'Administration Reports 1925-1930' [‎149v] (303/418)

34
Municipality. —At the beginning of the year a main artery road was cut
through the middle of the town involving the demolition of about 100 houses. At
first cash compensation was refused ; building sites in an old cemetery being
offered in lieu. However, in May, owing to a stream of complaints to Tehran,
Tumans 12,000 as compensation was sanctioned. The money was not forth
coming till November. It is estimated that the value of the property demoli
shed is Tumans 20,000 and so owners will only receive 60 per cent, as compensa
tion.
The Municipality administration has not been without its share of troubles
in the matter of bribery corruption and general inefficiency. Mirza Mehdi who
was in charge at the beginning of the year was removed by orders of the Central
Government. His son Abdul Hussein was appointed by the Governor who had
his own axe to grind. Abdul Hussein was soon in trouble owing to flagrant bribe
taking and found himself under arrest at the orders of the Public Prosecutor
a bitter enemy of the Governor. However the latter went to work and got the
accused released on bail which in Persia means that the case is dropped). A com
mittee was then appointed to run the municipality until a permanent incumbent
could be found.
At the close of the year Agha Mehdi who had been dismissed for incompet
ence was Deputy Governor Eafsinjan, and Abdul Hussein is in Tehran where
he has been for some months trying to ensure that the case against him goes
no further.
In October an Italian Engineer Mr. Visce arrived from Tehran as Municipal
Engineer. At the close of the year he was still without salary or appliances
and his work consisted of a rough design for a slaughter house.
In November and December the Governor tried to control the price of wheat.
His ettorts only led to a shortage and a deterioration in quality of such grain as
was offered for sale.
The Baladiyeh budget was raised from 5,000 to 11,500 Tumans.
Hoppers made their appearance in April and caused considerable damage.
Up till late September Kerman was invaded by flight of winged adults which
Locust * also proved . destructive. The locusts
penetrated to the tops of the highest
mountains, viz., to over 14,000 feet and destroyed completely the grazing with the
result that the tribesmen left on their downward migration a month earlier than
usual.
It is announced that 30 pupils from the Public Works Department are being
sent in 1930 to Kerman to organize a campaign against these pests.
Sajjil-i-Ahwal—The department extended its activities to Bam and Narma-
shir in March. Oiders for a further extension to Baluchistan were received
from Tehran in July but no action was taken owing to the lack of tents escorts
and funds. In November the organization was extended to Jiruft
The Committee of Equiry went into the work of the department and dis
covered extensive malpractices. Two of the officials were arrested. It appears
that their^method was to show those who paid bribes as being of non-military
age while in order to give their returns a good complexion a number of the more
well to do who refused to pay bribes wore shown as being of military age although
well advanced in years. A local paper published some facetious verses describ
ing how an old man sans eyes sans teeth was regenerated by the Seiiil-i-Ahwal
into a young and lusty recruit.
ii ^ >0 ^ cs - The power of the Mullahs has continued to wane. Avat-
uilan, the head of their community, has left Kerman for Eafsinjan where he has
anded property, finding that he had little prestige left. Virulent anti-clerical
articles have appeared m the local press.
, T , Jkf PP 11 ? 6 ,,^ t J le be g innin g of the year conducted a vigorous campaign for
tx * liat : se veral persons who proved remiss in the matter received
rough treatment. The head of the Police then turned his attention to the
T i ^gamlzed thertrical performances in the Government School
attended by both men and women, the object being to popularize the idea of
on These aSes ^ ^ 0f ^ tr0Uble ^ A ^ hanistan P ut a dam P er