Coll 30/70 'Bahrain: Amendment of contracts of Capt Parke, Commandant of Police, & Mr Belgrave, Adviser to the Sheikh of Bahrain: leave of Mr Belgrave, etc.' [‎19r] (37/379)

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iH!
MOTE OH DISCUSSIONS v.ITH lim. BELGEaVE
aT BAHRAIN ON 16TH MARCH, 1946
vL>' :
I began by pointing out that the actuals for 1362, 1363, and
1364 bore little connection with the facts and showed that the.
budget was almost worthless as an accurst© guide to the financial
r^nts in the State. The surpluses owing to under expenditure and
under-estimated revenue were over 7 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in 1362, over 19 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in
1363 and although the actuals of expenditure were not given for 1364
it is clear that there must have been a saving of over 13 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
owing to the greatly enhanced revenue received. Mr. Belgrave said
that this was due to the excess receipts of custom^ revenue and
stated that it was difficult to estimate this accurately in advance.
I enquired why he had estimated for a drop in 1364 when it was quite
obvious that the war would be going on for some time and that there
was little chance of a drop in prices. I could not follow Mr.
Belgr&ve's reply to this. - I pointed out that the original plan of
saving 14 - 15 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees a year was now obsolete as the life of the
oilfield was obviously secure for some time to come since the Oil
Company were sjpe/nding a great deal of money in installing fresh
plant. I added that so far as I was aware, the life of the field
was estimated at between, at the minimum, anotner 15 years, and
possibly as much as 50 years. Mr. Belgrave did not appear to be
aware of this. I drew his attention to the fact that the remark in
his report two yesrs a^c that people were dying of starvation in
villages read^oddly when one reflected that the State'had at that
time over half a million pounds in the bank. Mr. Belgrave said that
this was really due to the fact that these people were upset by the
change of diet necessitated by the cessation of rice supplies.
I drew his attention to the fact that the word he had used was
"starvation". Mr. Belgrave volunteered the statement that when the
capital sunk in food supplies was realised the actual balance of the
State would be over a million pounds. I said that this gave point
to my view that some capital expenditure in the State was Justified
and added that I felt certain he ’would have to face rising opposit
ion from the public if nothing was done in the very near future.
2. HBaLTH . I drew Hr. Belgrave’s attention to the remark in his
report that the staff had been leaving for India owing to inadequate
pay. Mr. Belgrave agreed that the State co&ld well afford to pay
c»s good wages as the Government of India, and said that the position
was now quite satisfactory as the staff were contented with their
present terms. I enquired the State Medical Officer’s financial
powers, and Mr. Belgrave siad that he was allowed to spend any amounts
in his budget. Hr. Belgrave mentioned that there was a 9-bed
hospital for women in Muharraq with a Lady Doctor which was always
full, and added that there was men’s out-patient hospital there as
well. He agreed that Dr. Snow should be asked for his views as to
future medical policy in the State.
o •
ENGINEERING.
I enquired the State Engineer’s financial powers
and degree of control over the other engineers and the Oil Gauger.
The Adviser said that the State Engineer could spend any sum in his
budget, but I was not very clear regarding the degree of his control
over the other engineers and the proposed Oil Gauger. Mr. Belgrave
seemed to take the view that the Oil Gauger's appointment would be
completely separate, but I pointed out that it was essentially an
engineering job and that in the past the State had had to use the
State Engineer for this duty, and that they would almost certainly
have to do so again. I gave it as my view that what the State
required was an able and highly qualified engineer who would control
all the engineering works in the State as Chief Engineer. I remarked
on the difficulty that was always experienced in combining' electrical
and mechanical work with building and roads, but said that a. single
engineering department was obviously desirable. I was not very
clear what the qualifications of the new engineer were but understood
Mr. Belgrave to say that his work would be more on the lines of roads
and buildings. I drew attention to the fact that he had been engag
ed without reference to us, a point which is being dealt with later
on in this note. I suggested that some standardisation of the