Coll 30/36 'Bahrain: claim of Yusuf Lutfali Khunji a Persian subject against Shaikh Hamad in respect of an ice factory' [‎45r] (89/340)

(J 5 )
received a iew tnousana Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. proiit irom ms snare. jut
again I am imaDie to und any record or accounts. I gather
tnat ne left tne management oi‘ tne concern entirely to lusui
Khon 3 i ? s agent.
H.E. ShaiKh Hamad informs me tnat on various occasions
he was asiiea to pay large sums of money for spare parts etc.
wnich ne invariably paid.
In 1927 ana 1926, acting on my advice, H*S. SbaiKh Hamad
allowed tne agent to run one machine nimself, retaining whatever
profits ne could make and not demanding any payments from His
Excellency. During these two years, with tne knowledge of tne
agent, attempts were made to sell tne whole concern. A linn
of engineers in Basrah were approached, also Mespers oi Bahrain
and tne machinery was examined oy several peoplej all attempts
to sell completely failed.
The price of the ice at times reached four Annas the
pound, it was dirty and ol bad quality, though the Medical
Officer was said to inspect it at intervals. There were many
complaints by the public.
In 1928 conversations took place between tne agent and
myseli on behalf oi H.E. Shaikh Hamad with a view to His
Excellency selling ms half share. Finally H*E. shaikh namad
wrote to the President oi tne Manama Municipality asking that tl
the Municipality snould act for nim in the matter oi tne ice
plant with due regard to his own interests and those ox tne
public.
The agent disliked this suggestion and after some
negociations ne was allowed to run tne xactory himsell, using
one nail of it as before.
The unsatisfactory quality and the high price oi tne ice
was discussed oy tne Munipipal Council.
At one time, before 1930, it was suggested to H.E. Shaikh
Hamad that he should sell ms share to Yusuf Khonji for Hs.10,00
but he considered the amount too low.
Negociations were resumed before the beginning of tne
summer