"ملف 8/8 التقرير الإداري للوكالة ١٩٢٢-١٩٣٠" [و‎‎٢‎١‎٩] (٤٧٤/٤٤٢)

:
The Bahrain dates are apparently of good quality but badly
tended.
At present the Island is entirely dependent on the pearl
trade tor a living,and if agriculture was properly developed
it would prove a valuable second string,but until some opportunity
is given to the shamefully rachrented peasantry to enjoy the
fruits of improvements made in their holdings,progress will be
difficult.
CUSTOMS HDVEmiBS .
The total Customs’ collections for the year amounted to
Rs.7,90,107/-.
MUHICIPALITIBS *
Revenue has fallen off,apart from halving the subsidy
paid by the G-overnment to the Manama Municipality,and all
suggestions for raising the house rates (which were recently
reduced by half) were met with no enthusiasm. The councillors
are almost all owners of house property and are averse to any
form of taxation on buildings,or indeed any tax that affects
them personally.
Much street widening has been done in both Manama and
Muharraq,and some town planning has been done to the south of
the former.
Despite the strict prohibition on all forms of intoxicants,
liquor is constantly finding its way into the towns,and is
usually distilled from dates. The Police made several important
captures,but so long as the demand exists there will be a supply
The offenders are mostly all ’Iraqis.
PUBLIC WORKS .
No large works were undertaken owing to the necessity for
economy,but some work was done on the Manama-Mukarraq causeway,
mainly as a form of outdoor relief, ihe road was originally
planned to be forty feet wide,but as the Political Agent pointed
out that it would be completed in half the time and cost nearly