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'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1356 (March 1937 - February 1938)' [‎72v] (58/76)

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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36
The foregoing indicates a marked improvement in receipts, notably in
collections from steamers' cargoes, but a marked drop in the collections from cargoes
transhipped oversides within the port which are destined for mainland Arabian ports.
(a) Steamers' Cargoes. Apart from the large quantity of cargo which is
admitted duty-free, there has been a great increase in the quantities of
general merchandise imported by local competing merchants. The
optimism which created this boom is based upon the prosperity created
by the local expenditure of the Bahrain Petroleum Coy., Ltd., and its
staff ; but it is exaggerated and unlikely to be maintained, since this
Company's staff, on re-roganisation, is being reduced, and its spending
power is less. Already it is noticed that importers are slower in taking
up clearances, and the bazaar trading is duller than in 1355. If existing
conditions continue, I do not think it likely that the year 1357 will show
so marked an increase as the present one.
(h) Native Craft. This improvement in receipts is due to a revival in the
traffic in fish oil from Africa, and in flour from Iraq, and to a preference
by native nakhudhas to selling their goods in Bahrain, where the bazaar
prices have been steadily better than in other Gulf ports. Thus the
Native Craft manifests issued at Karachi do not ensure that the commodi
ties are actually discharged at the ports declared therein.
(c) Postal Parcel Duty. Here the increase is mainly due to imports of personal
requirements by the personnel of the Bahrain Petroleum Coy., Ltd.
(d) Passengers Baggage Duty. This increase is due to greater activity among
itinerant traders travelling with 'deck cargo' between India, Iran, and
Bahrain, chiefly carpets and gilims.
(e) Export Duty. This increase is mainly due to activity in the export to
Europe of 'Lingah' shells; although there has been noticeable drop in the
quantity of Qatif dates exported to India.
(f) Direct Transhipment Duty. This marked decrease (by about one-third) is
due partly to the California Arabia Standard Oil Comp my having for the
time being completed their imports of necessary machinery, and partly
to the cessation of traffic between Bahrain and D'bai, which is also a
port of call for the B. I. S. N. Coy's steamers.
(g.h.) I he increase in Miscellaneous and Import Yard receipts normally follow
an increase in the quantities of packages brought here as steamers'
cargoes, notably case cargo.
Comparative Values. It is of interest to consider the values and quanti
ties of the principal commodities imported :—
Y
ear 1355
Year 1356
Commodity.
Quantity
Average
value
Quantity
Average
value
Rs.
Rs.
Rice
3,63,284
cwts
19,98,320
3,83,832
cwts
21,57,220
Wheat
26,353
1,09,490
13,468
72,360
Flour
39,187
1,90,670
54,231
3,13,820
Coffee
4,479
bags
2,14,440
11,103
bags
4,75,270
Sugar (loaf)
7,216
47,720
7,850
58,330
Sugar (soft)
77,282
cwts
3,08,810
15,240
cwts
65,190
Sugar (crystal)
5,200
26,330
3,150
55
18,930
Tea
2,646
c/s
2,01,400
5,657
c/s
3,77,520
Cottons
• • •
15,84,680
23,60,380
Silks
• • •
3,22,080
5,95,700

About this item

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)' [‎72v] (58/76), 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_100024140826.0x000091> [accessed 27 July 2024]

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