Page 33 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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drinks to the Ruler’s subjects. The British Defence Services and the oil company
import their own supplies but apart from this persons subject to the Order in
Council can only obtain alcoholic liquor from Messrs. Gray Mackenzie and
Company, Ltd. on permits issued by the Political Agent. In 1952 the Ruler issued
a further decree forbidding the import and manufacture of wines and all intoxicants
and narcotics and mentioning specifically opium and hashish (Appendix C (ii)).
19. Municipalities have been created in the towns of Manamah, Muharraq,
Hidd and Rifa’a. Half of the members of the Committees are nominated and half
elected but the electoral system has broken down in Manamah. In this place the
Shiah Baharinah complained that they did not get their fair share of seats, viz.,
50 per cent, on the basis of their numerical strength, and in 1951 their members
all walked out. Attempts to rectify the position angered the Sunnis and theii
elected members followed suit. A caretaker Committee of six nominated Sunnis
was appointed to carry on, and it was decided to abandon the electoral system in
Manamah for the time being. The Ruler very reluctantly agreed to the
nomination of an equal number of Sunnis and Shiahs and in March 1953 the latter
took their seats. The Sunnis are much displeased at this development but have
agreed to see how the system works. The meal and fish and vegetable markets in
Muharraq belong to the Ruler and one of his brothers, who let them out to
contractors. The rents demanded by the latter from stall-holders are often
excessive and have been the subject of much complaint. Efforts have been made
without success to persuade the Ruler to make over the markets to the Municipal
Committees. Manamah Municipal Bye-Laws were enforced against persons
subject to the Order in Council in 1921 by a King’s Regulation (*•) which provides
for the enforcement of any subsequent modifications and amendments approved by
the Political Resident on publication by the Political Agent. No such regulation
has been issued in respect of the other municipalities where few persons subject
to the Order in Council reside.
20. A census was held by the Bahrain Government in 1941 and again in
1950. On the latter occasion the population was found to be 109,650 of whom
91,179 were Bahrain subjects. The foreigners included 2,130 Europeans and
Americans.!2'*) Owing to local feeling on the subject Sunnis and Shiahs were not
registered separately, the Sunnis apparently fearing that the Shiahs might be found
to be in the majority as they were in 1941.
21. At the beginning of the period under review the Bahrain Police Force
consisted mostly of Indians. These were gradually eliminated and after 1932 only
a few Indian inspectors remained. The strength of the force in 1952 was 290. In
addition 254 armed watchmen (naturs) were employed. The Police are well
equipped and organised and reasonably efficient. In 1932 Belgrave himself
assumed the functions of Commandant, a position which he has since jealously
retained. The second-in-command is Shaikh Khalifa (paragraph 9 above) who
was appointed Superintendent in 1939 and since 1953 has called himself Director-
General of Public Security. After the war several British inspectors were
appointed, but since 1950 there has been only one, who is in charge of traffic
control. In view of the increase of work involved in passport control, the
prevention of the traffic in dangerous drugs and other more or less technical matters
the Bahrain Government have been pressed from time to lime to employ more
British Inspectors and in 1953 the Ruler agreed to this being done, but difficulty
then arose over the secondment of suitable officers from the United Kingdom. A
Motor Vehicles Proclamation issued by the Ruler in 1939 has been enforced against
persons subject to the Order in Council by a King’s Regulation.!30) The Political
Agent has power to appoint Special Police Officers under a King’s Regulation
issued in 1936.(31) The Bahrain Petroleum Company have their own guards and
the Bahrain Government Police do not operate in their camps and installations
unless called upon to do so.
22. There are two Senior Courts of Justice each presided over by one
magistrate, and. these two magistrates and the Financial Adviser sit together once a
week to hear appeals from the Junior Courts and important cases. There are also
two Junior Courts each presided over by two magistrates. A Senior Appeal Court

(”) No. I of 1921.
(*•) Government of Bahrain Annual Report for 1369.
(,c) No. I of 1939.
(3I) No. 2 of 1936.