'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎90v] (185/470)

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VII. As regards the future of land revenue in the district, I think everything
points to early arrangements for a fixed cash assessment, for which the district is
eminently suited. Something might be done in 1919 by taking to sarkals as soon
as we see what the character of the harvest is likely to be, and fixing on each sarkaFs
holding a suitable quantity of grain per faddan. We could describe it as a form
of iltizam. This will require detailed crop inspections and classification of holdings
as good, bad and indifferent. It is only a temporary solution, but it would give us
an indication as to what each holding can pay, on the basis of which a cash assessment
could later be fixed. At present we must talk on terms of grain, as prices are so
uncertain.
VIII. I refrain from any comparison between the receipts from Land Revenue
in 1917 and 1918, as political and other conditions in the two years were so different
as to make such comparison valueless. The addition of the Mahmudiyah area to the
district during the year makes little practical difference, except in the karad (cash)
assessments ; as the flow cultivation was a failure, large remissions were necessary.
(b) Tapu. —The registration of tapu deeds has not been attempted so far
in the district.
There are few tapu properties and there has been little trouble between tapu
owners and tenants.
There are in the district two ‘uqr rights, the one on the Nasiriyah and the other
on the Mahmudiyah. Neither is supported by a tapu sanad, but on instructions
from the Revenue Board I permitted the collection of both.
No one has objected to the Nasiriyah collections. But in the case of Mahmudiyah
it was urged that the only ‘uqr right was over a small area near the Euphrates and
that under the Turks' the ‘uqr was escheated to Auqaf two years before the British
occupation. Auqaf have been informed and advised to investigate. But as no
cultivators denied that they used to pay in the past I ordered collections to proceed.
(c) Waqf. —The only considerable Waqf property in the district is the Musaiyib
waqf gardens. These were let for 1918 for Rs. 11,500 as against Rs. 3,300 last
year.
Waqf expenditure has by a gradual process been reduced to nil, the explanation
being that when we first occupied the area the staff of the Musaiyib and Iskandariyah
mosques were paid from waqf. On closer investigation it was found that in
Turkish times they were paid from General Revenues. The sums already paid
from waqf are being refunded.
(d) Miscellaneous and Special Revenues. —For demand statement see statement
attached to section on Land Revenue.
Musaiyib is not a great grazing district and I consider the Kodah figures
satisfactory. At the same time Kodah is a most unsatisfactory tax, and it is
impossible to exercise proper supervision over its collection.
One large demand for wood tax has been suspended until the question of who
is to pay is decided. The sale of wood, especially to Government, involves contractors
and sub-contractors. An attempt has been made to follow Turkish rules in
collecting, but the Turkish rules are vague.
The ‘araq distillation monopoly and the fish tax are farmed for the division
as a whole.
Practically no tobacco is grown.
The figures for slaughter-house tax represent half the receipts, the other
half is paid to the municipality.
(e) Customs are not collected.
(/) Compensation Cases in Musaiyib were considerably delayed in order that
all might be dealt with together. A committee sat in Musaiyib composed of the
Assistant Political Officer, Assistant Irrigation Officer and a citizen of Musaiyib.
The Committee’s recommendations were forwarded, but the decision of the
military authorities has not yet been communicated.
r i 3 j T ? RI f ATION ;— The Musaiyib and Nasiriyah canals and to a less extent the
Iskandariyah are influenced by the Barrage and no shortage of water occurred.
Some small canals on the right bank of the Euphrates and also the Husainiyah
were adversely influenced by the necessity for opening the Barrage to give sufficient
water at Kifl for the working of a military ferry at a time when the wheat crop
was at a critical stage. r