'REPORT ON THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY OF PERSIA to June, 1923.' [‎10r] (19/26)

15
the use of more modern methods by the craftsmen of Persia. At
present there are no factories except carpet factories and the
refineries of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in Abadan, and
organized labour is unknown. The Majlis, however, endeavoured
to encourage the spinning and weaving industries, which are at
present carried out entirely on hand looms, by passing a law
making it compulsory for all employees of the Government and
for such Government departments as the army, to wear only
cloth made in Persia. As a result a considerable fillip has been
given to weaving, though at present the majority of the yarn is
of foreign make since it cannot be spun in Persia and it is uncertain
whether Persia can produce enough cloth to supply her needs. A
good opening therefore appears to exist for the establishment of
power-driven mills for spinning and weaving wool, but the neces
sary capital has not yet been attracted to the country and a
thorough local investigation of conditions and supplies by an
expert would be necessary before embarking on such an enter
prise. The population is both industrious and nimble with brain
and fingers and apt at handling machinery under proper super
vision and there is no doubt that a good supply of artisans could
be trained without much difficulty, but concessions and mono
polies are still in existence and should be taken carefully into
account. The country is also possessed of a large quantity of
wool which is at present either used for making carpets or native-
made cloth, or exported through Sistan to India. Owing to
inferior cleaning, admixture of dead wool and lack of proper
sorting it is said to fetch prices inferior to the Indian wools though
the wool grown in the mountain districts is of good quality.
The climate is said to be too dry for cotton spinning in the
finer counts except in the districts adjoining the Caspian which
possess a moist semi-tropical climate. Water power is un
doubtedly available in large quantities in this and other parts of
Persia.
Capital and Labour. —Trade Unions and Employers' Federa
tions do not exist since the conditions of employment and labour
are in most respects similar to those existing in medieval Europe,
with their attendant Merchants’ Guilds and apprentices. Indeed,
the economic ideas and principles of the trading communities are
not dissimilar to those prevailing in England before the Industrial
Revolution, with the addition of a veneer of 20th century know
ledge imparted by European education and contact, and no lack
of native shrewdness and judgment.
Natural Resources. —The natural resources of the country,
with the single exception of its mineral oils have not as yet been
either properly ascertained or exploited. For instance, coal,
which is believed to exist in considerable quantities in the hills
north of Tehran and in other parts of Persia is at prsent only
mined by digging shallow surface pits during the summer to
supply the winter needs of the capital or nearest towns and
villages. The remainder of the population’s needs is met by