'Administration Reports 1920-1924' [‎183v] (371/412)

" Navaqil but nothing had been done when he left. In July Nizam-ud-Dauleh
made another attempt to organize this so-called department and have a com
mittee and president appointed by election. This too failed; and Agha Mehdi r
a Kermani and local champion of the ' democrats ' was left in possession of the
field. A t one time he flirted with the Soviet Consul; and he certainly never
used his influence on the side of the Governor-General He had no relations
with the British Consulate.
IJealth Officer. —In the course of the year Dr. Musa Khan, a physician with
French Cjiialiflcations and English experience, who had come to Kerman with
Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Mua"zam and was in charge of the Nurieh hospital (a Waqf institu
tion) as well as ex-offieio Health Officer for the town, resigned and left Kerman
as he was unable to obtain either his pay or medicines from the Mutawalli in
charge of the hospital funds. Dr. Musa Khan was a man who took keen interest
in his work. He had written a comprehensive report on the serious state
of public healtjh in Kerman town owing to the appalling extent of syphilis and
of opium poisoning; but nothing had come of his efforts to get some practical
measures introduced in Kerman to combat the opium evil. Nor could he obtain
much support from the officials of this place with regard to his claim against the
.Mutawalli. He left Kerman in disgust in October; and the post has not sines
been fllled.
The above is a sad record of divided counsels, mtriguey suspensions and dis
missals. It is small wonder that the year has little progress to show in the
matter of local administration. I have already mentioned the failure of the
Governor-General's attempts to reorganize the municipality, and of the scheme
for extending the administration of justice. Another plan which came to grief
Avas a proposal to take in hand the scandalous mismanagement of the Waqf
revenues and hand these over to an impartial committee. On the credit side may
be entered the opening of registers of births and deaths: the clothing- of em
ployes of various departments in proper uniforms: the formation of a Chamber
of Commerce (which was to meet for the first time on the 1st January 1925)
and tbe oath taken by the employes of Finance Department in the presence of
all other officials that they would not rob the Government,
The machine has, in fact, Just carried on with a good deal of creaking and
stopping. But it is difficult for the best men to work honestly and hopefully
in present conditions. Salaries are small—in many cases they have been re
duced in the year—-and not punctually paid. And officials are far more busy
over intrigue than over their Job. This, is inevitable so long as the tenure of
their appointments is so insecure as it is at present. Everyone feel's he is at
the mercy of local intrigue, backed by wire-pulling at the Capital JSTo one can
rely on the support of the Government.
10. Local Politics.—Elections. —When the year opened the elections in
Sirjan and Jiruft were dragging their weary course. In Bam they were still
suspended. By the middle of February, they had been completed m Sirjan and
Jiruft by the election of Atta-ul-Mulk for Sirjan and Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Nusret for Jiruft.
In Ram, eventually. Amir-i-Ihtisham was elected. Attempts made in Tehran
(supported by the 4 democrats ' here) to have the election declared invalid and
to put in Nazim-ut-Tujjar, a notorious Anglophobe, did not sueeeed..
The Republican Movement. —Eeza Khan's, historic failure to carry through
the movement in favour of a republic in the early spring was attended in Ker-
inan by the usual demonstrations. Shops were closed, numerous telegrams
were sent to Tehran and all classes of the people were compelled to join in the
agitation. The democrats were particularly active, making separate arrange
ments in a tent of their own for collecting and forwarding telegrams. The^
movement collapsed on the 1st April on receipt of orders from Reza Khan him
self; and though there was a last flicker of activity, sedulously puffed into a
flame by the Rais-i-Qushun a month later, it soon died out. So far as can be
gathered this movement entirely lacked genuine support in Kerman or the,
districts..
Murder of Major Imbrie. —This tragic event had a most disquieting effect
on JCerman although it was never found necessary for Martial Law to be^
declared in the town. A feeling of nervousness seemed to spread through
the place; and during the month of Muharram there was a feeling that some dis
turbance might break out at any time. But the Governor-General had pro-
hibited inflamatory speeches in public and nothing happened..