戰前新加坡農業土地利用的特色：以義順地區為例

1819年新加坡成為英國的殖民地。早期殖民政府勢力尚未深及內陸地區，種植者可任意闢地開荒而不受限制，再加上英國在1836年取消甘蜜關稅，促使郊區種植園林立。1850年代義順地區乘著椒蜜業的種植風潮而從荒地闢為種植園。椒蜜種植者往往透過私會黨的力量，獲得開園所需的苦力。大多數的種植者都是欠缺資本，必須向新加坡市鎮上的華人商店店主和商人借貸。隨著殖民政府土地政策的頒佈，種植者處於劣勢，得利者是市鎮上的資本家。種植者只得選擇出走新加坡，到對岸柔佛另闢天地。1870年代開始，殖民地政府的控制力量逐步強化，先於1889年通過危險社團法令，並於1914年廢除賒單制度，結束苦力貿易，正式宣告具有私會黨色彩的椒蜜種植者在新加坡已無立足之地。隨著椒蜜業的衰微，黃梨和橡膠成為日後新加坡農業活動場上的主角，尤其是橡膠。1870年代開始，英美橡膠產業迅速開展，20世紀初汽車工業的發展，更是需要大量的橡膠。1906年，陳嘉庚成為義順地區最早的橡膠種植者。爾後，殖民政府亦頒布優惠條例，鼓勵島上橡膠園的開闢，不論是華人或是外資種植公司皆熱切投入橡膠的生產與貿易。在殖民政府政策的安排下，具有私會黨背景的椒蜜種植者步入「邊緣化」，不但失去土地資源，也喪失社會掌控能力，不再是華人社會的重要領袖。取而代之的是另一群順應世界市場新需求的發展，憑藉著黃梨和橡膠種植業而興起的商人與企業家。

關鍵字

種植園；私會黨；賒單制度；甘蜜與胡椒；黃梨與橡膠

並列摘要

It is the demand for spices, which forces the European countries to find a new route to the Far East and then changed the world history. Singapore became the Crown Colony as a result of competition for spices. Without any intervention of the British Colonial Government, planters could bring wasteland under cultivation in the early periods. In addition, Britain also revoked the customs duties on gambier in 1836. Both of the factors above promote the expansion of gambier plantations on the outskirts of town and the inland. In this light, Yishun district was developed as gambier-pepper plantations in 1850s.The gambier-pepper planters often recruited coolies through the network of secret societies. Most of planters lacked capital, and borrowed money from the Chinese shopkeepers and businessmen. With the proclamation of land policies, planters were submerged into an inferior position. By contrast, the capitalists in Singapore town became as the winners. In the long run, planters were forced to leave for Johor which is situated in south part of Malay Peninsula. From the 1870s, the authority strengthened its influence over the Settlement gradually. Two policies were confirmed that gambier-pepper planters based in secret society could not get any foothold in Singapore. One was the Societies Ordinance passed in 1889, and the other was the abolishment of credit-ticket system in 1914.Pineapples and rubber trees were the focus of agricultural progress in the twentieth century, the latter performed better. From the 1870s, the rubber industries in Britain and U.S.A. had developed swiftly. With the expansion of automobile industry in the twentieth century, rubber became one of the most important commodities in the World market. Tan Kah Kee was the first rubber planter in Yishun District in 1906. Subsequently, the Government enacted some preferential clauses which accelerated the expansion of rubber plantations in Singapore.Following the Government's intentions, the gambier-pepper planters not only lost their land resources but also their influence over Chinese society. Instead, the businessmen and industrialists who made a fortune by pineapple and rubber industries became the new leaders in the Chinese society. It is the demand for spices, which forces the European countries to find a new route to the Far East and then changed the world history. Singapore became the Crown Colony as a result of competition for spices. Without any intervention of the British Colonial Government, planters could bring wasteland under cultivation in the early periods. In addition, Britain also revoked the customs duties on gambier in 1836. Both of the factors above promote the expansion of gambier plantations on the outskirts of town and the inland. In this light, Yishun district was developed as gambier-pepper plantations in 1850s.The gambier-pepper planters often recruited coolies through the network of secret societies. Most of planters lacked capital, and borrowed money from the Chinese shopkeepers and businessmen. With the proclamation of land policies, planters were submerged into an inferior position. By contrast, the capitalists in Singapore town became as the winners. In the long run, planters were forced to leave for Johor which is situated in south part of Malay Peninsula. From the 1870s, the authority strengthened its influence over the Settlement gradually. Two policies were confirmed that gambier-pepper planters based in secret society could not get any foothold in Singapore. One was the Societies Ordinance passed in 1889, and the other was the abolishment of credit-ticket system in 1914.Pineapples and rubber trees were the focus of agricultural progress in the twentieth century, the latter performed better. From the 1870s, the rubber industries in Britain and U.S.A. had developed swiftly. With the expansion of automobile industry in the twentieth century, rubber became one of the most important commodities in the World market. Tan Kah Kee was the first rubber planter in Yishun District in 1906. Subsequently, the Government enacted some preferential clauses which accelerated the expansion of rubber plantations in Singapore.Following the Government's intentions, the gambier-pepper planters not only lost their land resources but also their influence over Chinese society. Instead, the businessmen and industrialists who made a fortune by pineapple and rubber industries became the new leaders in the Chinese society.