remained unrepresented until the advent of the Rubber Trade Association of Penang, in the form of its original incarnation, The Penang Rubber Exchange. Allen Dennys' firm, however, continued to hold rubber auctions, on their own. By late February 1917, the firm had conducted its 258th sale.[11] The results of each of the firm's rubber auctions was published in the Straits Times, the last of which appeared in the issue of 18 May 1918.[12]

Chronology of Early History

Closely connected to the Malaysian Rubber Board)

List of Presidents of the Rubber Trade Association of Penang

Further reading

Drabble, J.H. (1973) Rubber in Malaya, 1876-1922: the genesis of the industry. London: Oxford University Press.

Notes

  1. Official website of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce Rubber Association
  2. The Straits Times, 12 June 1911, Page 5
  3. The Straits Times, 21 June 1911, Page 7
  4. The Straits Times, 24 February 1913, Page 8
  5. The Straits Times, 26 June 1913, Page 9
  6. 28 October 1912, Page 7
  7. The Straits Times, 19 May 1913, Page 11
  8. The Straits Times, 14 November 1913, Page 9
  9. The Straits Times, 23 January 1915, Page 10
  10. The Straits Times, 21 August 1915, Page 10
  11. The Straits Times, 26 February 1917, Page 10
  12. The Straits Times, 18 May 1918, Page 8
  13. 1 2 3 The Straits Times, 14 February 1925, Page 2
  14. 1 2 The Straits Times, 21 May 1939, Page 3
  15. Drabble, J. H. (1973) Rubber in Malaya, 1876-1922: the genesis of the industry. Oxford University Press. p.103
  16. Allen Henry Bain Dennys, the son of Dr. Nicholas Belfield Dennys (Assistant Protector of Chinese at Singapore, Protector of Chinese and Magistrate at British North Borneo, and acting Judge and Member of Council), was born in Scarsdale, New York and educated in Essex. He was a rubber auctioneer, shipping agent and property assessor. He came to Malaya when only 16 years of age, arriving at Singapore in 1887 where he joined the shipping department of Boustead & Co, a firm he remained with for eight years. From there he took up appointment as manager of W. Mansfield & Co.'s Penang branch, six years after that he joined Wooldridge & Co. where his brother was working. He eventually acquired that firm which was renamed Allen Dennys & Co. Allen Dennys & Co. grew from a tiny operation with six native clerks to become one of the leading firms in Penang, employing two Europeans, thirty other assistants and several hundred coolies, with a fleet of twenty-five lighters continually employed, and godowns capable of storing 14,000 tons of cargo. The firm was acquired, in 1920 by The Borneo Co., officially assuming the management of the Penang Branch of the Borneo Co. Ltd., during the absence on leave of F. E. Dilley, in May 1923, and with remaining with the firm until he again established his own business, this time known as A. Dennys, at Penang, in 1924. He had a personal interest in the rubber trade - he was a Shareholder and Director of Ayer Kuning Rubber along with C. W.Barnett, W. Fox Clarke, H. F. Morris, W. E. Mann, A. Stephen Anthony, S. C. Ambrose, A. H. Heaps, A. F. Moraes, A. F. Goodrich, L. Hoefeld, F. C. Lean, G. H. Pritchard, J. G. Brown and Dr. T. C. Avetoom. In 1914, his firm, Allen Dennys & Co. undertook the transhipment and forwarding five 600-ton tin dredgers to various firms in Perak. He was interested in the Menglembu Lode Syndicate Ltd., whose other members included W. H. Thorne, A. S. Anthony, A. R. A. R. S. M. Muthiah Chetty, J. Crabb-Watt, H. Muir, G. N. Saye, J. L. Woodford, M. C. Corbett, H. J. Cooper and others. He had an interest in the Parit Perak Rubber Company, Ltd., along with others like F. Daxbury, L. E. Slowe, P. Simpson, and C. Trim Johnson. Along with F. E. Dilley, D. T. Lewis, F. H. Grumitt, Allen Dennys had an interest in Padang Plandok Tin Ltd. Together with D. A. M. Brown he was appointed the Penang Chamber of Commerce's Special Arbitrator in April 1923. Allen Dennys died after a protracted illness, in the General Hospital. (Straits Times, 17 November 1900, p.2; 24 April 1913, Page 9; 20 March 1914, p.10; 21 August 1915, p.10; 14 March 1916, 28 March 1916, p8; 21 May 1917, p.8; Page 8; ; 26 October 1918, p.10; 30 April 1919, Page 10; 30 April 1920, p.8; 17 February 1923, p8; 11 April 1923, p.10; 24 May 1923, p.8; 28 January 1924, p.10; Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 8 July 1914, Page 10; 30 April 1919, Page 10; 24 November 1933, p.2)
