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'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1356 (March 1937 - February 1938)' [‎47r] (7/76)

The record is made up of 1 volume (37 folios). It was created in 1938. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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(47
General Review.
This report gives the details of the Revenue and Expenditure of the Bahrain
State during the \ear 1356. It also contains notes on the activities of the various
Government Departments, the Budget for 1357 and some particulars of events of
importance which took place in Bahrain during the year.
• u y ? a ^ has been a P ro sperous one, royalties from oil alone
yielded l\s. 31,()o,000 and the total income of the State amounted to Ks 43 36 000
representing an increase over the Budget estimate of Rs. 21,26,000 and an increase
of Rs. „4,K),000 o\er the last year's revenue. The Reserve Fund was increased
during the year to Hs. 20,00,000 and the State completed the year with a
substantial balance of Rs. 6,00,000.
Trade in Bahrain was more flourishing during the year than it has been for
some time past though at the end of the year there was less activity in the bazaar
than earlier on. 1 he diving season also showed considerable improvement but this
impro\ement too was not maintained and at the end of the year pearl prices slumped
to a very low ebb. Disturbed conditions in Europe have contributed to the depression
m the pearl market.
The increased revenue and the improvement in trade are mainly the result of
n~ e ^^ n ^ inU( i development of the oil field by the Bahrain Petroleum Company whose
2-j,000 barrels refinery was opened in December, 1937.
A possible criticism of the Government's administrative policy during the
}ear might be made on the grounds that with so large an increase in revenue more
conspicuous new schemes and improvements might have been carried out.
^ are || abI ® ^ lose s, ^ ht of the fact that out of a total revenue of
Rs. 43,00,000 over Rs. 15,00,000 was paid to the Ruling Family in the Civil List
and as their share from oil royalties.
In addition to this large sum, Rs. 16,50,000 was contributed to the Reserve
Fund as it is essential that this fund should be built up in order to provide an assured
income for Bahrain when revenue from oil begins to decrease. This event may
occur from natural causes, owing to the exhaustion of the oil supply, or by reason of
commercial policy in the oil world.
From the remaining revenue, only slightly over 10J lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees was expended and
th l s s ^ m 3 * lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees was spent on Public Works, Rs. 2,30,000, was spent on
I ublic 1 rotection which included considerable expansion of the Police Force and
purchase of new arms and equipment and the remaining 5 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees represent the cost
of the whole administration including Education, Municipalities, Medical and
Administrative Departments.
Events of outstanding importance during the year were His Highness's visit
to Mecca the visit to Bahrain of His Royal Highness the Amir Saoud and the
Zabara anair.
C. DALRYMPLE BELGRAVE, C.B.E.
Adviser to the State of Bahrain.

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Content

This volume is the Annual Report of the Government of Bahrain for the year 1356 AH (1937-1938) and gives details of the Revenue and Expenditure of the Bahrain State and contains notes on the activities of the various Government departments, as well as the budget for the year 1357 and some particulars of importance which took place in Bahrain during the year. It includes text, photographic images and tables. The report appears to be compiled from reports from various Government departments and officials. An index appears on folio 46r, followed by a General Review by Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the State of Bahrain (folio 47r).

The contents are divided into the following sections and sub-sections:

