Page 339 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

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Roads arid commercial development 659

•. GOVERNMENT OF BAHRAIN.
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- <\ re::. - r No: 7o6/'3i,<b of 1353.
//
I’-Wvi Wj.t Land Settlement Department.
Bahrain, 4th Thul Qada, 1353.
£<tk_
7th February , 1935.
To,

H. B. M's Political Agent,
< U I’M-
BAHRAIN.
Sir,
I have the honour to Inform you that with regard to the
present state of unemployment in Bahrain and the agitation
existing on the subjeot His Excellenoy Shaikh Hamed considers
that the most effeotive reply which oould be given by the
Bahrain Government to the people would be to continue the
work of building the Muharraq Manama road. This provides
employment for large numbers of Bahrain subjects who spend
the money which they e.arn in the Bahrain bazaars.
The financial position of the State is opnsiderably better
than it was last year, apart from expectations of increased
revenue from oil royalties there is now a Reserve of 3,00,000/-
instead of ?. ,50^000/- and a balance of approximately Rs.68,000/-
in the bank instead of an overdraft of approximately Rs.2000/-.
Much of this money is derived from sale of land but during
the year Rs.30,000/- has been spent on the road and about
Rs.33,000/- was paid to the personal account of His Exoellency
Shaikh Sir Hamed.
It is very difficult to make an estimate of the oost of
completing the road, apart from the ferry, but I consider
that it could be finished at the oost of not more than
Rs »80,000/-. I would suggest that the work should be carried
on at the rate of not more than 10,000/- per month in which
case I feel certain that the road will be finished in a year
from the time that work is resumed.
I am obtaining particulars of a ferry which exists north
of Baghdad and whioh I think could be used here. Apart from
the question of unemployment, which is at present a very
genuine matter, His Exoellency Shaikh Sir Hamed regards the
completion of this road as a raetter of the greatest importance.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
s' sv your obedient servants

Adviser to,
Bahrain Government.