'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1358 (February1939 - February 1940)' [145r] (47/86)
The record is made up of 1 volume (42 folios). It was created in 1940. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
39
Bahrain Petroleum Company. On the day before his departure he was present at a
night display and torchlight tattoo on the Fort parade ground in which five hundred
police, naturs and schoolboys took part.
When his Majesty left he was presented by Shaikh Hamad with a number
of cars, horses and camels. The King's visit, which was given much prominence in
the Arab press and in European papers, did much to advance the already friendly
relations existing between Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saoudi Arabia.
Passport Department.
The revenue from this source, which was at one time third largest revenue
producing department, is likely to decrease considerably owing to the effect of the
war on travel and the enforcement of various restrictions. It is possible that the
revenue will no longer cover the cost of the passport control organisation.
During the year 12,500 passengers landed in Bahrain from steamers,
aeroplanes and native craft, the details of each person being recorded. Over eighty
prosecutions were instituted by the Passport Officer against persons failing to comply
with regulations. A number of local residents were convicted for giving false
evidence about the place of birth of Persians residing in Bahrain who wished to
obtain Bahrain passports. The number of foreigners, mostly Persians, who apply
for Bahrain naturalization increases every year. Out of 28 applications 16 were
given Bahrain nationality during 1358.
Numbers of Arabs, mainly from Qattar, continue to evade passport regula
tions by entering Bahrain illegally at various points on the coast. When they are
caught action can rarely be taken as they obtain a sympathetic hearing from hie
Highness the Ruler.
Public Works Department
The work done by this department during the year was carried out by
Mr. Mohomed Jafar with a small permanent staff of supervisors and local and
Indian artisans and workmen.
1. Recurrent expenditure.
The annual expenditure on departmental salaries and staff was estimated in
the 1358 budget at Ks. 29,750; it amounted to Rs. 23,273.
Recurrent expenditure on upkeep of buildings was estimated at Rs. 9,000 and
repairs to roads at Rs. 16,000: actually Rs. 17,770 was spent on the former and
Rs. 19,298 on the latter.
Towards the end of the year the Government took over the maintenance of
the Manamah - Rudm al Kowari section of the main Rafaa road. This had
previously been kept in repair by the Bahrain Petroleum Company. Road mending
material is being provided by the Company.
The increased number of government buildings entails a large annual expen
diture on repairs, painting and general upkeep. Roofs in Bahrain require
replastering at least every three years and white plaster and paint appear shabby if
not frequently renewed.
2. Non-recurrent expenditure on special projects.
A. Manamah Muharraq Causeway and Bridge. The contract for the swing
bridge across the gap in the Manamah - Muharraq causeway was placed during
the year with Messrs. Holloway Brothers Limited of London. The firm has
recently built the two bridges across the Tigris in Baghdad and among other
important work done by this firm is the new Bank of England.
Owing to the necessity for allowing boats to pass up and down the channel,
especially barges bringing cargoes from the Sitra anchorage to Manamah, an opening
About this item
- Content
This volume is the Annual Report of the Government of Bahrain for the year 1358 AH (1939-1940) and gives te details of the Revenue and Expenditure of the Bahrain State and contains notes on the activities of the various Government departments, as well as the budget 1359 and some particulars of importance which took place in Bahrain during the year. It includes text, photographic images and tables. The report appears to be compiled from reports from various Government departments and officials. An Index appears on folio 122r, followed by a General Review by Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, dated April 1940 (folio 125r).
