'Administration Reports of the Persian Gulf, 1945 [-1946]' [‎116r] (244/414)

things which smack of central control, and the desire of
the inhabitants, both tribal and urban, to havealarger
share in the administration of their own locality.
(c) TRADa. AND
Trade in Bushire has been almost at a standstill
throughout the year. Many of the merchants who were
established in Bushire during its times of prosperity
have left, and of those remaining most are too old to
undertake new ventures or jeopardise the capital which
will suffice to keep them until they die. As a result
money is very dear, and this together with Central
Government control, which succeeds in fettering all
but Tehran merchants, has prevented any real effort to
put Bushire commerce on its feet again. The recent
relaxation of control over foreign trade has not yet
made any ap reciable difference, and until the postal
and shipping services improve it is difficult to see
how any appreciable improvement can be effected, in
theory, ships of the B.I.S.N. Coy. call at Bushire
with mails to and from India and Iraq every 10 days
or fortnight, but in actual practise it is found that
these ships arrive most irregularly, and without
adequate prior notice, and often are unable to take on
any passengers or cargo. It has not been uncommon for
there to be periods of 6 weeks with no sea nail. Air
mail services showed some promise but if anything have
deteriorated during the latter part of the year, and
ceased entirely for some time. One or two ships of
Messrs. 3trick and Coy. have called at Bushire en route
to or from England, and undoubtedly there is plenty of
scope for trade between England and Bushire. There has
been some talk of starting a new shipping Coy. for carr- .
iage of passengers and light cargo in the Gulf and to
India.but this plan is bred more of desperation than of
careful thought, as a Persian Shipping Coy. would be
most unlikely to be a success.
(d,) LOC AL C .
The IStemedieh Cotton and Spinning Mill continues
to produce cloth, and though production has decreased
and expenditure increased following Tudeh activities,
the continued high price of cloth has enabled the Coy.
to make good profits. It is now proposed to set up
another mill in Bushire, to be managed by quite a sep
arate company, and plans for the purchase of machinery
from England are being made.
Bushire Electric cov . A new company has been
formed by Mr. Agar, managing director of the Ktemedieh
Mill, and machinery for it is now being erected. It
is understood that the old electric company is going out
of business entirely. It is claimed that the new company
will in addition to producing ice, provide large cold
storage facilities, l/hat purpose they will serve is
difficult to foresee.
Bushire Prinkin;: .,at er supoly. Bushire continues
to obtain drinking water from this scheme, but it is not
clear how long this will continue. It is understood
that there is'no money left from the original grant,
that repairs will have to be made soon and^ that unless
the scheme is taken over by the Municipality or a^ proper
company, piped supply will never be made to the houses
/in Bushire