Page 648 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

6
14, (ii) Landing of Cargo. There were a number of complaints
made by merchants against the landing arrangements at Sitra (the
oil port) and at Manama (the Bahrain general port) which are
practically speaking a monopoly of Messrs. Gray Mackenzie and Co.
r.ded Ltd. A meeting was held oil the 8th of April presided over by the
Ruler of Bahrain and/about thirty prominent merchants. Proposals
v/ere put forward but nothing concrete was dedided at this meeting.
In I'ay a second meeting was held by the Bahrain Merchant community
to consider a proposal to form their own landing company, ~ sum
of Rs. 7,00,000 was promised to finance it. A third meeting was
held on the 29th May at the Agency. The Political Agent, his
.Highness the Ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh Abdulla bin 'Isa, uncle of
His Highness, Hr. C.D. Belgrave, the Adviser, and representatives
of Messrs. Gray Mackenzie and Co Ltd., were present. At this
meeting it soon became apparent that the merchants wished not to
compete but to co-operate*with Messrs. Gray Mackenzie and the
general impression was that the proposed landing company was un­
likely to materialize. On the 1st of June a fourth meeting was
held. It was stated that the merchants would withdrew their
application to the Bahrain Government provided Messrs. Gray
Mackenzie accepted certain terms regarding delivery and care of
cargo which should be discharged at Jansma, a 20 ;4 reduction in
the~existing scale of landing charges, and that the Bahrain
Government would review the scale of landing charges yearly.. Mr.
Ueikle of Messrs. Gray Mackenzie agreed to most of the terms, but
said that the question of discharging cargo at Manama would have
to be taken up*v/ith the shipowners before he could give an outright
decision. He stated that the company could not agree to the
proposed reduction of SO ;•£. After seme discussion a reduction
of 15 $ was agreed to on cargo landed ex vessels anchored at Manama.
The merchants then announced their withdrawal of their application,
but requested that they be allowed tc meet once a month to discuss
any grievances et cetera. This was agreed to by the Gray Mackenzie
Representative, present at the meeting. Ho further complaints
have teen made.
15. POST OFFICE
The following officials held charge as Sub-Postmaster
in 1947:-
PAKRAIH .

(i) Mr. Dewa.n Cha.nd Sh’arma From 1.1.1947
to 31.10. 1947
(ii) Mr. Rajab Ali From 1.11.1947
To 31.12.1947
*hey v/ere assisted by four clerks, three Postmen and
one packer.
Registered Letters received 23,304
Registered Letters despatched 26,2S3
Registered Parcels received 10,003
Registered Parcels despacthed 5,182

Rs. As. P.
Sale of Stamps 2,96,919 11 9
Money Order Commission 30,551 • 4 0
British Postal Order
Poundage 81 9 6
Indian Postal Order
commission 58 8 0
Postage dues 841 8 0

Total = 3,28,452 9 3

. / Value of Iloney Orders