There were severe shortage of food in Singapore after the British returned in 1945. Rice producing countries such as Thailand and Indonesia did not have extra food to sell due to post-war baby boom. The destruction of the Singapore harbour also made shipping of food to Singapore difficult. In order to distribute these limited supplies of food to the growing Singapore population, food rationing is the most ideal and practical method.
A Malayan Food Ration Card
The food ration card, which was donated by a Queenstown resident, gave a vivid example on how food is being distributed then. This resident, who declined to be named and photographed, explained that food rationing exercise began in 1946 and he got this particular card in 1952. The exercise carried on until the 1960s. Stapled items such as rice, flour, sugar and salt were distributed and sold in cooperatives managed by the British and local communities. One such cooperative can be found in Forfar Square, which sold rice 20 cents per kilogram cheaper than wet markets.
The first inhabitants in Queenstown reside in villages in Mei Ling, Margaret Drive and Alexandra. Most of them arrived from Hakka and Hokkien regions in China and worked in farms and nearby establishments. One of them is Mr Seah, who arrived in Singapore in 1940. The Big Kay Poh Question is why some ex-residents in Queenstown worked in the Harbour Board and not the farms and villages as we knew Queenstown once was.
The first inhabitants in Queenstown reside in villages in Mei Ling, Margaret Drive and Alexandra. Most of them arrived from Hakka and Hokkien regions in China and worked in farms and nearby establishments. One of them is Mr Seah, who arrived in Singapore in 1940. The Big Kay Poh Question is why some ex-residents in Queenstown worked in the Harbour Board and not the farms and villages as we knew Queenstown once was.
Singapore Harbour Board Pass
Let's find out more in MyQueenstown Kay Poh Club next week!
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1 comments:
gak mudeng :(
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