'التقرير الإداري عن الخليج الفارسي لعام ١٩٣٦' [و‎‎١‎٧] (٧٤/٣٣)

21
hands of various Companies which monopolise trade. Exchange Control
also has come into force under which the official buying rate for sterling
was lixed at 80 rials to the pound and purchase of foreign currency could
only be effected by Banks on behalf of the Exchange Control Commission
in Tehran, while sales were only under Government permits issued by the
Commission after long delay. This has had a detrimental effect on the
foreign exchange turnover of Banks and it has seriously affected all import
business
Silver coinage has been out of circulation for most of the year. Owing
to the restrictions on foreign trade, Banks report that current account depo
sits have increased considerably. Some of the surplus has been invested
in trading companies and industrial enterprises.
No new taxes have been introduced during the year, but a new Customs
Tariff contained several increases including charges on motor vehicles, im
port and working of which has become a Government monopoly. This has
not reduced the cost of services to the public, while both new and second
hand cars have increased in price.
Piecegoods, sugar and tea continue to be the principal imports. They
are all handled by monopoly organisations controlled by the Government, in
which local merchants have little share. Retailers of piecegoods expect
shortly to be put out of business by the opening of shops by the Cotton
Piecegoods Monopoly Company.
Export of opium has been considerably restricted. Carpets were
shipped freely by merchants until the end of the year when all transactions
became a monopoly of the Carpet Monopoly Company. Gum tragacanth,
almonds and dried fruits have also become the objects of monopolies during
the year given to Central Companies m Tehran. Agricultural products in
general are now controlled by interests centred in the Capital and most of
the profits go there.
The following Companies have been reported to have been formed dur
ing the last two years to handle commodities of interest to the Shiraz
trader :—
Sherket-i-Tijareti (general import and export).
Sherket-i-Sheker-wa-Cand (sugar and match import and trade, with
a subsidiary organisation to handle tea, which is not yet in
working order).
Sherket-i-Panbeh (growing and export of cotton).
Tasbit-i-Ghalleh (wheat growing and purchase).
Sherket-i-Pust Narm (export of skins).
Sherkat-i-Qumash (import and trade in cotton piecegoods).
Sherket-i-Ketirah (export of gum tragacanth and gum arabic).
Sherket-i-Khoshkbar (export of dried fruits, almonds, etc.).
Sherket-i-Khollar (wine making and trade).
Sherket-i-Khal (carpet trade).
Sherket-i-Sadaret-i-Fars wa Banader (production and sale of native
crafts, /silver, enamel, mosaic work, and hosiery).
Most of the principal articles of trade are thus covered by these Com
panies. They are not well-managed. Directors and Managers are permit-
ted to engage in private trade. They are inclined to behave as though thev
were above the Law and injured parties do not.dare to take the matter to
the Courts. Large profits are admitted to be made by buying imported
goods and holding them off the market. This seems a curious way of spend
ing the tax-payers' money which goes to finance such concerns, the control
exercised by the Government over these Companies and their policy is loose.
Meanwhile all private trade is being throttled, taxes increase, the cost of
46(C) ErAffairsDopt