Page 113 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

3.
.
smaller scale this year than last, partly owing to the Increased

use of the Zahldan frontier, and partly - towards the end of the
year - to restriction on exports from India, The demand for
l
credit for clearing and forwarding charges was reduced I
accordingly. Considerable business, however, was done in the :
disposal, in a steadily rising market of accumulated stocks,
and large profits were made. In support of the Government's

efforts to check the alarming rise in the cost of living, and
to discourage the hoarding of, and speculation In, essential
commodities, both the Imperial Bank of Iran and the Bank-i-
i
Uellie agreed to restrict credit throughout the country, and to

refuse all business of a speculative nature, This policy had
little apparent effect up to the close of the year. Interest
I
rates showed little change from those ruling last year.
The shortage of local currency has been felt here,
as in other parts of the country, but has not yet caused any

serious inconvenience. The condition of many of the notes In
circulation, particularly those of smaller denominations, is
very poor.
The uncertainty of the postal service, and the long

delays caused by lack of transport facilities for mails, are
having an increasingly hampering effect on local business.
Agriculture
Cr6ps very largely failed during the year under

review owing to an almost total lack of rain, especially in
Bushire town and the neighbouring districts. Only in Liravi
and, to a lesser extent, in small areas of Dashtl and Tanglstan

were there surpluses over local needs, In the remainder of the
shahristan, which was by far the larger area, there was a great

shortage of foodstuffs, This was to some extent relieved by
the imports of wheat brought in from Canada and India by the
Allies.

Export of dates from the Bushire district was
prohibited in order to conserve local supplies. As a result,
/the small