The contents are divided into the following sections and sub-sections:
- Budget 1358 (folios 126r-127v);
- Summary of Revenue and Expenditure 1358 (folio 128r);
- Statetment of Revenue and Expenditure 1358 (folio 128v);
- Notes on Revenue 1357 (folio 129r);
- Notes on Expenditure 1357 (folios 129r-130v): Allowances to Ruling Family, Adviserate, Customs Department, Judicial, Awkaf [Awqāf] and Minors Departments, Public Works Department, Land Department, Passport Department, Oil Gauging, Transport Department, Public Health, Education, Municipalities, Agriculture, Departmental expenses, Unforseen, Public Protection, Armaments, Transport, King [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] Ibn Sa'ud's visit, Food Supplies, and Public Works (Manamah-Muharraq Swing Bridge, Hospital Building, Manamah Pier extension, Pier Trolley Lines, Fort, Education Department, Transport Department, Passport Office, Miscellaneous, Mosque at Hawar, Kozabia House, Budeya Garden drainage, Annual Repairs, and Road Repairs);
- The Pearl Industry (folios 130v-131v): The Pearl Industry and Pearl Propaganda;
- Police and Public Security (folios 132r-133v): Police Administration (Strength, Recruitment, Routine, Defence Duties, Health of the Police, Infant Welfare Clinic, Mounted Sections, Machine Gun Section and Motor Bicycle Section, Buildings, Promotions and Appointments), Naturs, Traffic Control and Crime;
- Public Health (folios 133v-139r): Appointment of Staff, The Village Dispensaries, Health (Malaria, Eye disease, Ear diseases, Respiratory disease, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Venereal disease, Small-Pox, Alimentary diseases, Rheumatic disease, and Gynaecological and Obstetrical diseases), Medical examination of school children (Boys' Schools and Girls' Schools), Health of the Police (Infant Welfare Clinic and Prisoners' Health) and Malaria;
- Land Registration Department (folio 139r): Registrations, Iranian Property, Island Beacons, and Survey Students;
- Judicial (folio 139v): Bahrain Courts and Bahrain Small Courts;
- Municipalities (folio 140r): Anti-Malaria Measures, Widening and Constructing town roads, New Road, Water Cart, Road Metalling, Lease of Markets, Swamp Reclamation, and Miscellaneous;
- Wakf [Waqf] Department (folio 140v): Shia Wakf Department and Sunni Wakf Department;
- Education (folios 140v-141r): School Reforms and appointment of Director of Education, Technical Schools, and Female Education;
- Minors Department, (folios 141r-141v);
- Food Control, report by A C Byard (folios 142r-143v);
- King Ibn Sa'ud's Visit to Bahrain (folios 143v-145r);
- Passport Department (folios 145r);
- Public Works Department (folios 145r-148r): Recurrent Expenditure, Non-Recurrent Expenditure (Manamah Muharraq Causeway and Bridge, Manamah Pier Extension, State Hospital, Fort, Government Schools, Transport Building, Passport Office and Post Office, New entrance and stairs at Manamah Palace, and Hawar Mosque), Works not provided for in 1358 budget (Rifle Range, Jida Island, Idari Spring, Hedd Girls' School and Om Ashaoom Spring);
- General (folios 148r-148v): New Appointments, Local Newspaper and Cinema, H.H.'s visit to India, Press and Broadcast propaganda, Catholic Church, Government Rest House, Appointment of a Governmental Representative with the Oil Company, and Shaikh Mohomed bin Isa's [Muḥammad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah] visit to New York;
- Electric Department (folios 148v-150): Electricity Department (Wiring Contracts, Temporary Wiring, Main Extensions, Alteration to Mains, and Air Conditioning), Government Telephone Department, Transport Department, Fire Department, Traffic Section, Government Technical School, New Government Hospital - Naim, Anti Malaria Campaign, Oil Royalty and other gauging, Muharraq Bridge, Financial Position, Electricity Charges, and Prospects for 1359;
- Profit and Loss Account (folio 151r).
- Revenue Account (folio 151v);
- Balance Sheet (folio 152r);
- Statement of Energy Sold (folio 152v);
- Customs Department, report by Mr C C L de Grenier, Director of Customs and Port Officer (folios 153rv-159r);
- Budget 1359 (folios 160r-161r);
- Notes on Estimated Revenue 1358 (folios 161v);
- Notes on Estimated Expenditure 1358: (folios 161v-162v).
Illustrations appear on four folios and they are labelled as follows:
- Folio 134: 'The Government Hospital, with labels Men’s wing in progress (left) and Women’s wing (right)';
- Folio 136: 'The Government Hospital: The Women’s Wing from the west';
- Folio 144: 'H.M. King Ibn Sa’ud inspecting the guard of honour, accompanied by H.H. Shaikh Hamad';
- Folio 147: 'H.M. King Ibn Sa’ud and H.H. Shaikh Hamad, on the palace’s new flight of steps'.
On the front cover there is an inscription that reads 'Printed at the Times Press, Basrah', as well as a note in pen that reads 'Confidential' (folio 122r).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (42 folios)
- Arrangement
This file contains an index (folio 122r) which references pages of the report.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: Folios 122-164.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/750/4
- Title
- 'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1358 (February1939 - February 1940)'
- Pages
- front-c, front-c-i, 123r:163v, back-c-i, back-c
- Author
- Belgrave, Sir Charles Dalrymple
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact [email protected] with any information you have regarding this item.