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'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1358 (February1939 - February 1940)' [‎142v] (42/86)

The record is made up of 1 volume (42 folios). It was created in 1940. 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
On the 26th August government issued proclamation No. 32/1358
prohibiting :—
(a) Exports of foodstuffs fthis did not apply to direct transhipments,).
(h) Increase of rates over those prevailing on that date.
(c) Refusal of sales to public.
A list showing these prevailing rates was issued. On the 26th August
government also issued a circular No. 1411/SF-1358 requesting foodstuff merchants
to inform government of quantity of foodstuff in their possession. The Assistant
Adviser, then acting as Director of Customs, had many personal interviews w r ith
merchants, when he explained the aims of the government to them and requested
their co-operation. Some days later merchants reported that there was a sudden
and extraordinary demand for foodstuff, especially tinned provisions, the latter
mostly by housewives of Awali. Consequently government issued proclamation
No. 33/1358 dated the 27th August, 1939, restricting the quantities of individual
purchases. On the 28th August direct importers of sugar complained that there
was a heavy demand for this commodity. Investigations were made and it was
proved that the local wholesale purchasers and retailers were purchasing more than
their normal requirements and that the normal sales to the general public were not
being maintained.
By this time the prices in countries of origin had considerably increased and
the deduction was obvious. On the 2nd September the direct importers were
summoned to a conference and the subject was thoroughly discussed. The general
opinion was :—
(a) That traders should be classed as,
i. Direct importers
ii. Local wholesale purchasers
Hi. Retailers.
(b) That rates should be fixed for each class of traders.
(c) That permits for the purchase of sugar should be introduced.
The government adopted this measure and fixed the rates whereby the direct
importers obtained at least 5% of profit and the other two classes profited in
proportion. On the 11th September this was made known to the general public by
customs notice No. G/38/350. Upon checking transactions between these classes
of traders it was found that the local wholesale purchasers were endeavouring to
cheat by concealment of purchases. They were purchasing from several sources per
day. On 23rd September the government called a conference for the discussion of
this subject. Thirty-four traders attended and all classes were represented. It was
suggested that better control could be obtained by ;—
(a) Calling for a weekly return of foodstuffs from direct importers.
(h) Making local wholesale purchasers maintain a book showing a record of
their daily purchases and sales.
This system has been adopted and is already in force.
As regards cotton and woollen piecegoods the government issued a proclama
tion forbidding the raising of the prices over those prevailing on the 26th August,
1939. About the beginning of October merchants complained that they were
selling woollen and cotton piecegoods at a loss, so they were allowed to raise their
prices by 10% over those prevailing on the 26th August 1939, reference proclamation
No. FC/5/58 dated 8th October, 1939. Towards the end of the month of December
public complained that cloth merchants were not selling freely certain qualities of
the piecegoods, which are generally used by the locals. It was found that there was
a stock of piecegoods valued at about 7 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. in the bazaar. By
proclamation No. FC/68/58 dated the 10th January, 1940, exports of certain

About this item

Content

This volume is the Annual Report of the Government of Bahrain for the year 1358 AH (1939-1940) and gives te 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 1359 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 122r, followed by a General Review by Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, dated April 1940 (folio 125r).

