Coll 28/41 ‘Persia. Trade Reports. Kerman 1924–’ [‎46r] (91/313)

is maintained between Kerman, Bandar Abbas and
Kerman Zahidan.
The Kerman Zahidan route lost its popularity
over the Kerman Bandar Abbas route, with the
establishment of an Indian Customs House at Nok-
Kundi during the year. The road was very popular
long as the import and export of merchandise
vkj and from India passed without India Customs
restrictions. The bulk of the tea trade from India
which entered Iran through Zahidan, and was sent
to Bandar Abbas, on account of being cheaper than
| importation by Sea greatly diminised towards the
close of the year.
Trade between Kerman and Meshed is confined to
local products such as Henna, Wool, and Fine wool,
etc., as each centre gets its own quota of foreign
goods and is carried out either by Motor transport
vid Tehran or by animal transport direct via Rawar
and Firduas (Tun).
(6) Construction of new roads. —No further improve
ment was made on the roads connecting Kerman
with Shahdad, or Kerman to Meshed vid Rawar
and Tun during the year.
A survey of Kerman Jeeruft Motor Road vid
Baft and Isfandeqah was made during the year at a
total cost of Rials 5,000,000 (£62,500) and submitted
to Tehran for approval.
(c) Upkeep of old. —The old roads to various
centres, except the Kerman-Zahidan road on which
no improvement is made, were well maintained and
improved. The Tang-i-Zagh has been widened and
has greatly reduced the dangers of accidents.
(d) Distance and average transport rates—Summer
and Winter on the chief trade routes.—Vide Appendix
VI.
(e) Effect of motor on animal transport, rates and
turn-over. —The general all round depression has
reduced the rate of Motor transport to within the
reach of everybody that the question of employing
animal transport does never arise, except on those
roads which are impassable by wheeled transports.
Most of the Motor transport returns to Bunder
Abbas empty, and welcome any cargo to compensate
them for the cost of fuel.
(/) Air Service. —No Air Service exists in Kerman,
and no Aeroplanes have visited Kerman during the
last three years. The two Aerodromes situated to
the east and North-north west of the city (both at
a distance of about 5 miles) have remained neglected,
especially the former.
(g) Wireless. —The wireless station at Jallalabad
5 miles from the town, is worked once a week for
testing purposes only.
(h) Security. —The security on the trade routes
was well maintained and no instances of holding up
motor or caravan were reported. A few cases of
petty robberies and harassing of petty animal
convoys off the guarded trade routes were reported
and necessary steps to deal with them was taken
by the authorities.
9. Social.
(a) Standard of living. —The standard of living in
this province is decidedly low, with no sign of im
provement. The depression in the carpet industry
which ranks foremost in the line of employment for
the people of this province, combined with the
various restrictions imposed on ordinary necessities
of life, high taxation, and poor harvests tend to
make the conditions worse. They have adapted
themselves to their “ Environments ’’and the people
seem to be quite satisfied with what they get and
can obtain locally at cheapest possible prices.
(b) Unemployment.- —Unemployment can be said
to be on the increase. The small demand of manual
labour in constructional works in the town is not
enough to make it uncommon. The local labou er
likes work of a sedentry nature, and preters to beg
or remain idle than to indulge in active occupation.
(c) Evidence of emigration. —Nil.
(d) Public health and Hygiene. —No remarkable
improvement in the sanitary condition of the province
has come to light, and this still Jacks in all phases.
Typhoid fever of a mild type raged in Kerman at
the end of the year.
The town is still full of tuberculosis of every
variety. The tuberculosis of bone being most
common.
Small-pox vaccination is carried out and is com
pulsory and vaccinators visit the villages for the
purpose.
(e) Municipal Services. —The Kerman Municipality
no longer receive any monetary support from the
Central Government except refundable loans, and
has to provide for its Budgets through local taxation.
The total income for the year was Rials 610,000
(£7,625) against a Budget of Rials 560,000 (£7,000)
form local taxation. A list of local Municipal taxes
is appended to this report under Appendix VIII.
A four-year scheme was approved by the Municipal
Committee and Tehran for the construction of a
barrage to divert the occasional floods (similar to
those of 1932) from the town and save the southern
portion of the town.
The Mudjlis approved the grant of a loan of Rials
500,000 (£6,250) to the Kerman Municipality with
which sum, the committee very wisely, to avoid any
chances of embezzlement, purchased 48 hours of
water from the Zirisf Qanat tor the Municipality.
As the Zirisf water was not sufficient to irrigate
the whole of the main artery road, -which was reported
to have been levelled and metalled in last year’s
report, the Municipality were once more comp iled