Page 290 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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search of wavs and means to make life easier, and the one Revenue receiving
department m the Slate is the obvious one to try and “ milk ”,
!S:^

'‘ „ , JJrtS- IOrT' ’’oncst 1° resist the daily importunities of men,hers f
\h 1 1 V • 'T -i’ (lha'vmnln,y ll,m t0 «ct ri‘> of K. It. Abdul luitif hi ,
Abdul Jalil, his late Director of Customs in 3930.
b. Ihc import tax on goods entering Kuwait, has remained at 4 per cent.
ad valorem, which ns in the case of Bahrain, Dnbni, etc., tends to attract trade
away from Saudi Arabian Ports, Persia and Iraq—much to the disgust of those
States, who apparently believe in the policy that “ Customs ” should be the
principal revenue producing department of the State, and would therefore like
the Arab States of the Gulf to follow in their footsteps, and so become economi­
cally dependent oil Diem.
(b) Municipality.—1. During the year the Town lost the services of the
able and energetic Municipal Secretary, Sulaiman al Adsani. It was thought
wise that fresh blood should be brought in and though the electors >otcd for
their old Secretary, the Ruler, perhaps wisely, decided that Nusf bin Yusuf bin
Ausf, another active member of the Municipality should try his hand at run-
ning ” the Town.
The new Secretary has shown excellent zeal and tact, and has continued to
keep the Town clean.
2. During July and August, and feeling perhaps that he had to prove his
“ mettle *’ and worth, the new Secretary with the support of the Ruler, cut a
wide straight road from East to West of the Town. It was named “ Siknt
Dasman ” This new road undoubtedly is of benefit to all. Generous compensa-
lion was paid to householders whose houses had to go.
3. Kuwait Electric Supply Co., which was born on 18th December 1933, and
which ** wiseacres ” ever ready to disparage, thought would not turn out a
success, has gone on from strength to strength, and to-day has persuaded almost
every householder and shopkeeper of any standing in the Town to take in
current. The cost per unit sold remains at 6 annas.
A fresh high powered engine has recently been ordered from England,
which with the two in existence, should meet all future needs. The new engine
will, it is hoped, arrive in the Spring of 1935.
4. Application has been made to the Government of India for sanction to
fake current from the Kuwait Electric Supply Co. for the new “ Agency ”. It
is hoped to receive a favourable reply soon.
5. Kuwait still remains “ dry'” nor will the Ruler to his credit tolerate for
one moment any such Western ideas as “ Cinemas*” or “ Theatres ”, which
have done so much to demoralize certain post-war Arab States in the Middle
East. Shaikh Sir Ahmad has shown great wisdom in this respect and contmues
to receive the fullest svmpathy and support of the Political Agent m any ideas
or measures tending 'to keep “ drink ”, “ gambling ” or “ demoralizing
influences ” out of the Town. There is no doubt whatsoever that the young
Arab in the process of ‘‘ growing up ” cannot stand “ new wine m old bottles .
This especially refers lo the menace of alchohol.
The present Ruler sees the danger ahead, especially with the advent of
“ on »»f and is determined to prevent his people ” going wrong ” in this res­
pect.
(r) Imperial Airways, Ltd.—l. Kuwait is now n regular povt of call for
Imperial Airwavs aircraft, and both Knstbound and Westbound mail a.id pan-
stmVcr cnrrviiiK machines maintained a “ fairly satisfactory service 'lining
the year umlcr review.
2. One uses the words “ faily satisfactory ”, as unfortunately there seems
to be a tendency for certain pilots, to fly over the Town without stopping, on tile
smallest pretext, such as when running late, or if visibility is not of the best.
3. Ouc realizes of course that the distance between Kuwait and Basra is
very short (100 miles), and naturally pilots engaged in long distance flying mia