'File 10/16 (10/21) BAPCO's proposal to act as shipping agents: complaints against Gray Mackenzie & Co' [‎87r] (169/209)

tif- Following my talk with Mr* Belgrave I had the opportunity of niewting the
Axmy and R«A«9» repre^entatlv s who deal with the raovemant of all cargo and
parsonnal at Bahrein - Capt* Beoboiv Is the British Amor Morementa Officer and
FAieut. Balrd, the R.A.F. Liaison Officer, both of whom attend all HJT.t*
meetings and are in daily oontaot with Mr* Allcard* They expressed surprise at
the reports referred to in London 9 s telegram and assured cie they had net emanated
from them* Prior to leaving Busreh fop Bahrein, I took the op.art unity of
ascertaining from the M # W*T. Representative and the Service Departmenta concerned
if they knew of any complaints against our organise 4 ion at Bahrein, and was
assured that on the contrary signals had been sent congratulating all concerned,
including Gray liackensie A Co*, on their perfonnance In the handling of the large
quantities of materials now being dealt with at the port* I luention this as it
appears to me the allegations concerns ne neglect of passengers is probably msde
by the Political Staff under the raisapprehension that we have control of the
allocation of passenger accommodation, which is a matter on which we act under the
instruotiuns of M*W «T*, Busreh*
. /■» •
^ I have been asked by Head Office to ascei'tain the root of the trouble ***
there la no doubt in ny mind where thir ori/^inates — inea^erienced and incompetent 1
native Supervisors and Checkers ccdbined with lack of sufficient rnmpean Staff
to maintain constant contact on board ships and on shore* This is the hub
around which the whole of our landing arrangemestis revolve, and if there is
faulty perfoxm&nce right from the start of our operations, rm canncthope to carry
out the work without adverse criticism* Owing to the demands from various sources,
such as the Oil Companies toiemselves and the SerrLcea, it is extremely difficult
to retain good labour but since ships can be worked with the men made available give
close and efficient supervision in the matter of slinging and stowage, the cause
of complaints in this regard should be eli-nlnated* Complaints over Inadequate
precautions against pilferage can also be considered complementary to the absence
of effective supervision throughout the period when the cargo la in our care*
^ The standard of local Supervisor obtainable in Bahrein is extremely low ***
although efforts have been made to recruit trained Iraqis there has been little
or no success owing to their reluctance to accept employment in B hrein in spit of
the high terms we are prepared to offer* In ay opinion, if we intend to continue
with this business* the only satisfactory solution would be to obtain the services
of British Supervisors experienced in the handling, slinking and stowage of
heavy equipment as well as possessing the ability to control local Supervisors, Tall
Clerks and Labour* The type of men who could probably be used to best advantage
on such work would be those I*W *T* personnel wo previously considered for es^ploy-
mont on the Bahrein Petrol project, and if wo could obtain the release of two
additional men, similar in Vpe to Mr* BrayshajT, they wold moet our iuasdiate
. requirements* The difficulty In obtaining such releases even now is ap ireciated,
and in order to ensure that assistance is sent without delay I am endeavouring
to obtain the services of two experienced Supervisors from Busreh who can be sent
there cn temporary duty until more permanent arrangements can be made* Bven if we
have to pay unusually high wages in obtaining the services of /juoh sien It la
essential that conditions at Sitra should be improved as soon as possible in order
to prove to "Bapoo" that we are taking immediate steps to put our '. use in order*
V It is coos id red that we have sufficient craft and cargo gear available In the
area to take cars of present and known commitments for the future, so that our
requirements can be stated defiinitely to be supexvisoif persoonnel*
• Following upon the question of the lit of further starf for Bahrein
comee that of accommedation* The proposal to erect a new bungalow, if approved by
the Company, in time will relieve the position very oonside ably as this would
permit of all staff being acoo imodated in the house above the Office the two
ho s at present under lease to us* This would mean that, apart from the Manager,
nine or ten Assistants could be aoconmodated, if required*
^ Aa soon as it is possible to obtain supplies it will be neceasary to order
Linen, Crockery, Cutlery and Glassware sufficient for two hourses*
Sgc/- W.S* GRES-CR*