Page 580 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

563 Records of Bahrain
THE AGENCY
BAHRAIN

D.O. No.C/259. The 6th of March, 1946.

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Will you please refer to your Demi-Official
letter No.l69-S of tho 31st January, 1946, on the
subject of development in Bahrain and improvement
in the general administration? I am answering
the various points as far as I am able to now so
that you will be able to consider some of them on
your arrival in Bahrain on tour.
2. I think there is one point which should not
be lost sight of, and that is bhe very close atten­
tion the Shaikh himself gives to the administration
and expenditure of funds. He is, I know, anxious
that his State should be efficiently ruled and indeed
he tells me with pride that his State is the best
governed in the Gulf. That, however, will not
preclude his accepting sound advice for further
improvement.
3. The most convenient method of replying to the
points you raise is to deal with them separately by
departments. They are:

(a) Public Health,
(b) Engineering,
(c) Education,
(d) Customs,
(e) judicial,
(f) Police, and
(g) Finance.
4. As regards (a) Health: This department already
absorbs roughly one-tenth of the annual expenditure
and is on the same level as Education but falls a long
way behind the allotment to the Ruling Family and only
half of what is inaccurately termed "Defence and Pro­
tection" . Prime facie tho people of Bahrain are
entitled to a larger proportion than this, and I agree
with you that increased salaries must be paid if neces­
sary to keep the local dispensaries open and to push
ahead with health improvements.
5. The State has made great strides in anti-malarial
v/ork, and at the present time the State authorities are
conferring with the Bahrain Petroleum company in initiating
a drive in an endeavour to stamp it out. Exactly what
this will entail I cannot yet say.
6. On the subject of staff, Bolgrave informs me that,
certainly so far as British medical staff is concerned,
/it is...........

The Hon»ble Sir Geoffrey Prior, K.C.I.E., IH'FhTp rfr
Political Resident in the Porsian Gulf. ........"

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