'Administration Reports of the Persian Gulf, 1945 [-1946]' [‎55r] (122/414)

(<i) Posts & Telegraphs
(i) The Indian Postal Administration continued to run the post
Office throughout the year. The land telegraph line to Basrah has
worked satisfactorily. At present messages are only accepted and
received in English. As a result of representation from His High
ness the Director of Posts & Telegraphs, Sind and Baluchistan Circle,
Karachi has been requested to instruct the 3ub-Postmaster to receive
and transmit messages in Arabic. The matter has been referred by
the Skitter to the Director General of Posts & Telegraphs, New Delhi.
(ii) Messrs Cable & Wireless have continued to operate their
wireless telegraph station efficiently. The automatic telephone
system installed by Cable & Wireless in February, 1942, is showing
signs of wear and tear which has been largely due to their inability
to procure necessary replacements from the United Kingdom due to war
conditions. There are over 76 applicants for whom instruments are
not available.
(e) Municipality
During the year yet another executive officer of the municipality
was detected in defalcations and dismissed, but not otherwise punish
ed. Executive officers are now presumed to be corrupt until the
contrary is proved.
(f) haj,
The Saudi Government maintained the ban on the entry of persons
into their territory who were not in possession of regular travel
papers and the pilgrim traffic through Kuwait was consequently small.
387 people in all left for the Haj during the year out of whom 314
made the journey by camel. The lorry fare (return) was Rs.800/-
per person. Gars were far more expensive: 3 Hajis hired one for
Rs.10,000.
(g) Pearling .
Very few boats put out for the dive but those that did returned
for Ramadhan with good hauls. Consequently a greater number left
after Ramadhan but their catch was most disappointing.
The following were the ruling prices in October:-
J ewan
3heeren
Golwa
Bad la
Naeim
(h) Ship-building .
Shortage of wood, particularly teak, still hampered the industry
and activity was almost entirely confined to construction of boats
for the Water-Supply Company. Owing to these new boats and to an
unprecedented and very welcpme rain-storm in July, the usual summer
water crisis did not occur. 1
i
(i) The 3afar .
As a result of the paucity of steamer sailings ocean-going dhows
continued to prosper. 76 returned to Kuwait in the early summer
and 139 left for India and Africa towards the close of the year.
Y. DESERT INTERESTS
Rs. 200/- per chaw.
Rs; 100/-
Rs. 50/- "
Rs. 15 to 20/- "
Rs. 60 to 65/-
1945 was an easier year for the bedouin than either of the pre-
ceedingtwo. Rains and grazing were better and the distribution of
quota goods was more efficiently and fairly organised than previously.
Finally they had had time partly to adjust themselves to the use of
substitutes for rice, although digestive ailments arising from the
consumption of wheat cooked and milled by unorthodox and ineffective