'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎132r] (268/470)

estimated separately and the tenant received in writing from the officer present
the account of dates due from him to Sanniyah. This caused great satisfaction
among the ta abs and no little chagrin to the sarkals, who had sought to cloak
their eyac ions by excessive declaration before the Political Officers of their fealty
amd devotion to good works. The individual estimation was carried out by
Khan bahib Muzzaffar Shah with his customary zeal and efficiency.
Amb Manager—It is now proposed to appoint an Arab landowner of high
position and integrity as manager of the Sanniyah Estates, as direct management
by officials more or less tied down to headquarters (however capable thev be)
cannot be so effective as supervision by one man with minute local knowledge and
experience. Under British supervision such a manager will make of Sanniyah
model estates. J
_ Miscellaneous and Special J?eve^e.—Miscellaneous and special revenue will
bring m about Rs. 5,00,000/-. Detail is shown in Appendix A., from which it will
be seen there is an advance of Rs. 1,20,000/- over last year. I quote below the
Assistant Political Officer s report on the items Araq, tobacco, and opium.
( a ) Araq. The ‘araq monopoly for the current financial year has been
auctioned and taken up by a Jew for Rs. 20,000 a month—a figure which must leave
him only a small margin of profit in view of the high price of dates. The distillery
was burnt down at the beginning of September for the second time within 12 months,
and as materials for reconstruction could not at once be obtained it was necessary
to remit the distiller’s fee wffiolly for September and in part for October and November.
During these three months his output was very low, and retail sellers were permitted
to bring supplies from Nasiriyah and Muhammarah. This unfortunate accident
has robbed Government of the expected increment over last year in the price
received for the monopoly ; but the distiller is building now according to expert
specification, so that there should be no reoccurrence of these fires. The number
of retail shops remains the same, and, except during the period of scarcity, there
has been no rise in the retail price of araq.
(b) Tobacco. —There are now 108 wholesale and 511 retail tobacco merchants,
also 123 hawkers. Decrease in number is due to the high price of tobacco and the
enhancement of licence fees. The tax paid by hawkers has recently been raised
from Rs. 20/- to Rs. 30/-, and the cost of a wholesale licence from’ Rs. 100/- to
Rs. 150/-. A number of tobacco licencees are Indians, who own coffee-shops and
cater for the troops. The retail rate is assessed at a round figure of Rs. 10/- per
annum for shops in the Sanjaq; but in the municipal area the old Turkish rule by
which 30/- per cent, of the rental of the shop is charged, is still followed. The
tobacco revenue last year was Rs. 34,126/-, and for the eight months now^ ended
receipts amount to Rs. 33,793.
(c) Opium. —The Mudir of tobacco has also charge of opium licensing. A
licencee has now been found for Basrah City, and the ‘ashar licence holders have
been permitted to appoint three sub-agents for the sale of opium to Persian Labour
Corps in Nahr ‘Umar, Ma‘qil and Khorah. The excise revenue this year should be
nearly thrice what it was in 1917. The hashish licencees in ‘Ashar were imprisoned
for smuggling by the Port Officer, Tanumah, in October and the licencees are at
present in abeyance. There is no doubt a good deal of smuggling which is
undetected in spite of police vigilance, the middle men being persons employed
on hospital ships and other vessels coming from India.
Customs .—Customs will be dealt with separately by the Chief Collector of
Customs.
Compensation .—The Assistant Political Officer has carried out the duties of
Compensation Officer throughout the year; it is important work, which requires
considerable time and care if it is to be properly done. General Routine Order,
No. 1307 of 20th November has now abolished the cumbersome procedure of refer
ence first to Area Commandants and then to a committee at base headquarters,
and the Assistant Political Officer is disposing of claims himself in direct commu
nication with the Military Departments concerned. During the year 458 claims
have been examined and settled, and a sum of Rs. 416,363/- has been paid in com
pensation.
The large increase is due to the systematic disposal of claims by procedure
winch had not been introduced in 1917. In the Ma‘qil area compensation has not
been paid since August in view of land acquisition proposals.