Page 249 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

Budgetary affairs 237

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audit accounts in Arabic and Ur. Belgrave expressed himself
thoroughly satisfied with their efforts. ; I asked Mr.
Belgrave to bo good enough to arrango Tor hlo budgeting
in future to have a o Ion or connection with realities, and • ;;
undorutood that ho hoped to do thin.
9• TOWN PLANNING.
Apparently little hao boon dono in the way of !•
town planning beyond a proposal to turn the present import
yard into a bazaar when the ouotome nheds are moved out to ••
the dock that io to bo filled in. I dtfew attention to
the extremely unsightly and completely unorganloed.rabbit
warren of a bazaar and stated that what was wanted wan
a definite plan for the oontre of the town by which proper
roads would be introduood bo that decent shops oould be
©rooted. Mr. Belgrave said that the land wuo in various
ownerships but I replied that there was no reason wby a
plun should not bo worked out and the various obstaoles
OYeroome. Mr. Belgruye undertook to oonsider this.
10. ENCOURAOEMUMT OF INDUSTRY«
I suid that, to ray rogrot, I hud been unable to
find any industry that oould be effectively encouraged
in Bahrain with the possible exception of a briquetting
plant whioh apparently involved diffioultioo. It appears
that the ooke has a high sulphur aontont whioh raakoo it
uneuitable for blaokmsithing, but if the ooko oould be. h J
briquettod and exported to Persia it would bo a very• valuable
counter in produaing supplies in return, so tho matter .
is not simply one for tho Oil Company but one in whioh
Bahrain generally has a vital stake. The groat drawback
\in locating any industries in Bahrain is the high ooot of
lubour as compared with Indiu, und tho fact that they would
not bo sheltered behind a high turiff wull.ao in Peroia.
11. I inquired what progress had been made in agri­
culture and Mr. Uelgravo said that it was proposed 'to
engage an Egyptian who was shortly leaving tho Saudi Arabian
o orvioe. I pointed out tbe drawbacks of engaging men in
thio haphazard way and oaid it would bo much better for Mr.
Bolgravo, if ho wanted Egyptian agriculturists, to fly to
Cairo and go into tho mattor there whoro a rauoh larger
selootion would bo uvuilable for him.
12. I drew Ur. Belgravo's attention to reoont. instances
of tho engagement of European personnel without reference
to us and reminded him that, he had boon wurned about thiB
on oarlier oocusionu. He- replied that tho ouse had been
disousoed with tho India Off loo and that he imagined that
this had boon sufficient. I said that the matter would be
taken up with the India Office who would bo asked to see
in future that uuoh uotiun was not taken without reforenoe
to us and reminded him again of tho position for his
guidance in tho future^
. 13. I inquired whethor the swing bridgo had paid for
its oo b t or. not.1 Mr. Belgrave replied thut it had not
yot paid for ito initial ooot but that this po a it ion would
onortly bo ruaoViod. Tho intention thon was-to make the
bridge free of all to 11b, whioh I said I was glad to hear.
3d.- OJSOFFRKY. PRIOR.
-•26th March 1946.
R1IL.