'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the year 1932' [‎521r] (17/73)

As a relief measure during- the famine period, work was begun on the
Bushire-Bandar Abbas road but beyond cleaning the surface of its more im
portant obstructions little was done. The mishandling and underpayment of
the labourers gave rise to much discontent and was the occasion for a mass
protest to His Excellency the Governor. Work has since been discontinued and
it is said that the rains have done much towards the obliteration of the results
achieved.
Bushire-Ahwaz via Ganoweh .—The road as far as Ganoweh is not main
tained at all and is now a mere track and the ferry established by* the Anglo-
Persian Oil Company at Rudhilleh has also fallen into disuse. The route now
taken is via Angali and Hayat Baud where a ferry was established by a local
merchant who had undertaken a post contract for the carriage of mails by
mechanical transport between Bushire and Ahwaz. Unfortunately lack of
support killed this enterprise and the ferry is rapidly deteriorating.
Security of the Poods.—While it is probably safe to say that the general
security of the roads was somewhat better than during recent years the
customary crop of holds-up occurred during the tribal migratory periods and a
band of outlawed Chahkutahi tribesmen, who are still at liberty, made sporadic
raids on passing traffic.
Air Lines .—Owing to the failure of the Persian Government to agree to
acceptable terms, Imperial Airways transferred the route for the United King
dom—India service from the Persian to the Arab Coast during the year.
The postal air-mail service run by the Junkers Company between Bushire
and Tehran also met with difficulties and was suspended. The Dutch Line
(K. L. M.) which carries mails and passengers between Holland and Batavia
maintained a weekly service and their planes continued throughout the year to
land, both outward and homeward, at Bushire. As with the French Air Orient,
it is understood that from April they were merely granted single flight permits
to fly over Persia.
Anylo-Persian Oil Company .—After drilling to a depth of S',600 feet and
discovering evidence of the existence of oil at an earlier age the Anglo-Persian
Oil Company withdrew from Lavar (Kuh-i-Mund) in November.
The cancellation of the D’Arcy Concession had no repercussions in this
area.
Exports and Imports .—In the absence of statistics or precise information
regarding the destination of exports or the countries of origin of imports it is
not possible to make other than general observations.
Carpets .—The supply of new carpets was considerably diminished by the
grain and water famine which played havoc with the flocks, although the shortage
was offset to some extent by personal sales made from sheer necessity by
impoverished individuals.
The export trade has practically ceased and there is news of enforced
sales by banks both in England and the United States of America to recover
advances made by them to Persian merchants against shipping documents. One
dealer in New York is known to have dropped about 5,00,000 American Dollars
as the result of price-reductions.
There can be little hope of improved markets for th^se artic 1 es of luxury
until more prosperous times return and until foreign tariffs are lowered.
Ovium .—The inability of the monopoly to find a market for the opium
available was very largely due to the excessive export duty of £83 per case of
160 lbs. imposed by the Persian Government and led eventually to the cancella
tion of the Concession.
The monopolists were extremely hard pressed for funds and one can well
imagine that the profits which have accrued from deals they have made have been
insufficient to cover the possible outlay in acquiring their monopolv rights.
They are reported to have about 5,800 cases in stock at an average cost to them
pf about Rials 7,800 per case of 160 lbs. for which they are unable to find a