Page 183 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

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CHAPTER IX.
Miscellaneous.

(i) Question of Disposal of Consular Fees at Basrah, 1883.

280. This question was raised by Colonol Tweedie in January 1883 in
a demi-official letter. Colonel Tweedie
A„ Gonerol E, Auguit 1883, No*. .05— 83.
thought thatitliesc fees should be declared
public assets, and credited to tho Government of India as.contribution to the
salary of, and provision of quarters for,-the Consul. Ho brought up the point in
connection/with the question-of the rent of the Consulate buildiugs at Basrah
which has been separately (considered.
281. The Foreign Department were not inclined to interfere with the ar­
rangement in force whereby the Consul at Basrah realized for his own use about
Rs. 100 a month from the Consular fees, hut it was decided to ascertain the
amount and nature of the Consular fees retained by the officers at Uushire,
Maskat and Zanzibar. This was doue on the 30th April 1883,-and the replies
received showed the following results :—
JBushire,—The levy of Consular fees commenced on the 1st .January 1880,
since which time they have amounted .in all to Rs. 892-7-6, being .an.average
of about Rs. 297-8 per .annum, .the XvhoJe of which have been iretainod by the
Consul-General under authority from Her Majesty’s Government.
On the appointment an Feburary 1883 of Mr. Lucas to the .post o£\Vice-
Consul at Bushire, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs gave authority
for him .to retain all fees (legally leviable in his Consular capacity.
Maskat.—:The Consul at this place retains all fees except judicial fees
wlrcli lie credits to the Indian Government. His authority for such retention
is contained in the Order of Council of 1st May 1855 and page 133 of the 1879
edition of the instructions to Consular officers which says—
u Vico-Cousuls statinnod at places whotc.no superior.officer,resides, may, unless otherwise
directed, appropriate to their own use the fees which are leviable uuder the Order in Couucil of
the 1st May 1856. ”
The officer at Maskat realized :under the above .authority, an average of
about Rs. 716-14i.a year, being fees collected chiefly in respect of matters.apper­
taining to shipping and merchandize and notarial-acts connected therewith.
He used to furnish the Home Government with periodical returns of the
fees levied and retained, but in 1881, the Foreign Office authorities dispensed
with it. The Council observed that the fee of 2*i per cent, allowed in respect
of the management of the property of a British subject uot being a seaman,
dying intestate, was not, as a.rule, earned without immense labour on the part
of the adminstrator.
Zanzibar.-^Under Act 6, George IV, Chapter87, and tho'Orders in Coun­
cil of June I85i, and May 1855, the Consul-General at this place -retained all
fees levied on account of—
Merchant Shipping;
Registration;
Probate and Administration;
Miscellaneous;
Political Agent’s Court, Slave Trade Jurisdiction;
which during the five years 1878—1882 amounted to about Rs. 67,523, giving
an average of Rs 9,505-9-7 per annum. It was not shown that any fees were
credited to the State.
(ii) Major Mockler’s appointment as Acting Consul at Basrah and Procedure
to b-j followed iu -oase of minor Consular appointments in the Persian Gulf, and
Turkish Arabia, 1884.
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