'ملف 10/4 V تقارير تجارية ' [و‎‎٤] (٧٧٦/٧)

(B) FINANCIAL -TIuiiTNKGS OF uQN^Y >
Money remained extremely tight during the year
1943 - 44* Indian Funds were being sold in the bazar at 4^
discount until the beginning of 1944 when the rate fell to 1^
discount.
iSxchanee* The average sterling-rupee rate of exchange
for the year was Ss. 1,338 per £ 100.
liarvos The date crop was unusually good. During
the year under report there was an increase of cultivation of
vegetables by small holders.
Industry. The pearl catch was a little less than the
previous year. Due to activity on the Indian market prices of
lower grade pearls rose considerably over 1942 - 43 prices.
Development of mines . The figures below will give
some idea of the development of the oil fields:-
Quantity of oil shipped from Bahrain for the fiscal
year ended 31st March 1944 - l f 095,844.346 tons.
Total production of oil for the same period -
882,923.626 tons.
Quantity of crude oil received from Arabia and refined
in Bahrain - 686,103.299 tons.
(iil) AIR SERVICE .
*
The British Overseas Airways Corporation are main
taining six services weekly both east and west, carrying
passengers, mails and a quantity of cargo.
Ship-oim- and navigation . There is an increase
of 110% over pre-war rates of freight between Karachi and
Persian Gulf ports. The freight charges in respect of general
cargo were as follows!-
Bahrain to Karachi 29 rupees per ton.
Bahrain to Bombay 29/8/- do.
Bahrain to Basra 25/- do.
Bahrain to Persian Gulf ports 5s. 32/8/- per ton.
Lighterage . There are a number of sea-going dhows
with cargo capacity of up to 40 tons each. There is a marked
increase in the craft available in this area. Messrs. Gray,
Mackenzie and Co., Ltd., Bahrain had ten steel barg -.s with average
capacity of about 180 tons during the period under review.
Moreover the British Indian Steam Navigation Company maintained
twelve cargo boats with an average capacity of about 25 to 30
tons.
State \r i. ^ roads . The surfaced roads which comprise
at least half the total number of roads are in poor condition.
During the year under review the following vehicles were regis
tered (Military vehicles excepted).
Light cars 342.
Buses 53.
Lorries 110.
Social - Standard of living. The standard of living
remains low. An increase in wage rates barely offset a slight
rise in the cost of living.