'File 8/16 Bahrain Intelligence Summary' [‎65r] (129/206)

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Mackenzie & Co„, that the landing rates should be increased
by Rs.1/8 pcrton both on bag cargo and other cargo. Shaikh
Abdullah bin Isa, uncle of His Highness, and Mr*; Belgrave,
the Adviser to the Bahrain Government, were also present.
Most of the meeting was spent in bringing up and replying to
the old charges of pilferage of cargo and delay in transport
ing cargo between Sitra and Manamah. Much time was also
devoted to a discussion about the depth of Manamah harbour and
suggestions that it should be surveyed. When the question
they had met to discuss was eventually put to those present
by His Highhess the merchants unanimously declin d to agree
to any further increase in the landing charges.
194. LABOUR.
(i) There have been no great fluctuations in post
war prices in Bahrain (controls have only been removed very
gradually), but there is a flourishing black market, and
the Bahrain economy is influenced by the inflation in Saudi
^rabia. This is true especially of the labour market. The
high wages being paid at Dhahran, Ras Tanura, and Dammam continue
-to attract labour away from Bahrain and the Government is
reported to be contemplating the reintroduction of their former
ban on the migration of labour to the mainland. The great
discontent it aroused at the time and the fact that it would
be extremely difficult to render such a ban really effective
has so far deterred the Bahrain Government from re-imposing
it.
(ii) The Bahraini Labourer has always been a seasonal
worker, either agriculturist or pearl diver, and though the
moribund pearl industry no longer attracts him he continues
as of habit to change the place and nature of his occupation.
The Bahrain Petroleum Company have been attempting to check
the seasonal migration of their labour by introducing a pro
vident fund for them, but without success. That the Company
should give him money the labourer understands, but that he
should again give it to the Company he does not understand.
195. FURTHER L OCAL AFFii lRS .
(i) On the 17th Shaikh Salman bin Muhammad bin Isa
al Khalifah, one of the Bahrain Court Judges, who had been
spending the summer in the Lebanon, returned to Bahrain.
(ii) On the 17th His Highness left Bahrain on a visit
to the neighbouring small island of Umm Na’san, which is
the private property of the Ruling Shaikh. He was accompanied
by his uncle. Shaikh Abdullah and other members of the ruling
family. The party returned to Bahrain on the 19th.
i
(iii) For many months past the Adviser to the Bahrain
Government has had as one of his manifold activities the
construction of a "water garden" outside Manamah town at,
it is said, a cost exceeding Rs.10,000/-. Some marshy
land has been reclaimed and filled in to make two artificial
lakes the channel between iwhich is spanned by a "willow
pattern" bridge, while an octagonal bandstand in 19th century
municipal style rears itself incongruously in the Bahrain
scene. On the 24th, Mr. Belgrave held an aquacade, arranged
by himself, to open the garden to the public. Practically
all departments of the Bahrain Government were mobilised for
the occasion. The Shaikh’s arrival was sounded by the
playing......