Coll 28/41 ‘Persia. Trade Reports. Kerman 1924–’ [‎39v] (78/313)

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result of this policy, some 21 Companies have been
formed in this area. Of these, the following ten
Companies are worthy of note (The capital of
these Companies, as noted against each, is partly
subscribed by the general public and parti} by
the Government through the National Bank of
Iran and Agricultural Bank) :—
Rials.
1. Sherkat Khorshid Spinning Mill . 3,000,000
2. Sherkat Pashminah (Woollen textile) 3,000,000
3. Woollen Carding Company . . 1,000,000
4. Kerman Pieeegoods Company . 1,000,000
5. Kerman Tea and Loaf sugar Com
pany ..... 1,050,000
6. Kerman Dry Fruit Company . 2,000,000
7. Sherkat Kala .... 300,000
8. Sherkat Kateera (Gum Tragacanth) . 1,070,000
9. Kerman Motor Transport Company. 300,000
0. Sherkat Noushabeh . . . 60,000
The Government has already considered making
Charbar the entrepot of Khorasan-Sistan and
Mekran and a motor road is being made between
Zahidan and Charbar.
Other contemplated schemes are :—
1. Construction of a big dam on the river Nissa
in the Bam-Narmashir area.
2. Exploiting the Coal Mine of Badamu and the
Marble Mine of Rayin.
3. Revival of the Indigo industry at Bam and
Narmashir.
4. Construction of a Sugar Factory An East India Company trading post. at Jeeruft.
5. Connecting Khorasan with Kerman by road
via Jeeruft.
6. Connecting Kerman with the fertile area
of Shahdad.
It remains to be seen when these elaborate under
takings will mature.
Public Utility.
In this country where embargoes on foreign
trade are so easily placed, and the ever-changing
regulations regarding the counterbalancing of ex
ports with imports, it is difficult to write about
public demands or utilities.
The policy of the Government in placing an
embargo on foreign twists and yarns is to
promote and encourage the products of the Iranian
Spinning Mills in the country.
The articles which constitute the main items
of public utility are :—
cotton piece-goods, glass-ware, crockery, tea ma
chinery and perfumes,
but owing to the Foreign Exchange Control, al
most prohibitive Customs duties, heavy road tax
and import permit premium, etc., their importa
tion is rapidly becoming limited.
Social.
The general cost of living has steadily risen.
There is an increase in the cost of most imported
commodities due to the monopolization of foreign
trade, exchange control, shortage of foreign curren
cies, and new Customs tariffs.
The disappearance of the Chaddur and the oHh
gation to were European dress has added
siderably to the cost of living and created hard
ships among the poorer classes. It may be hoped
that the cost of living will go dowm as the agricul
tural development of the country advances.
Owing to the employment of a large number
of weavers in the temporarily revived carpet indus
try, and of a large number of labourers in the
Khorshid Spinning Mill and on various town plan
ning, road construction and improvement devices
general depression, poverty and unemployment were
reduced to some extent. Most of the labouring
classes, however, are addicted to opium and prefer
to indulge in work of a sedentary nature, or to beg
than to participate in any active occupation.
The Governor-General has recently opened an
almshouse to shelter about 200 poor people and
beggars. This has been a long felt want in Kerman.
Municipal services Were rendered with compara
tive efficiency. Lighting, scavenging and other sani
tary arrangements showed signs of appreciable im
provement. Typhoid fever was prevalent in a mild
form in July in the poorer quarters of the town.
There w ere no epidemics. Guinea worm and malaria
were prevalent in Bandar Abbas during the summer.
The Medical branch of the Church Missionary
Society, Kerman, continued to do good work.
The levelling and metalling of the main artery road
of Kerman, known as the Khiaban Shahpour was
completed, and several young trees were planted
on both sides of the road. Water was rented from
the Zirisf Qanat water supply for the watering of
the gardens, trees and roads. Much still remains
to be done for the general improvement of the tow r n.
The total receipts of the Kerman self-supporting
Municipality for the year under report was appro
ximately Rials 620,000 (about £7,750), but it
appears that Municipal funds are inadequate for
the local requirements. The same remark holds
good for Bandar Abbas where the water supply
arrangements are not yet completed.
An Iranian Gentlemen’s Club was opened at
Kerman on the 22nd February last and a Cinema
(Talkie) is to be opened in the near future.
C. H. Lincoln, Major,
His Majesty's Consul.
British Consulate,
Kerman, the 24th March 1937.