  17. Major R. N. Holmes, M.C., of the 4th Lincolns and 6th North Straffords rejoined R. T. Reid & Co. in November 1919 and was responsible for the business in Penang and Ipoh. The company was acquired by William Jacks & Co., later William Jacks & Co. (Malaya) Ltd., and Holmes relocated to Singapore where he became Assistant Managing Director for several years. He then set up business in London as a turf accountant in partnership with R. C. Scott, with offices in St. Martins Le Grand. (Straits Times 17 November 1919, p.8; 8 January 1929, p.8; Mar 1939, p.14)
  18. The Straits Times, 20 March 1925, Page 8
  19. The Straits Times, 27 August 1927, Page 9
  20. 1 2 The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 4 June 1930, Page 6
  21. 1 2 The Straits Times, 6 July 1936, Page 17
  22. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 13 October 1941, Page 5
  23. The Straits Times, 24 May 1946, Page 5
  24. The Singapore Free Press, 7 June 1946, Page 5
  25. The Straits Times, 11 June 1947, Page 5
  26. The Straits Times, 30 May 1947, Page 5
  27. 1 2 The Straits Times, 26 June 1947, Page 1
  28. The Straits Times, 7 July 1947, Page 5
  29. The Straits Times, 8 July 1947, Page 4
  30. The Straits Times, 11 July 1947, Page 5
  31. The Straits Times, 16 July 1947, Page 1
  32. The Straits Times, 29 July 1947, Page 4
  33. The Straits Times, 25 August 1947, Page 5
  34. The Straits Times, 6 September 1947, Page 4
  35. The Straits Times, 24 September 1947, Page 5
  36. The Straits Times, 16 October 1947, Page 4
  37. The Straits Times, 3 October 1947, Page 6
  38. The Straits Times, 13 October 1947, Page 4
  39. The Straits Times, 15 October 1947, Page 6
  40. The Straits Times, 31 October 1947, Page 5
  41. The Straits Times, 27 November 1947, Page 7
  42. The Straits Times, 1 December 1947, Page 5
  43. The Straits Times, 5 December 1947, Page 3
  44. The Straits Times, 12 December 1947, Page 9
  45. The Straits Times, 20 July 1949, Page 8
  46. The Straits Times, 14 April 1951, Page 5
  47. PRTA (1951) Souvenir Number in Commemoration of the Rubber Trade Association of Penang and the Official Opening of Their New Premises, 16 Anson Road on 15 September 1951
  48. The Straits Times, 2 November 1951, Page 7
  49. The Straits Times, 14 March 1952, Page 4
  50. The Straits Times, 9 April 1952, Page 5
  51. The Straits Times, 30 May 1952, Page 9
  52. The Straits Times, 3 October 1952, Page 10
  53. The Straits Times, 5 March 1954, Page 5
  54. The Straits Times, 19 November 1956, Page 5
  55. 1 2 The Straits Times, 22 April 1957, Page 5
  56. The Straits Times, 6 March 1958, Page 4
  57. 1 2 The Straits Times, 5 February 1962, Page 9
  58. The Straits Times, 27 January 1962, Page 11
  59. The Straits Times, 26 January 1962, Page 6
  60. Malaysian Rubber Exchange (Incorporation) Act 1962, available at the official website of the Attorney General of Malaysia, lists, from page 14 to 17 seventy-six (76) founding member companies and individuals.
  61. The Straits Times, 9 August 1972, Page 20
  62. The Straits Times, 27 July 1973, Page 4
  63. Malaysian Rubber Board (Incorporation) Act 1966 available at the official website of the Attorney General of Malaysia.
  64. The Straits Times, 7 June 1959, Page 4
  65. Khor Ewe-Keng, founder, trustee and first President of the Penang Rubber Exchange (as The Association was known then) was Managing Director of Ewe Joo & Co., rubber dealers. He was also one of the founders of the Anglo-Chinese School Union and the Corner Club. He was 59 at the time of his death which occurred at his residence in Johore Road towards the end of May 1939. He left behind a wife, three sons (Khor Cheang Chong, Khor Cheang Kee, Khor Cheang Guan), six daughters (Mrs. Gunn Lay-Tor, Mrs. Chua Boon-Teck, Mrs. Cheah Eng-Hong, Khor Joo-Aik, Khor Joo-Siew, Khor Joo-Imm), and seven grandchildren.
