'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1358 (February1939 - February 1940)' [154r] (65/86)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
56
diminish. Having regard to the fact that the port of Has Tanura is now sened by
ships of the Pacific-Java-Silver Line and, to some extent, by the ships of the
B 1 S N Coy. Ltd., it is of interest to note the large sum collected from this source
during the past year, which is, in fact, nearly twice the amount collected in 1356,
and more than thrice the collections of previous years, before the development of the
C.A.S.O.C. working. It is agreed that the passage to lias Tanura is tortuous and
dangerous; and it cannot be doubted that steamers prefer to use the Port of Bahrain
if only on account of the efficiency of its service.
While the above collections from Direct Transhipment may be regarded as
unexpectedly good, there is little reason to expect that this figure will be maintained.
From all other sources of Customs income, an increase in receipts will be
noticed. I would like to infer that this suggests an increase in commercial activity;
but the true explanation may be found in the sudden activity caused by the outbreak
of the European War on IBth Rajah, 1358, (3rd September, 1039) when many
local importers placed orders for commodities, especially foodstuffs, in anticipation
of rises in prices in India, due to war speculation. There cannot be any doubt that
such rises would have occurred to a degree more marked than obtains at present
if the Government of India had not instituted regulations to control such speculation.
Coincidently the Government of Bahrain purchased fifty thousand bags of rice
to form a reserve of food, and instituted a local system of Food Control which has
had the effect of stabilising the retail prices of food, aid preventing speculation to
any great degree.
This control did not extend to ' Luxury Articles ' in the sale of which local
retailers immediately increased their prices, and have given reasonable cause for
considerable complaint against profiteering.
It is to be noted that in the past year there has been no change in the rates
of Customs Duty or Import Yard charges levied.
The main imports into the State of Bahrain are the necessities of life:
foodstuffs and wearing material, as against its main export of pearl and, in later
years oil products. Although a large quantity of dates is grown locally, the crop
is insufficient for local needs, and the quantity of vegetables grown locally is very
small, though slightly increasing yearly. A comparison of some of the principal
commodities is of interest:
Commodity.
Year
1357.
Year
1358.
Quantity.
Average value.
Quantity.
Average value.
Rs.
Rs.
Rice
Wheat
Flour
Tea
Coffee
Sugar: loaf
„ crystal ...
„ soft
3,55,499 cwts.
7 ,198 „
69,295 „
5,652 „
8,203 bags.
750 „
1,075 cwts.
47,306 „
18,18,600
42,880
3,51,890
3,23,580
2,87,450
5,420
6,470
2,39,240
4,02,300 cwts.
16,100 ,
53,200 „
3,200 „
13,200 bags.
81,000 cwts.
22,98,700
87,000
2,78,400
2,07,600
4,86,300
5,18,400
Piece Goods:
Cottons
Silk
...
21,16,380
3,79,970
• • •
23,95,400
2,86,000
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 View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/750/4
- Title
- 'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1358 (February1939 - February 1940)'
- Pages
- front-c, front-c-i, 123r:163v, back-c-i, back-c
- Author
- Belgrave, Sir Charles Dalrymple
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact [email protected] with any information you have regarding this item.