'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the Year 1937' [‎16r] (31/72)

21
the general public. During the summer the Director General of the Grain
Stabilisation Department visited Shiraz with a view to finding out what
stocks were available for supply to other centres and possibly for export.
Later in the year the Military Department took over supervision of the collec
tion of crops. It was reported that 200 rials per kharvar was being paid to
cultivators, who were not allowed to keep even enough for local requirements.
When bought back from the stores in Shiraz it cost three times that amount.
Towards the end of the year imported wheat arrived from Bushire for local
use. There was then only one month's supply in stock and supplies promised
from the north were not forthcoming.
34. The Opium Monopoly Office has had little to do during the year.
Early in the season ground already sown with seed was ploughed up in ac
cordance with the latest instructions. After examination in conjunction
with the Agricultural Department, it has been decided to allow limited cultiva
tion in the Fasa and Abadeh districts in the coming year.
35. The Tobacco Monopoly Office has been concerned chiefly with ar
rangements for winding up the local industry in favour of cigarettes manu
factured in the Government factory An East India Company trading post. near Tehran. Local cultivation of to
bacco has ceased entirely.
36. The Banque Melli opened new branches at Lar and at Abadeh during
the year. These are said to assist in the collection of taxes and to act as
a check on other branches of the Finance Department. The Shiraz Manager
was transferred to Isfahan. His successor does not appear to be as well dis
posed towards the Imperial Bank of Iran. He has made himself unpopular
with local merchants, who dislike his peremptory manner.
37. The Customs Department at Bushire has proved dilatory and very
tiresome in the clearance of goods addressed to the Consulate at Shiraz and
to members of the staff. Complaints have been made against the treatment
of ladies arriving and leaving.
38. The Bushire and Isfahan roads were put into tolerably good condi
tion for the Shah's visit. Work has been in progress on the Mashileh section.
In the autumn work was recommenced on the Firuzabad-Bushire road,
which it is apparently intended to carry through.
39. An irrigation scheme for bringing water from the Shapur River to
the Kazerun plain has been under consideration.
40. The mail has been most irregular in arrival during the latter part
of the year. Censorship operations have resulted in considerable interference
with newspapers and other printed matter. Changes in the mail arrange
ments in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. caused delay to the overland mail and to the Indian
mail for Southern Iran. The local post and telegraph offices have been rea
sonably efficient and apologetic. During the summer the Provincial Direc
tor was involved in the events connected with the late Governor .General
and was dismissed.
41. A telegraph line from Kazerun to Fahlian (Mamessani) has been
completed.
42. The Director of Education is an energetic ea:-Army officer who has
lived many years in Europe. He has improved the accommodation and the
standard of education of many of the Shiraz schools. Primary classes for
adults, night classes and lectures have been organised. An Educational
Museum was opened during the year. The Department has also been actively
concerned with the enrolment and training of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides.
Recently a course for training nurses has been started under an American
specialist. The Education Authorities have also undertaken the restoration
of the garden and buildings around the Tomb of Hafiz and in the Masjid-i-
Vakil Elected representative or attorney, acting in legal matters such as contracting marriage, inheritance, or business; a high-ranking legal official; could also refer to a custodian or administrator. . The Ministry of Education also keeps a vague eye on Persepolis and
maintains a representative there, who was much in evidence on the occasion
of the Shah's visit and of that of the Head of the Eastern Department of the
Foreign Office. Much help and kindness have been shown to other visitors
to Shiraz during the year. The Provincial Director has also been of great
assistance to Miss Gerrard, an Anglo-Iranian subject, in connexion with her
Girls' School.
53(C) ExAffairsDept