مجموعة ٢٨ /١٩ "سيستان وكاين. تقارير تجارية سنوية" [ظ‎‎١‎٠‎٣] (٣١٨/٢١٠)

2
As will be seen from the table—Appendix D—
violent fluctuations in freight rates occurred. In
fact rates fluctuated greatly from day to day. This
factor, combined with fluctuations in Foreign Ex
change, the difficulty in obtaining Foreign currency
to finance Imports, and the inordinate delays suffered
in obtaining Import Licenses from the Central Board
of Control combined also with frequent and sudden
changes in Customs dues and alterations and modi
fications of the Monopoly Law, brought about a
state of affairs in which no merchant could, with
any degree of certainty, estimate What Would be
the state of the market even a month hence, still
less could it be estimated after the considerable
lapse of time which must elapse between the date
of application for a license to Import and the actual
arrival of goods in the country—a period of several
months.
No sooner did the market, for some Persian pro
duct, in India or Europe, slightly improve, to an
extent which lessened the loss on disposal of such
an Export, or at the best allowed of a meagre profit,
than merchants in their eagerness to qualify for
Import Licenses,' rushed to purchase for Export.
Internal prices would immediately rise, while the
Foreign market would fall and after a short burst
of Export the scramble to find an alternative commo
dity for Export would begin afresh.
The operations of the Monopoly Law allowed of
many irregularities which were detrimental to
trade.
Applications for Import of articles on the £ Autho
rised ’ List Were considered in accordance with
quarterly quotas fixed for each Port of Entry by the
Central Authorities, and such applications had to
be supported by the Local Governor’s attestation
as to the financial standing of the applicant. So
much delay occurred in obtaining the necessary
permit that the state of the market had often varied
in the meantime and the permit could not be pro
fitably used. Applications by post produced no
result, nor did telegraphic reminders elicit replies.
In consequence traders had generally to visit Tehran
j personally to obtain licenses, the cost of which
I journey had to be charged in the sale price of goods.
A lively trade in fictitious licenses sprung up.
Tehran traders who had no desire to Import obtained
permits which they sold at the Ports at 17 per cent.
—25 per cent, premium.
In July 1931 large quantities of £ prohibited ’
articles which Were lying in the Customs, having
been Imported prior to the Monopoly Law, had to
be re-exported to avoid confiscation.
As a consequence of the exceptional state of
•iff airs outlined above there Were considerable
fiuctutations in the quantities of various articles
Imported and Exported, as compared with previous
years. The principal deviations from normal are
commented on in the analysis below :—
Imports.
il
Svgar .—A very heavy decrease in the quantity
imported as compared with 1930-31 is noticeable—■
from 133,199 Indian Maunds to approximately
18,900 Maunds. In the report for 1930-31 reasons
were given for the somewhat abnormal increase in
that year. The large decrease during the cu^^t
year may be attributed to :—
(a) General overstocking which had resulted
from abnormal imports in 1930-31.
(b) The fact that under the Monopoly Law a
definite quota is allocated to each Port
of Entry which cannot be exceeded.
(c) Some revival of competition by Eussia in
the North.
By the close of the year Imports of this commo
dity via Zahidan had practically ceased, and since
the Persian Government has recently granted an
Import Monopoly to a Foreign Power, it may be
assumed that this trade will cease on the India-
Zahidan route.
Tea .—There was a slight decrease in total Imports,
and at the close of the year it was generally estimated
that the market in the interior was fully stocked.
Machinery .—The forecast in the report for 1930-
31, that Imports would be likely to increase, has not
proved correct. Although it is the avowed policy
of the Government to encourage local manufactures,
and several schemes were contemplated in East
Persia, none of these were brougut to fruition. The
difficulty of obtaining Foreign Exchange undoubtedly
had an adverse effect.
As an example it may be mentioned that an Oil
engine, of U. K. origin, which was imported for a
Town Electricity Scheme remained nearly the whole
year uncleared from Customs, the owner in the
first place being unable to purchase sterling to efiect
payment and secondly, unsuccessful, for many
months in obtaining an Import License.
Alcoholic Beverages and Scents .—Falling under the
heading of ‘ Luxury ’ articles, the Import of which
is practically prohibited Imports fell to a negligible
figure.
Motor Tyres .—In 1930-31 the Monopoly Law was
little understood and worked inefficiently. There
was a heavy decrease in that year and the market
was depleted, a natural increase has followed.
Cereals .—Consequent on good harvests and very
small export, Imports except of small quantities of
Seed grain for experimental purposes were Nil.
Vegetables .—A considerable part of the vegetables
Imported in previous years was for consumption
at Zahidan, where the nature of the soil is such
that none can be grown.
Vegetables are now in the prohibited list, as a
result of which the lot of the inhabitants of Zahidan
is far from enviable.