'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the Year 1938' [‎16v] (32/60)

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Anlgo-Iranian Oil Co— A whole-time agent of the Compcany has been
retained at Kerman throughout the year. Supplies of petrol and oil for
south-east Iran which were formerly sent via Karachi are now landed at
Bandar Abbas and conveyed overland to Zahidan via Kerman. The
importance of the Kerman agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. has correspondingly increased.
Church Missionary Society. —(a) Medical. —Both the men's and women's
S3ctions of the hospital functioned throughout the year. Dr. R. H. Carpen
ter was in charge of the former, and Dr. (Miss) Henriques of the latter, until
she proceeded on home leave in the Autumn. Both these instibations render
useful service to local inhabitants and the work is much appreciated. Local
government officials also make frequent use of this medical service. Both
the former Governor's wife and the present acting Governor were in-patients
for short periods during the year. Many thousands of out-patients were
given medical treatment.
(6) Educational. —The Revd. Lord, on transfer to Isfahan in March,
was succeeded as Principal of the Boy's School (Dabiristan-i-Jam) by Mr.
H. C. Curney an Australian member of the Mission. The year has been one
of progress and there is keen competition for vacancies. Students from this
school were very successful in the Government examinations. Physical
training, games and Boy Scouts are also features of the school programme.
Miss J. F. Woodroffe was in charge of the Girl's School throughout the
year. This school also is very popular and many applications for admission
had to be refused for want of room. The school is at present badly housed,,
and although a sum of £3,000 was given by the Bishop of Worcester in 1937
with which to construct new premises, all efforts have so far failed to extract
from the Iranian authorities the requisite permission to build. There is a
Girl Guide Company attached to this school.
(c) Welfare Centre. —Good work is being done among the poorer classes,
especially in maternity cases, and is much appreciated.
{d) St. Andrews Church. —The new Chaplain, the Revd. A. T. Howden,
arrived on the 31st May. There has been no interference in any of the
services, but the local detective maintains his vigil at Iranian services.
IV. FOREIGN INTERESTS.
Representation. —There are no other foreign representatives in this
district.
Trade. —Direct trade with other foreign countries is practically confined
to the export of carpets and pistachio nuts to America, and dried fruits and
goat hair to Germany. Nearly all foreign imports are marketed through
the monopoly companies, and mainly consist of cotton piece goods (Japan
and Russia), machinery and bicycles (Germany), motor vehicles (U. S. A.)„
and sugar (Russia, Belgium and Holland).
Carpets are still the principal exports and several New York firms have
buying agents in Kerman. Export of carpets during 1938 was up to the
average of the past three years, but a large percentage were from stocks
on hand and few orders were being placed on the looms at the close of the
year. It is estimated that 50 per cent, of the looms are idle.
American cars and lorries have a firm hold on the provincial markets.
V. LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Governor. —Aqai Ismail Merat relinquished the post of Governor of Ker
man in July on appointment as acting Minister of Public Instruction.
Aqai Ardalan, the head of the Kerman municipality, officiated as
Governor for the remainder of the year.
No Ustandar for the 8th (Kerman) Ustan had been appointed by the end
of the year and the Governor continued direct contact with the Central
Government.