Page 349 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

23

A subsidiary company, the “Shirkat-i-Panbeh” was formed later
to promote the exports of cotton and to take measures for the
improvement of the qualities under cultivation.
(b) The Shirkat-i-Sahami-i-Shakaristan Mahdud, with a capital of
Rials 800,000 (£10,700) in 800 shares of Rials 1,000 (£12-10-0)
each, to take over the sugar and matches imports and distri­
bution. This company was formed in January and the capital
was found by local merchants.
(<0 The Shirkat-i-Sahami-i-Ghalleh with a capital of Rials 1,000,000
(£13,350) Rials 760,000 (£10,150) of which was taken up by
government through the Agricultural Bank. The company is
empowered to increase its capital to Rials 4,000,000 (£53,500)
if the public subscriptions exceed the sum of Rials 240,000
(£3,200) remaining over for subscription. The management
announced that the company was ready to pay the private
investor interest of 18 per centum and that the profits payable
to the Agricultural Bank will not exceed twelve per centum.
(rf) The Shirkat-i-Khollar (so named after the famous wine grape
growing district, 45 miles to the N. W. of Shiraz) for wine
making and spirit distilling. The capital was to consist of
Rials 1,500,000 (£20,000) of which 66 per centum was to be
found by government. A German wine maker was engaged.
(e) The Shirkat-i-Qumash to deal with the importation of Piece goods
on licences obtained from the parent monopoly conpany in the
capital. The capital was to consist of Rials 2,000,000
(£26,700) subscribed by the public.
(/) The Shirkat-i-Dokhaniyat-i-Sahami-i-Fars, with a capital of
Rials 1,000,000 (£13,350) found by public subscription. The
concern will deal in tobacco and “tumbak .
(y) And a company, the formation of which was proposed in Decem­
ber by the Minister of Finance, with a capital of Rials 300,000
(£4,000) to be raised by public subscription, to develop the
sales and exports of the products of native craftsmanship,
such as “khatami work” (Inlaid woodwork) “mina work”
(enamel on metal), silverware, embroideries, etc.
It was announced at the end of the year that the monopoly of the export
of saffron had been ceded to a government trading company in the capital.
Hussein (Khan) Agar, ‘Etemad-ul-Tujar (Mr. Hussein Agar, formerly
a merchant in Manchester for many years) the energetic founder of the
Fars Manufacturing Company (Shiraz Cotton Spinning Mill) was engaged
during the month of june by the Minister of Finance as Comptroller General
of the Government Trading Companies in Iran. He was unable to come
into line with conditions and resigned in the autumn.
Imports.—The principal .imports consisted of Piece goods, sugar and
tea.
Imports of Piece goods for the Shiraz market are estimated at 10,460
bales, as follows:

Piece goods of Japanese manufacture . 6.140 bales.
Indian manufacture 2,490 „
United Kingdom manufacture . 1,830 „
Imports of sugar were almost entirely of Dutch and Dutch colonial
produce, raaily on account of the Government Monopoly.
The French and Belgian sugar imports, formerly the sole source of
supply, dwindled away completely.
supplies of the Shiraz market consisted mainly of the Java
The tea
product.