'File 19/176 VI Bahrain Finances' [‎73r] (145/253)

I gave It as my Tien that what the State required was an
able and higfrly qualified engineer who would control all
the engineering works in the State as Chief Engineer.
I remarked on the difficulty that was always experienced
in combiitiing electrical and mechanical work with building
and roadB 9 but said that a single engineering department
was obviously desirable* I was not rery clear what the
qualifications of the new engineer were but understood
Mr. Beigrave to say that his work wuld be more on the
lines of roads and buildings. I drew attention to the
fact that he had been engaged without reference to us,
a point rtiich is being dealt with later on in this note*
I suggested that some standardisation of the electrical
plant might be possible so that spares would be inter
changeable, and ^r* Belgrave described the existing plant
and said that the point would be borne in mind in the
future* I mentioned that the condition of the roads
was disgraceful and that so wealthy a State could and
should improve them* Mr* Seigrave agreed with this and
said that he hoped s one thing would now be done* He men
tioned that new motor vehicles had been ordered and said
that they were awaiting the arrival of the consulting
engineers to conclude the water supply agreement* I drew
his attention to the agreement with their supply agents
in l£nglsnd, which X observed had been concluded without
reference to us, and drew attention to the serious defects
in it.
4. JSPUC jCTlOH *
I pointed out the advantages of getting a man from
the British Council to run education in Bahrain and said
I would make a final attempt to get one from them. If
this failed then the Bahrain Government would have to make
their own arrangements. In any case there was little
/ object