Page 112 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

2.

Norwegian. 2 ships called as against 3 last year.
Union of Soviet Socialist. Republics. One ship

called.
Opium
The decrease in exports mentioned last year continued.
The bulk of the opium exported went to the United States of America

which is a new market for Persian'opium. This is presumably due
to the fact that supplies of opium from Turkey, (which is believed
to be a better source than Persia of medicinal opium), have been
more difficult to obtain.
The following shipments were made during the year:-

April 400 cases to United States of America.
Hay 500
30 United Kingdom.
July 200 United States of America.
August 10 United Kingdom.
October 30 United Kingdom.

1170 cases
Itemadleh Mill
The financial position of the Mill has been very

satisfactory throughout the year. Its products have enjoyed
a good demand throughout the country and especially in Isfahan,
The Mill could easily have paid a divident of 200$ but, in order
to present a less vulnerable front to the Finance Department,

an interim dividend of 75$ only was paid and the balance of
profit remaining put partly into an auxiliary electric plant for
the Mill and partly to increase the share capital, The price of
shares was increased to Rials 20,000 on the original face value

of Rials 5,000 per share. The price of cloth increased by about
75$ on last year*s prices. Workmen*s wages were increased by
5Q$ while a further increase of 25$ was made to the clerical staff*

There were two small stoppages in the operation of the Mill, due
In the one case to lack of cotton and in the other to a mechanical
defect in the electric power plant.

Finance
Commercial clearance from the Customs was on a much
small®** /

I