Page 553 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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things which smack of central control, and the desire of
the inhabitants, both tribal and urban, to have alarger
share in the administration of their own locality.
(c) TIUDB, COMEUCK A IIP SHIPPING,
Trade in Bushire has been almost at a standstill
throughout the year, Many of the merchants who were
established in Bushire during its times of prosperity
have left, and of those remaining most are too old to
undertake new ventures or jeopardise the capital which
will suffice to keep them until they die. As a result
money is very dear, and this together with Central
Government control, which succeeds in fettering all
but Tehran merchants, has prevented any real effort to
put Bushire commerce on its feet again. The recent
relaxation cf control over foreign trade has not yet
made any np reciable difference, and until the postal
and shipping services improve it is difficult to see
how any appreciable improvement can be effected. In
theory, ships of the B.I.S.1T. Coy. call at 3ushire
with mails to and from India and Iraq every 10 days
or fortnight, but in actual practise it is found that
these ships arrive most irregularly, and without
adequate prior notice, and often are unable to take on
any passengers or cargo. It has not been uncommon for
there to be periods of 6 weeks with no sea rail. Air
mail services showed some promise but if anything have
deteriorated during the latter part of the year, .and
ceased entirely for some time. One or two ships of
Messrs. otrick and Coy. have called at Bashirs e:i route
to or from England, ar.d undoubtedly there is plenty of
scope for trace between England and Bushire. There has
been some talk of starting a new ship ing Coy. for carr­
iage of passengers and light cargo in the Gulf and to
India,but this plan is bred more of desperation than of
careful thought, as a Persian Shipping Coy. would be
most unlikely to be a success.
(d) LOCAL COkCBUNS.
The Eter.edieh Cotton and Spinning Mill continues
to produce cloth, and though production lias decreased
and expenditure increased following Tudeh activities,
the continued high price of cloth has enabled the Coy.
to make good profits. It is now proposed to set up
another mill in Bushire, to be managed by ouite a sep­
arate company, and plans for the purchase of machinery
from England are being made.

Bushire Electric coy.
______________________ A new company has been
formed by Mr. Agar, managing director of the Etemedieh
Mill, and machinery for it is now being erected. It
is understood that the old electric company is going out
of business entirely. It is claimed that the new comoany
will in addition to producing ice, nrovide largo cold*
storage facilities. What pnrpose they will serve ia
difficult to foresee.
, Bushire Drinking 'Water supulv. Bushire continues
to obtain drinking water from this scheme, but it is not
clear how long this will continue. It is understood
that there is no money left from the original grant,
that repairs will have to be made soon and that unless
the scheme is taken over by the Municioality or a prooer
company, piped, supply will never be made to the houses
/in Bushire