Page 187 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

Budgetary affairs 175

CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 472-5.
British Residency & Consulato-GGnoral,
Bushire, the 1st June 1943.

From
Tho Hon'ble Lieut.-Colonel C.G.Prior, C.I.E.,
Political Residont in tho Porsian Gulf,
Bushire.
To
Tho Secretary to the Government of India
in the Extornal Affairs Department,
NEW DELHI.
Sir,
I havo the honour to forward for the information
of the Government of India a copy of the Bahrain State
Budget for the year 1362.
2. Although the rocoipts from royalty on oil during
the year 1361 (a third of which is normally credited to
the Reserve Fund) amounted to Fs. 26,21,412/6/0, only
688/l3/fo/woa added to the Rosorvo Fund during the
Fa. 62,
3o
your I reproduce below an extract from a noto^Ey tne
Advisor giving reasons for thi3 comparatively small
investment*
"In tho Budget for 1361 I estimated that tho
total expenditure under Budget headings would amount
to Ka. 37,00,000/-. This included a contribution
of Fa. 9.80,000/- to tho Reserve Fund.
During tho year abnormal expenditure, not
anticipated in the Budgot, was made amounting to
Fs. 10,04,000/-. Of this amount Fs. 1,00,000/-
wns the refund of tho Depreciation on the Electric
Department Reserve Fund from the Consolidated Fund
into the Electricity Account, Fa. 1,31,634/- was
paid to the Manamah and Moharraq Municipalities
being tho cost of buying their shares in the
Elootric Undertaking and Fs. 7,73,000/- was the
amount spent upon food supplies v/hioh were held by
the Government at tho end of tho year."
3. • During the first quarter of 1362 a sura of 6

lakhs was investod in Govornmont of India Stock and addod
to tho Roservo Fund. I am surprised that it was not
possible ^'anticipate" such an item as Fs. 1,00,000/-
.
for refund of doprooiation. This appears., Moreover,
to bo a book transaction, and I will mako further inquiries
regarding it on my next visit to Bahrain.

/ A.