Coll 28/117 ‘Persia. Kerman, Yezd – (Bandar Abbas): Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎97r] (196/517)

Elections.
4 / —
379. The order postponing the Kerman elections has now been
cancelled, and the formalities are proceeding. Presumably ^qai
Hashemi and Aqai Kazemi will be declared elected.
380* TTo progress has been made in Bam.
Economic Conditions.
381. (a) Kerman .
In Kerman conditions are satisfactory. The steady flow of
grain into the ambars continues, and the transport situation
has eased. During the period under reporr the receipts amounted
to 157 tons ox wheat, and 186 tons of barley, ana on November
1st the stocks in the Kerman ambar stooa at 425 tons of wheat
and 665 tons of barley.
382. The Consular Liaison officer has almost finished the revision
of the coupon system. Many frauds were discovered, and it is
hoped that the total of coupons issued will not amount to more
than 37,000 (as opposed to 46,000 before). Loaves given out
from the municipal bakery to officers* families have also been
reduced from 20*00 to 1000 - some indication of the profit that
formerly went into^pockets of the officers concerned.
383. Complaints are heard scout the quality of the Government
bread. This arises from the fact that, while for three days of
the week it is made of pure wheat, on the remaining, four it is
pure barley. The complaints relate to the barley days. It is
hoped to be able to devise a system by which the municipality
will be able to issue barley and wheat flour 1 ready mixed for
each day.
334. The prices of some commodities continue to rise. Eggs for
instance have risen from Rials 1.25 to Rials 1.50 each and
mutton from Rials 26.6o to Rials 28.3 per kilo. Cigarettes are
scarce and dear, and charcoal is almost unobtainable, ^he prices
fixed by the municipality are not effectively Enforced.
385. (b) Yezd.
Conditions in yez i are far from satisfactory. Coupons have
not been issued except to Government employees, and though the
richer people can now bring in wheat for themselves from the
surrounding villages, the poor cannot afford to do this and
are already hard pressed. Government stocks stand at 176 tons
of wheat and 270 tons of barley. Import of further supplies is
urgently required so that a reserve can be built up ana the
coupon system for the poorer classes resumed.