Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎21r] (41/252)

PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF COMMERCE.
37
Number in
Table of
Statistics.
59
hands of the Persian merchants dealing with Constantinople, who
buy through their agents and import via Trebizond.
The British trading firms in Shiraz and Ispahan supply the
bulk of the goods consumed in Central Persia. In 1901-02 the
trade by this route was not far short of that vid Kermanshah. but
in 1902-03 the latter maintained the value of its imports, whilst
the former reduced its trade one-half.
60
. White and grey goods, on account of their lesser value than
prints, weight for weight, pay a proportionately higher duty on
value under the Tariff of 1903. The duty may be equivalent to
from 8 to 11 per cent, act valorem, but the average would be
about 8| per cent. Part of the weight is doubtless due to the
heavy filling in these goods to give them an attractive and
substantial appearance to the retail buyer, but to the uninitiated
it is difficult to see why the “ chitsaz ” (Persian printer) pays
freight and duty on filling for the marshes in which the Ispahan
river loses itself._ Perhaps it has not been found worth while to
bring out a special class of goods for this trade.
Printed and Dyed Tissues.
Total imports (excluding Karun)—
£
1901- 02 ... ... 1,378,234
1902- 03 ... ... 1,157,990
Persian Prints.
^ For long years Ispahan possessed a flourishing printing an d
dyeing industry, now still existent, but no longer flourilhine
Grey goods are indigo dyed, black or blue, or printed with blue
and red ground, as blouses, trouserings, &c., for the rural and
nomad population, wffio also use the same material, undyed as
undershirts, drawers, &c,, doubtless part of their purchases beincr
dyed in the villages. The nomads buy most in spring and
autumn, the seasons for changing camp. White o- 0 ods are
printed in many pleasing and intricate designs by the handblock
'I hese prints are seldom prepared in the piece for retail by the
yard, but are printed as articles such as handkerchiefs napkins
table-cloths, curtains, &c. (the cloth being previously seamed to
the desired width), or as material for undercoats, vests and linings
&c., in lengths for one garment. They are more’costly thin
foreign machine-made prints, and are consumed by the middle
and upper classes. For this reason they have, perhaps a market
somewhat apart from that of foreign prints, but there is no doubt
that the cheap and varied imports from abroad are steadily encroach
ing on the home industry. J
It seems certain that the heavier duty on white and m-ey goods
(compared with that on prints), and on dyes, is a distinct blow to
the already depressed printing and dyeing industries of Persia
The trade in white and grey goods is <till British, but in prints
we must admit that foreign manufacturers almost divide the
market with us. Therefore, our trade will suffer all the reduction
in imports of white and grey goods, and may gain only half the
increase in imports of the printed and dyed goods displacing them
In this sense the Tariff of 1903 discriminates against British
trade.
The printer (“ chitsaz ”) buys from th$ importer or from the
wholesale dealer (“ bonekdar ”) on credit, which will usually run for
three or four months with the former and longer with the latter
The process of printing may require two months, and the chitsaz
sells his goods to the trader at ij to 2 months’ credit. 1 d'
dyeing is a special branch of the trade usually carried on aparf°
the other colours are hand-blocked by the printer. Some of th*