‘Miscellaneous 16/15 Correspondence with and from the Director of Customs, Bahrain’ [‎54r] (107/160)

3 A H H 3 I If ,
Dated 18th January 1932
With reference to your office notification No: G.2’2/376 of
1/1/1932 re changes in.the existing system for Khanchia and not to
prevent misunderstanding as alledged, on the imported cargo, we the
undersigned merchants beg to lay the^ following facts to your notice
with a request that they may be favourably and jusitifiably considered:-
1. The period of ten days Khanchi to commence from the day of
the removal of cargo by the Import Yard, is unjustifiable
to the cause of merchants as they are not expected to get
delivery order from the Steamship Companies of the cargo
until it is removed totally as part of the cargo requires
either measurement or marks or counting or such other simi-
liar reasons.
That the cargo will not be delivered to the merchants be
fore the Bill-of-3ntry is cleared fully. To put in a con
crete- example if any steamer arrived on Saturday in port
the cargo which required weighment (which ^orms a major por
tion of the bulk cargo) will not be ready for delivery to
some of the merchants before Wednesday evening while cargo
which requires measurement by the shipping agent will not be
ready for delivery before thursday evening or Saturday morn
ing. Why and how this delay is caused is best known to you.
Considering the above period which is beyond merchants power
the only right period of Khanchi for him will be only 3 to
4 days.
That this port has a very limit need of cargo for local con-
sumption and is most dependent on outsiders where the cargo
is shipped by crafts. These shipments are effected in consi
deration of the winds which are not always favourable hence
on occasions, it will be rather impossible to make the ship
ments during such a limited small period.The existing charg-
ges of Khanchi would make it impossible for any merchant to
leave the cargo in the Import Yard. But to remove to his
godown will deprive him of his benefit for Re-3xport refund.
That the present world wide depression has obliged the mer
chants to" order the stuff through the countries of origin
in order to avoid the middle man’s profit and enter into
competition with other gulf ports, the bills and documents
where^are always through India whichccan not arrive here
with the goods but will always be at least a week late than
the stuffs hence all such cargo will always be liable to
extra Khanchi which amounts to in ordinary cases more than
margin of profit the merchants.
That this port chiefly depends on ^atar and mainland to
whom are accessable the ports of Dubai & Koweit h r '.^j un
less there is cheap market in Bahrein, the trade will be
hampered heavily.
That the new order reverts us the previous period of* Khanchi
through the intervention of Colonel C.C.J.Barret, the then ^
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , who after discussion with the merchants
and the Authorities concerned, had modified the old system
after having satisfied that the merchants were quite justi
fied in demands (a reference will satisfy). These facts
should not be sight of.
As regards the second and subsequent Khanchi there should
be no^difference between first and other Khanchies.
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