'File 19/176 VI Bahrain Finances' [‎84r] (167/253)

Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. letter No.C/393 dated the 2Xst March, 1946
7. , The Financial Adviser has budgeted for an Increased
expenditure on public health and public works of ftu 1,95,500
and Rs.2 9 15 f 000 respectively over his 1364 estimates* He has
also budgeted for an expenditure of Ks«2,00,000 on motor
vehicles. Co offset this his estimates for State protection,
IHmlclpalltles and Agriculture have been reduced by Bs.20,0001
Rs.9,000 and Rs.6,000 respectively compared with last year's
estimates. The dlsbandment of the Special police will
account for some of the drop In expenditure estimates on State
protection. He has also abandoned Poor Relief, but thci
subsidising of foodstuffs will continue. v^
8. Further points for consideration are that the yearly
statements received from the Financial Adviser, which In
themselves as already pointed out give an uubulane^d picture,
are not signed. Neither do we know that the auditor has
actually passed them, rhe accounts are audited annually,
paragraph 29 of my demi-official letter No.c/259 dated the
6th Ilarch, 1946, to Sir Geoffrey Prior Is, I regret to say,
wron^ 9 and presumably the auditor does sign the staterients.
For us to accept an unsigned statement forwarded under
cover of a demi-official letter (I notice that In the past
he has signed them) from the Financial Adviser Is open to
criticism. I enclose copies of this year's statement, and
the covering letter. It Is valueless to speculate as to
why the Financial Adviser does not take this single precaution
himself, but he does not and I suggest that I should tell hlzn
that we require to see the final yearly statement of accounts
as passed and signed by the auditors.
9. As regards accountancy staff, there has been consider
able controversy concerning the late Incumbent of the Important
post of accountant, and now that Ifr* Braganza, on whom the
Financial Adviser pinned his faith - vide paragraph 3 of the
enclosure to pelly's demi-official letter No. p.8 dated the
19th August, 1943, and In which connection Sir Olaf Caroe's
note enclosed with Mr. cronlng's demi-official letter lfo.635-S
of the 24th August, 1937, Is of Interest on this and the
general question dealt with In this letter - has gone (this
I learnt through an application for a liquor permit and not
through any act of co-operation on Belgrave's part) Is the
time to consider the adequate filling of the post* To my
query regaruing his replacement and the ability of the new
Incumbent efficiently to perform the duties of accountant,
Belgrave has replied as followst-
yu C-&
"I propose appointing syed Mahmood Alawl to the
post of Accountant which has become vacant owing
to Ifr. Braganxa^ retirement subject to His High
ness* approval.
Syed ifahmood has been in the service of the Bahrain
Government for about 17 years, he has held the post
of Accountant and also that of Head Clerk and after
discussing the matter with our Auditor 1 am satis
fied that he is suitable and capable of carrying out
the duties which were undertaken by Mr. Braganxa.* 1
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