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fruits have also become the objects of monopolies during the year given to Central
Companies in Tehran. Agricultural products in general are now controlled by
interests centred in the Capital and most of the profits go there.
45. The following Companies have been reported to have been formed during
the last two years to handle commodities of interest to the Shiraz trader :—
Sherket-i-Tijarati (General import and export).
Sherket-i-Sheker wa Qand (Sugar and match import and trade, with a sub
sidiary organisation to handle tea, which is not yet in working order).
Sherket-i-Panbeh (growing and export of cotton).
Tasbit-i-Ghalleh (wheat growing and purchase).
Sherket-i-Pust Narm (export of skins)
Sherket-i-Qumash (import and trade in cotton piece-goods).
Sherket-i-Ketirah (export of gum tragacanth and gum arabic).
Sherket-i-Khoshkbar (export of dried fruits, almonds, etc.).
Sherket-i-Khollar (wine making and trade).
Sherket-i-Ghali (carpet trade).
Sherket-i-Saderat-i-Fars wa Banader (production and sale of native crafts,
sdver, enamel, mosaic work and hosiery).
46. Most of the principal articles of trade are thus covered by these Companies.
They are not well managed. Directors and Managers are permitted to engage in
private trade. They are inclined to behave as though they were above the Law
and injured parties do not dare to take the matter to the Courts. Large profits
are admitted to be made by buying imported goods and holding them off the market.
This seems a curious way of spending the tax-payers money which goes to finance
such concerns. The control exercised by the Government over these Companies
and their policy is loose. Meanwhile all private trade is being throttled, taxes
increase the cost of living goes up steadily and there is little return to be seen
locally except more and more barracks.
47. Industrial development in Shiraz and the Province of Pars as already
been mentioned. The Cotton Spinning Mill at Shiraz, owned by the Ears Manu
facturing Company, has given very satisfactory results. A dividend of 86% was
paid on the year’s working. Three shifts of operatives, each of 200. are working
day and night. Hadji Mohammed Hassan Behbehani, the Managing Director,
visited Tehran during the summer and obtained a Government permit for extension
of the premises. The buildings have since been erected and it is intended to in
crease the plant to 10,000 spindles. The necessary exchange permit has been
promised by the Ministry of Finance and the order for Spinning machinery is pro
bably to go to Platt Brothers, of Oldham, who supplied the existing plant, and for
diesel engines and electrical plant to Mirrleos and the General Electric Company.
But some difficulty has arisen over the actual issue of the permits and the machinery
cannot for the present be shipped.
48. During the year the same Company imported German machinery which
has been sold to the Shahriza Company of Isfahan.
49. The second Spinning Mill at Shiraz, owned by the Dekkan Brothers wdio
also own the Ears Electric Company, has installed German machinery which was
ready for testing at the end of the year. Large stocks of new cotton are ready for
use. A permit to import British machinery was refused by the Ministry of Finance.
50. The Electric Power Station succeeded in giving an all-night service during
the month of Ramadan. A second Mirrlees diesel motor is expected shortly which
will improve the already fairly reliable town lighting.
51. The Merv Dasht Sugar Refinery, near the Isfahan road some 25 miles north
of Shiraz, which was opened in October 1935, commenced work a year later. Local
beetroot has been used and by the end of the year sugar was placed on the market.
It is of good quality. 40,000 tons of beet are said to be available, giving 18%
of sugar! 7,200 tons of sugar have been produced at the rate of 35 tons per
day. ° But production is said to cost 200% more than the European sugar cif.
Bushire.