Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎237r] (478/1028)

The Council as a whole appear to function fairly effectively though com
posed of warring functions. They are somewhat averse however to° facing
responsibility, which is no doubt attributable to the somewhat restricted powers
accorded to them by His Highness.
The appointment of the Financial Adviser continued to be held by Captain
R. G. Fi. W. Alban till he proceeded on long leave in June.
2. State Finances. —It is not possible within the confines of this report
to enter into a lengthy digest of the State Finances and it will suffice to give but
a brief resume of the situation as it now stands.
The opening balance at the commencement of the year showed a working
credit (exclusive of debts due from the State to local creditors) of Rs. 90,460.
By virtue of a considerable tightening up in the system of revenue collee
tion, and by the enforcement of rigid economy and retrenchment, including ^ a
further reduction in July 1933 of the Civil List expenditure, the receipts for
1933 show an increase of Rs. 10,834 over the previous year, whilst expenditure
has been decreased by Rs. 32,449.
The actual surplus of Receipts over Expenditure for 1933 amounts J:o
Rs. 1,07,881, which compares favourably with the surplus of Rs. 64,598 in 1932.
A close scrutiny of the State Budget proposals for 1934 w r ould seem to show
ample scope for yet further economy in expenditure without impairing the effi
ciency of die Administration.
In 1935 the Arms Traffic subsidy, amounting to Rs. 1,00,000 ceases. It is
clear therefore that to compensate for this large loss and to regulate the debts
due to local creditors, further economies will have to be effected and tint i
means devised for increasing the State revenues.
'Neither nroblem should prove impossible of solution, particularly ia view
of tl^ Son"dy obtained from certain Governments m Treaty alliance
with the State for the revision of Import duties.
3 Event* of Political Interests in State Limits.-—In February the Mdical
sssfa a s&sss’j&fws
t -f ri* q full exposition of the situation and the greatest patience dis-
playeHy the Sultan, Se ShSkh ha. failed to see reason and consequently Ins
allowances have been held m abeyance.
During the course of the year the State have ^d cause ^fan Government
the infringement of ^'’j^t^^ff^vitFa"captured dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. in tow in June. The
sublecroi'the"? has fliciSd a categorical denial of the facts from the Per-
sian Government. ^ .
Apart from a certain alleged "“^^/“yail^throughout the Sultanate
thro^ttevSldrSdents of a political significance have occurred.
Tlents i* Oman .—There have been no events of outstanding importance
during the yea, g ^ ^ thege have
The usual crop of n)mor miei
in no way rep^rcussed on Muscat.
5.
Trade and General-
-This subject has already been dealt with elsewhere
in this Report. Wmffirv remained with Cap-
fi . from 24th March
whentt Major Patch Khmr ^
The main occupation ^
ing of the leave season m August was
for the State.