Page 495 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

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RESIDENCY AND MASK AT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1903-1904.

Part III.—REPORT ON THE TRADE AND COMMERCE OF THE
PERSIAN GULF FOR THE YEAR 1903, BY LIEUTENANT-
COLONEL C. A. KEMBALL, C.I.E., IIIS BRITANNIC MAJ­
ESTY’S ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL FOR EARS, K1IUZISTAN,
ETC.
General remarks.—Contrary to the hope expressed in the previous year's
report, there was a considerable decline in the amount of imported goods in the
year under review as compared with the previous year; but despite that
fact the year 1903 may be said to have been more favourable for trade
operations.
The harvest was normal and the cultivators were in a position to put on
the market their surplus stuff at fairly remunerative prices. The consequent
improved condition of the cultivators combined with the introduction of the
new Tariff proved a welcome boon to importers who netted handsome profits on
the previous year’s stocks and otherwise did fairly good business in new goods.
Thus, taken all round, the year 1903 may be safely said to have given satisfac­
tion generally.
Customs Tariff.—Tho unpleasant feature of the new Customs Tariff is the
difficulty aud delays which are experienced by the merchants in clearing their
goods, owing to the bulk of the imports having :o pay duty by weight. This
system is more harassing to Persian and British Indian merchants, who find it
dill cult to understand the intricacies and details of measurement, etc., and are
thus left at the mercy of the Cu>toms officials. Apart from this it does not
ap;.:ar to have in any way affected the trade of the Gulf. As an example of
this it may be pointed out tint Tea and Indigo, which aro heavily taxed, have
held their own in the year under review.
Imports.—The net decrease as gathered from the statistics is R52,28,730,
of which Bushirc is responsible for R22,03,6II and Lingah R3l,G3,6ol; while
there is an increase of Rl,8S,515 in the imports into Arab Coast.
The principal articles which contributed towards the decline in the imports
of Bushire are: cotton piece goods R 19,40,000, rice R3,00,000, porcelain and
Chinaware R 43,500, provisions R3,00,000, loaf sugar R2,72,800, and soft sugar
R9,93,500. The following articles show an increase in Bushire, viz., Indigo
R2,26,000, Hardware R3,09,G00, Matches RG3.590, Candles R42,S00, Metals
R2.00.000, and Specie R5,36,‘100. Tho chief articles which contributed towards
the decline in Lingah are Pearls R22,95,000, "Wheat R 2,98,400, Barley R74,100,
Rice 3,S7,400, Provisions R83,000, and Tobacco B43,100. The following arti­
cles show an increase in Lingah, viz., Coffee R2,0G,000, Sugar loaf fi:s7,S00 and
Sugar soft R48,300.
Tea.—According to tho new Tariff the duty on Indian tea is 6 krans per
batman of 6J lbs. which works out at about 50 per ceut., while the duty on white
tea is 10 kraus per batman, and tho percentage works out more or less to the
same figure. But it may be noted that the Batavia toa, which is coming into
favour and forms the bulk of import under China tea, pays duty at about 38 per
cent. This is due to the fact that for duty purposes a chest of Batavia tea is
taken to contain 20 per cent, of white leaves and 80 per cent, black, and thus
two rates of duty are charged, viz., 10 krans per batman on the former propor­
tion and 6 on tho latter, or, in other words, a chest taking it to contain 10 oat-
mans pays a duty of 69 krans. Roughly speaking, the price of Batavia tea is
about 18 krans per batman and that of Indian 12 krans. It will be thus seen
that the former enjoys a decided advantage over the latter, but it would bo
premature to hazard an opinion as to the ultimate effect wliioh this differentia­
tion of duty will have upon the import of Indian tea. There is, however, this
much in its favor, that it is consumod by the mass of the people who find it still
comparatively cheaper and aro not therefore likely to favour tho superior
sort. r