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

  • Budget 1358 (folios 126r-127v);
  • Summary of Revenue and Expenditure 1358 (folio 128r);
  • Statetment of Revenue and Expenditure 1358 (folio 128v);
  • Notes on Revenue 1357 (folio 129r);
  • Notes on Expenditure 1357 (folios 129r-130v): Allowances to Ruling Family, Adviserate, Customs Department, Judicial, Awkaf [Awqāf] and Minors Departments, Public Works Department, Land Department, Passport Department, Oil Gauging, Transport Department, Public Health, Education, Municipalities, Agriculture, Departmental expenses, Unforseen, Public Protection, Armaments, Transport, King [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] Ibn Sa'ud's visit, Food Supplies, and Public Works (Manamah-Muharraq Swing Bridge, Hospital Building, Manamah Pier extension, Pier Trolley Lines, Fort, Education Department, Transport Department, Passport Office, Miscellaneous, Mosque at Hawar, Kozabia House, Budeya Garden drainage, Annual Repairs, and Road Repairs);
  • The Pearl Industry (folios 130v-131v): The Pearl Industry and Pearl Propaganda;
  • Police and Public Security (folios 132r-133v): Police Administration (Strength, Recruitment, Routine, Defence Duties, Health of the Police, Infant Welfare Clinic, Mounted Sections, Machine Gun Section and Motor Bicycle Section, Buildings, Promotions and Appointments), Naturs, Traffic Control and Crime;
  • Public Health (folios 133v-139r): Appointment of Staff, The Village Dispensaries, Health (Malaria, Eye disease, Ear diseases, Respiratory disease, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Venereal disease, Small-Pox, Alimentary diseases, Rheumatic disease, and Gynaecological and Obstetrical diseases), Medical examination of school children (Boys' Schools and Girls' Schools), Health of the Police (Infant Welfare Clinic and Prisoners' Health) and Malaria;
  • Land Registration Department (folio 139r): Registrations, Iranian Property, Island Beacons, and Survey Students;
  • Judicial (folio 139v): Bahrain Courts and Bahrain Small Courts;
  • Municipalities (folio 140r): Anti-Malaria Measures, Widening and Constructing town roads, New Road, Water Cart, Road Metalling, Lease of Markets, Swamp Reclamation, and Miscellaneous;
  • Wakf [Waqf] Department (folio 140v): Shia Wakf Department and Sunni Wakf Department;
  • Education (folios 140v-141r): School Reforms and appointment of Director of Education, Technical Schools, and Female Education;
  • Minors Department, (folios 141r-141v);
  • Food Control, report by A C Byard (folios 142r-143v);
  • King Ibn Sa'ud's Visit to Bahrain (folios 143v-145r);
  • Passport Department (folios 145r);
  • Public Works Department (folios 145r-148r): Recurrent Expenditure, Non-Recurrent Expenditure (Manamah Muharraq Causeway and Bridge, Manamah Pier Extension, State Hospital, Fort, Government Schools, Transport Building, Passport Office and Post Office, New entrance and stairs at Manamah Palace, and Hawar Mosque), Works not provided for in 1358 budget (Rifle Range, Jida Island, Idari Spring, Hedd Girls' School and Om Ashaoom Spring);
  • General (folios 148r-148v): New Appointments, Local Newspaper and Cinema, H.H.'s visit to India, Press and Broadcast propaganda, Catholic Church, Government Rest House, Appointment of a Governmental Representative with the Oil Company, and Shaikh Mohomed bin Isa's [Muḥammad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah] visit to New York;
  • Electric Department (folios 148v-150): Electricity Department (Wiring Contracts, Temporary Wiring, Main Extensions, Alteration to Mains, and Air Conditioning), Government Telephone Department, Transport Department, Fire Department, Traffic Section, Government Technical School, New Government Hospital - Naim, Anti Malaria Campaign, Oil Royalty and other gauging, Muharraq Bridge, Financial Position, Electricity Charges, and Prospects for 1359;
  • Profit and Loss Account (folio 151r).
  • Revenue Account (folio 151v);
  • Balance Sheet (folio 152r);
  • Statement of Energy Sold (folio 152v);
  • Customs Department, report by Mr C C L de Grenier, Director of Customs and Port Officer (folios 153rv-159r);
  • Budget 1359 (folios 160r-161r);
  • Notes on Estimated Revenue 1358 (folios 161v);
  • Notes on Estimated Expenditure 1358: (folios 161v-162v).

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

  • Folio 134: 'The Government Hospital, with labels Men’s wing in progress (left) and Women’s wing (right)';
  • Folio 136: 'The Government Hospital: The Women’s Wing from the west';
  • Folio 144: 'H.M. King Ibn Sa’ud inspecting the guard of honour, accompanied by H.H. Shaikh Hamad';
  • Folio 147: 'H.M. King Ibn Sa’ud and H.H. Shaikh Hamad, on the palace’s new flight of steps'.

On the front cover there is an inscription that reads 'Printed at the Times Press, Basrah', as well as a note in pen that reads 'Confidential' (folio 122r).

Extent and format
1 volume (42 folios)
Arrangement

This file contains an index (folio 122r) which references pages of the report.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: Folios 122-164.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1358 (February1939 - February 1940)' [‎142v] (42/86), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/750/4, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024140827.0x000055> [accessed 27 July 2024]

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