  • Budget – 1356 (folio 47v);
  • Summary of Revenue and Expenditure, 1356 (folio 48r);
  • Detailed statement of Revenue and Expenditure, 1356 (folio 48v);
  • Statement of Expenditure on Public Works and Special Projects (folio 49r);
  • Notes on Revenue – 1356 (folio 49v): Oil Royalty, Customs Receipts, Rent of Aerodrome, Passport Fees, Land Registration Fees, Motor Car Taxes, Rent of Government Lands, Interest on Reserves, and Oil Gauging Fees;
  • Notes on Expenditure – 1356 (folios 49v-50v): Allowances to the Ruling Family, State Protection, Customs Department, Secretariat, Judicial Department, Land and Public Works Department, Passport Department, Education Department, Municipalities, Medical, Contingencies, Upkeep of buildings, Upkeep and construction of roads, and Unforeseen;
  • Statement of Expenditure on Public Works and Special Projects (folio 50v): Hospital, Fire Engine, New Palace, Law Courts, Agriculture, Water Cart, and Manama-Muharraq Bridge;
  • Pearl Industry (folios 51)
  • Police and Public Security (folios 51v-53r): Strength, Routine and duties, Police Buildings, Recruitment, Health, Police Families' Clinic, Police Band and Fire Bridgade, Registration of Arms and Ammunition, Mounted Section, Good Conduct Pay, Crime, Traffic Control, Liquor, and Persian Immigration;
  • Public Health (folio 53): Muharraq Dispensary, Suk al Khamis [Sūq al-Khamīs] Dispensary, Hedd [al-Ḥidd] Dispensary, Women's Clinic, Anti-Malaria Measures, and Government Hospital;
  • Land Registration Department (folio 53v): Registration of Sales, Gifts, and Titles, Revenue from Sales etc., and Programme for 1357;
  • Public Works (folios 54-57v): Administration, Roads and Buildings, Law Courts, Work-shop and Garages, Rest House and Police Station, Manama Fort, Manama Muharraq Road, Hawar Fort and Pier, Government Hospital, Muharraq Girls' School, Manama Market Buildings, and Roads;
  • Judicial Department (folios 57v-60r): Bahrain Court, Transfer of Magistrates, Bahrain Lower Court, New Regulations, Shera Court, Code of Laws, and New Law Courts;
  • Municipalities (folios 60r-61v): Manama (Election, Municipal Achievements, Road Improvements, Water Control, Bazaar Improvements, Anti-Malaria Measures, Slaughter House, Adari Spring [‘Ayn ‘Adhārī], and Pier) and Muharraq (Sea Reclamation, Roads, and Anti-Malaria Measures);
  • Wakf [Waqf] Department (folios 61v-62r);
  • Education (folio 62r): Progress, Technical School, Athletics, Students Abroad, and Girls' Schools;
  • General (folios 62v-65r): Annual Audit, New Staff, His Highness' Pilgrimage [hajj], Visit of His Royal Highness Amir Saoud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd, Ibn Saud], Cinema, Juma Mosque, Nationality Law, Bus Service, Broadcasting, Press Propaganda, Government Rest House, and Private Building Enterprise;
  • Electric Supply Department, report by Mr W B Steele, State Engineer (folios 65r-69r): Wiring Contracts, Temporary Wiring, Main Extension, Alterations to Mains, New Generating Set, Financial Position, Telephone Department, Transport Department, Fire Department, Traffic Section, Municipal Ice Plant, School Engineering Workshop, and General;
  • Electric Returns: Profit and Loss Account, Revenue Account, Balance Sheet (folios 69v-70v);
  • Statement of Energy generated and sold, etc. (folio 71r);
  • Customs Department, report for the year 1356 by the Director of Customs Mr C C L de Grenier (folios 71v-76r);
  • Zubara Dispute (folio 76r);
  • Budget – 1357 (Feby. 1938-Feby. 1939) (folio 77);
  • Notes on Budget – 1357 (folios 78-80).

Illustrations appear on four folios and they are labelled as follows:

  • Folio 56: 'Hawar Fort' and 'Hawar Pier';
  • Folio 59: 'Law Courts. North Aspect' and 'Law Courts. South Aspects';
  • Folio 64: 'Muharraq Girl’s School' and 'Northern Village and Bay, Hawar';
  • Folio 68: 'Law Courts, open courtyard and platform' and 'Open Courtyard in the Law Courts'.

An inscription on the front cover reads 'Printed at the Times Press, Basrah' (folio 44r).

Extent and format
1 volume (37 folios)
Arrangement

There is an index (folio 46r) which references pages in the report.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: Folios 44-81.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1356 (March 1937 - February 1938)' [‎47r] (7/76), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/750/2, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024140826.0x00005e> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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