مجموعة ٦١/٢٨ "بلاد فارس. تقارير تجارية. بندر عباس ولنجة ٦/١٩٢٥-" [و‎‎٣‎٢] (٢٤٥/٦٣)

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9
during the year and except for the flood season the
post lorries maintained a steady service.
The new road from Lar to Lingah is nearing
completion, and the Oustoms otflcials state that the
proposed road from Bushire to Charhar along the
Coast, which has surveyed last year, is being taken
well in hand.
State of communications generally.
These may be said to be as follows :—
(i) Persian Telegraph Office;
(ii) Weekly postal communications between
the Gulf Ports and the outside world
by means of the British India Steam
Navigation Company’s Slow Mail Service;
(iii) Bi-weekly motor service with Kerman and
interior; and have been functioning satis
factorily during the year.
(d) Average rates summer and winter on chief trade
centres. —Tables of average rates for motor and
animal transport to the chief centres are furnished
as Appendix IV.
(e) Effect of motors on animal transport, rates
and turnovers. —Camels and donkeys still transport
goods up-country but only such which are not ur
gently required. Motor transport is gradually dis
placing animal transport, but it is surprising that
the amount of goods still sent up-country by animals
is fairly considerable. The rates for the latter are
30 to 40 per cent less than those for the former.
(O Air services—whether used for commercial
freights. —There are no Air services to this port.
Liners of the Imperial Airways Limited call at
Lingah weekly both on the Eastbound and West
bound flights to re-fuel, but the service is one for
mails and passengers only.
(g) Security.—On the whole the security of the
trade routes was well maintained during the year.
One or two cases of brigandage on the Bandar
Abbas-Kerman Road were reported, and on one
occasion, a General of the Persian Army was serious
ly wounded and afterwards died.
9. Social.
(а) Standard of Living. —This, as usual, was low
and showed no improvement. The ordinary neces
saries of life consisting of native produce were avail
able and cheap, but clothes and articles imported
from foreign countries expensive and not easily
obtainable.
(б) Unemployment. —As there are no local indus
tries, very little employment is obtainable in the
sea-port towns outside fishing, lighterage for ships
and labour required for the handling of cargo on
board ships and in the Customs House at Bandar
Abbas.
During the summer months, a big exodus of the
townspeople takes place to places in the interior,
especially to Minab for the date harvest.
(c) Evidence of emigration. —In spite of the scarcity
of employment, and poor economic conditions
obtaining, there is no evidence of regular or organiz
ed emigration.
{d) Public health and hygiene. —It may be said
that local conditions, in spite of the establishment
of a Municipal board, are still very unsatisfactory.
No effective measures have been undertaken to
combat the scourge of malaria and venereal diseases,
which are still rife.
The Town Charitable Dispensary that was estab*
fished in 1919 by public subscription and has func
tioned most satisfactorily since under British aus
pices, was closed down at the close of the year under
record on the withdrawal of the Medical Officer
of this Consulate who was also in charge of that
institution.
(e) Municipal services. —Further attempts were
made to dig the test wells outside Bandar Abbas,
referred to in last year’s report, but no progress
was made and the work had again to be suspended
with the advent of the hot weather.
New taxes were introduced at the beginning of
1310 when the Central Government ceased its con
tribution towards the maintenance of the Bandar
Abbas Municipal Budget.
Although the local taxation is considered to be
sufficient, no improvement in the direction of muni
cipal administration is noticeable.
G. A. RICHARDSON,
His Majesty's Consul
Bandar Abbas.
1st August 1932.
Distribution. Copies.
The Commercial Secretary, H. B. M.’s Lega
tion. Tehran ...... 3
The Hon’ble the Political Resident in the Per
sian Gulf ....... 1
The Department of Overseas Trade, London . 2
The Foreign and Political Department of Gov
ernment of India ..... 2
30) I
/T* )