'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the year 1932' [‎518v] (12/73)

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speaks English in addition to French and Russian, having served for some years
in both Paris and Berlin. Taliqani endeavours to get the local Persian Depart
ments to work together harmoniously and avoids partisanship.
During this year of complete crop failure and water shortage he made
genuine endeavours to alleviate the appalling distiess of the suffeiers and
eventually succeeded in overcoming the apathy of the Central authorities at
Tehran to the extent that the importation of wheat and fodder from abroad was
freed from the impossible Trade Monopoly restrictions.
As Governor he made two tours, one in March as far south as -Task (his
jurisdiction extends to a point between -Task and Charbar) visiting Bandar
Abbas, Minah, Qishm, Henjam, Lingah, and the Shibkuh area. He flew by Dutch
machine to Jask and returned by Imperial Airways from Lingah. The second
tour was made between the 5th and 10th May and covered the northern area up
to Hindi an.
He also visited Kharag Island during September, being accompanied by the
Officer Commanding Troops and the Chief Quarantine Medical Officer.
Assistant Governor .—Aqa Mohamed Zand continued as Assistant Governor
during the year and as in 1931 was chiefly employed on behalf of the Governor
as President of the Bushire Municipality.
Customs Department. —Mirra Habibullah Khan Behmzi, Provincial
Director, was a most delightful official, always charming and genuinely as
obliging as his involved regulations permitted. He endeavoured to eradicate
some of the malpractices amongst his subordinates and succeeded to such an
extent that certain of those affected reported against him anonymously to Tehran
and, in the inimitable Persian way, he himself (!) was accused of malpractices.
This indignity and injustice seriously affected his health which broke down and
necessitated his leaving Bushire on the 23rd June on medical certificate. He
handed over charge to Monsieur L. B. Vandenrydt, who had arrived in December
1931 as Special Inspector.
Monsieur Vandenrydt, a full-bearded Belgian Douanier, arrived determined
to defeat the smugglers who thrived along the sparcely guarded coast line, and
especially between Bushire-Bandar Abbas. He announced that his solution to
contrabandage was the removal of the cause for smuggling by the Persian Gov
ernment providing the tribesmen and smugglers with the necessities of life !
He submitted lengthy schemes to Tehran, but by the end of the year he had begun
to realize that service under Persia was a peculiar and thankless task, especially
after he had been refused a permit to import foodstuffs for his own consumption.
M. Vandenrydt made no inspection of his area during the year.
After the arrival of the six Persian vessels from Italy, his three preventive
steamers and eight motor dhows were taken over by the Persian Marine Depart
ment. He was therefore left with neither vessels nor personnel with which to
stop smuggling. He perforce turned his attention to the improvement of the
Bushire Customs yard and buildings and occupied himself with the re-laviim*
of the customs trolley lines.
M irza Lutf-Ullah Khan, Doulat Shahi, took over from Monsieur Vandenrydt
is Provincial Director on the 17th October. He appears to be a pleasant man
and no complaints have been heard as yet.
Health and Quarantine .—Following the Shah’s visit and the report of
Inspector General, Coulogner, the Bushire Hospital began to give free treatment
and also actually to admit patients and treat them.
For the inspection made by the General, Coulogner, in May a number of
poor and out-patients were forced into the hitherto unoccupied beds. The
patients struck at the wage of 3 Rials offered them and eventually got 5 Rials
a day for the two days’ ‘ work ’ taken from them.
Bushire Municipality .—The Municipality functioned calmly and quietly
under the supervision of Assistant Governor Aqa Zand.
The annual revenue amounted to somewhat over 300,000 Rials, of which the
Weighing Tax supplied two-thirds.
Relief to the poor and famine-stricken absorbed about 35,000 Rials, while
repairs and improvements took over 70,000 Rials. Salaries approximated 30
per cent.