Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎59v] (123/1028)

, t i + i. intervals The route is liable to temporary
route, with road guard posts at intervals, xi^ ^ ^ heavy
breaches from January to March, u ordinary car in 13-14 hours
lorries can make the journey m 21 -3 days, and an ordmary c. •
II. Wireless .—Except for the weekly test, the Kem.a
practically closed throughout the year ^ ^
III. Aviation .—No aeroplane landed m Heima 8 ^
the two aerodromes are neglected.
7. Trade Developments.
T During 1937 ginning factories were opened at Kerman, Sirjan, Zarand
and Bayaz. The “ Kerman Khorshid Spinning MdT has a capital of abou
rials 3,000,000 (£37,500) and employs some 350 persons.
A Soap factory An East India Company trading post. was also opened in Kerman.
In common with other centres, Kerman produced a large number of
monopoly companies or “ Sherkats Of the 21 inaugurated during the year
the following are of some importance :
(1) Khorshid Spinning Mill .Capital
(2) Woollen Textiles .
(3) Woollen Carding Company .
(4) Kerman piece-goods Company
(5) Tea and Loaf sugar Company
(6) Dried Fruits Company .
(7) Sherkat-i-Kala (Provisions) .
(8) Sherkat-i-Katira (Cum Tragacanth)
(9) Motor Transport Company
3 , 000,000
3 , 000,000
1,000,000
1 , 000,000
1 , 000,000
2 , 000,000
300,000
1,070,000
300,000
IT Carvet trade.—With the establishment of a Government monopoly
company a nottefwas issued prohibiting private business. The restriction
was ^ subsequently withdrawn and private firms were allowed to continue
their bus ness. A branch of the monopoly company still exists m Kerman
but does not exercise monopoly rights. On the whole the markets for German
carpets was not good during 1937, the American market being very poor
during the second half of the year.
The approximate value of exports in 1,000s of rials to Europe and the
United States during 1937 and the three preceding years are
1934. 1935. 1936. 1937.
11,751
940
9,545
51
9,704
245
9,200
200
Kermanies •
Tribal ..••••
III. Grain Monopoly Department .—Towards the end of the year when the
result of the Government policy of putting more of the land under cotton
and other crops instead of grain began to be felt, this departme nt functioned,
with cneat difficulty. There was an acute shortage of bread throughout
the province and much suffering among the poorer classes in consequence.
7,400 maunds of wheat were brought from Isfahan and Hamadan in Novem
ber and December which eased the situation to some extent, but the price of
bread rose much beyond the normal seasonal increase. It is understood that
the monopoly lost about rials 200,000 (£2,500) on the year’s working.
IV. Dried Fruits Company .—This company which made a good profit
in 1930 did no trade at all in 1937 and the promoters proposed to withdraw
their capital and dissolve the company. But at the request of the Governor
the company continues to exist on paper with a reduced capital.
V. t$herkaA-i-Kala (Provisions.)—Amin Zadeh, a local merchant in
charge, of this company, was dismissed from the control in June and charged
with misappropriation of the company’s funds to the extent of rials 360,000
(£4,500). Thereafter the company did no business for the remainder of
the year.
8. Local politics.
I. For obvious reasons there have been no outward manifestations
against the existing regime. The death of Aqai Davar, the ez-Minister
of Finance, did not improve local feelings towards the present
Government, as it was generally accepted that he committed suicide because
he was dissatisfied with the trend of events in Iran.