Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎244v] (493/1028)

4 reserves ’ to find necessary funds, in other words he has had to spend out r
capital to keep the 200 or so odd members of the ruling family (male and female)
in pocket money. '
5. The import tax on goods entering Kuwait has remained at 4 per ce t
ad valorem, which as in the case of Bahrain and Debai tends to attract trade
away from Saudi ports, Persia and Traq. As was the case last year a further
surtax of 1 per cent, ad valorem is also taken, which is handed over to tl
Town Municipality, in place of the old House tax, which was found difficult
of collection and irksome to the majority of the inhabitants. This surtax wa l
started I) years ago at the suggestion of certain prominent merchants, and bears
easily on everyone.
Goods exported or imported by British subjects are exempt from thi
tax.
(b) Municipality—1. The general improvement and high standard f
cleanliness and sanitation w r hich the Municipal authorities set themselve t
bring about three years ago, has been maintained in remarkable fashion durum
1933. Kuwait to-day is believed to be the cleanest Town in the whole of the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and is well ahead of Basra and Mohammerah in this respect It
certainly is the healthiest of all towns between Karachi and Baghdad for the
simple reason that there are no mosquitoes or sand flies, the soif is sandy and
wells and cisterns—the harbourers of malaria—are conspicuous by their
absen ce.
2. The able and energetic Municipal Secretary Sulaiman al Adsani brother
to the City Qadhi or Judge, was re-elected at the 1933 elections and continues
to do most excellent and fruitful work. He retains the full confidence of the
Shaikh, than whom no more keen person exists, where the health and welfare
of his subjects are concerned.
3. The electrification of Kuwait town foreshadowed in this Agency’s last
Administration Report as certain for the Autumn of 1933, materialised on the
1st of Ramadhan (18th December 1933). A fine engine house has been erected
on the sea front, and two first class English engines have been installed which
for the moment perform all the work that is necessary. Two other engines are
°n order, and some 1,000 lights have been installed in the Town since the Power
House started, work. By the end of 1933, electric cables were carried along the
whole 3 mile limit front of the Town and noAV extend past the New Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. as far
as the Shaikh s Palace at Dasman. W ith the completion of the New Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
building steps will shortly be taken to obtain the Government of India’s approval
to power being taken from the Town electric plant.
A feature of the electrification of the Town is the fact that it is not managed
by the Town Municipality, but by a Company of ‘ Iraqi cum Kuwait capitalists.
11ns makes for efficiency and cheapness. The cost per ‘ unit ’ has been fixed
at 6 annas, which compared with other towns is fair.
4. In the affairs of the Municipality the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. confines himself
to propaganda and advice only. He does not interfere, and results achieved in
the last 4 years are most satisfactory. The chief credit for this highly satisfac
tory state of affairs must be given to His Excellency the Shaikh, to the Municipal
Secretary and, last but not least, to the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Medical Officer, who has been
tireless in. his efforts to. preach cleanliness and sanitation. The most satisfac-
t°n and^ indeed most significant feature of the whole thing is that the active
demand tor every improvement carried through, has come from the people them
selves. They are proud of their Town and have caught the spirit of progress
m right earnest.
5. Kuwait still, remains ‘ dry ’, nor will the Ruler tolerate for one moment
an} such western ideas as £ ‘ Cinemas ” or ££ Theatres ”, which have done so
much to demoralise certain post-war Arab States in the Middle East. The
Shaikh has shown much wisdom in this respect and has received the fullest
support of the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. .
(c) Imperial Airways and Aviation Questions generaVy .—1 • Kuwait is
vr W n re 3' 11 ^ ar port of call for Imperial Airways aircraft and both Eastbound and
W cst lound mail and passenger carrying machines stop here.
q on ^nistbound machines land and refuel every Thursday morning at
, . > ^yhfle the M estbound mails call on Fridays, the scheduled time of arm a
being 11 a.m.