  66. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 1 January 1930, Page 3
  67. Saw Seng Kew, a rubber planter and trader, banker and politician, was the son of Saw Soon Choo and the brother of Saw Choo Theng. His company Saw Seng Kew & Co. was involved in rubber, insurance Actively involved in politics, Tan Sri Saw Seng-Kew, P.M.N., J.M.N., J.P., was President of the Penang State Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and before that, the Chairman of the Penang State Alliance. He was Chairman of Southern Banking Berhad. A tireless worker and selfless man he took up responsibility for reviving the Penang Chinese Recreation Club just a few weeks before his demise. He collapsed in his bathroom at his Gurney Drive home, almost an hour after chairing the first meeting of the club's new executive committee, and was dead within minutes. His last public event may have been his the MCA Chinese New Year Open House event held at his residence, earlier in February that year. He died 30 June 1970 at the age of 70 leaving behind a wife (née Choo Lean-Eu), his son (Saw Bin-Sit), two daughters (Mrs. Lim Teik-Ee née Saw Lay-Wah, Saw Lay-Eng), one daughter-in-law (Tan Kar-Lay) and thirteen grandchildren.The Tan Sri Saw Seng Kew Memorial Scholarship Fund was set up in his name. His funeral occurred on 12 July 1970 when his body was removed from his residence at 87 Cantonment Road for burial at the Batu Gantong Cemetery. (Berita Harian 12 February 1970, Page 3; The Straits Times, 20 October 1946, Page 5; 26 May 1947, Page 5; 5 July 1970, Page 11; 7 July 1970, Page 22; 12 July 1970, Page 3)
  68. The Straits Times, 28 February 1949, Page 3
  69. The Straits Times, 5 May 1950, Page 7
  70. The Straits Times, 25 February 1951, Page 15
  71. The Singapore Free Press, 11 January 1952, Page 5
  72. The Straits Times, 1 February 1953, Page 11
  73. The Straits Times, 7 March 1954, Page 3
  74. The Straits Times, 28 June 1955, Page 1
  75. The Straits Times, 28 September 1956, Page 1
  76. The Straits Times, 6 June 1959, Page 2
  77. The Straits Times, 27 February 1960, Page 6
  78. The Straits Times, 4 January 1961, Page 1
  79. The Straits Times, 14 September 1962, Page 5
  80. The Straits Times, 17 March 1963, Page 4
  81. The Straits Times, 29 January 1964, Page 18
  82. The Straits Times, 1 December 1965, Page 1
  83. The Straits Times, 5 February 1967, Page 12
  84. The Straits Times, 17 April 1972, Page 5
  85. The New Straits Times, 1 October 1974, Page 6
  86. Datuk Saw Choo-Theng, elder son of Saw Seng-Choo and brother of Penang State MCA President Saw Seng-Kew, was a rubber planter and trader and a banker. His uncle, Saw Soon-Chean, who died in 1964, was a pioneer merchant from China who sailed to Malaya by junk, in 1899, and was a founding member of the Chin Kang Hoay Kuan and the Saw Khaw Lean Kongsi. Saw Choo-Theng was Chairman of United Malayan Banking Corporation Berhad, United Malayan Flour Mills Berhad, Singapore Battery Manufacturing Company Limited, and Allied Malayan Development Berhad; and a Director of Overseas Union Enterprise Limited. He was a patron of the Penang Philomatic Union. (The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 5 July 1935, Page 15; The Straits Times, 16 July 1960, Page 10; 15 October 1963, Page 7; 3 October 1964, Page 5; 14 May 1967, Page 4; 23 June 1969, Page 12; 12 October 1981, Page 17; The Straits Times, 14 January 1985, Page 18)
  87. The Straits Times, 30 September 1975, Page 29
  88. Koh Pen-Ting was President of the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaya. Datuk Koh Pen-Ting became Chairman of Allied Malayan Development following the sale of his shares by former Chairman Datiuk Saw Choo Theng. (Singapore Monitor - Afternoon Edition*, 2 December 1982, Page 15; The Straits Times, 16 August 1981, Page 4; 27 December 1974, Page 12)
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