Page 103 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

Rcvcn lie-expenditure budgets 425

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Special Receipt of Ks.4,00,000 /- is expected as the result
of Oil Concession Negotiations. Its inadequacy is portly due
to the heavy cost or the Budget to complete the I.Ianama-Muharraq
Cause\/ay (the Advisor's figure for this is an underestimate)
and portly to over-conservative estimation of Revenue, It is
true that there is a balance of Rs.3 lakhs from 1357 for
investment in the current year, which brings the total anti­
cipated investment to Rs. 14 lakhs but, quite apart from this,

I am convinced that the state can and should invest Rs.15 lakhs
at least during 1358. I propose, unless otherwise instructed,
to take up this matter with the Adviser when 9 months' actuals
are known.
B. As stated above the cost of the Manama-I.iuharraq Bridge
will exceed the Budget figure, but in all probability the
major part of the expenditure will come next year, The
contractors »ill start work in October and since they will be
unable to finish this task before the end of the Arabic year
they will presumably only draw running bills.
C. An extensive Public torks programme is again contemplated.
Cn the experience of last year I doubt if the Bahrain P.V/.D.
will be able to complete it.
5. As framed the Budget appears to indicate the beginning
of a decline in prosperity in Bahrain. In the light of my re­

marks above, however, it will be evident that there is little
cause for anxiety on this score. Nevertheless it is becoming

more and more apparent that all previous estimates of anti-
capatcd normal expenditure on the administration of Bahrain
require radical revision} and fresh sources of income must be
found. The whole problem may be simplified by new oil
discoveries in (or rather below) shoal waters, but such optim­
ism makes too heavy demands on a beneficent Providence, and
the development of other industries is becoming an urgent
necessity. As I hove indicated in demi-official correspond­

ence/