Page 367 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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Several Government Inspectors of different departments visited Kerman
during the year.
9. Local officials and Departments.—Ilis Excellency Aqayi Abdul
Hassan Khan Peernia held the post of the Governor-General throughout the
year. lie showed great interest in schemes to improve the town and to
open certain coal and marble mines, lie received no support from the
Iranian Government and no scheme was put into action, llis relations
with the Consulate throughout the year were cordial and courteous.
Muhammad Mirza Arastch (formerly Amir Muhtasham) of Tabriz,
who has been here since November 1933, continued to be the Assistant
Governor-General. He prides himself on maintaining friendly relations
with the Consulate.
Election of members for the tenth session of Parliament.—The elections
for the 10th session were conducted throughout the Province under strict
supervision during February and five of the six former deputies were re­
elected.
Ilassan Agha Qazvini, a leading merchant of Kerman superseded
Muayyed Ahmcdi. The latter was elected member of the Char Mohall
constituency of Isfahan. It is said that his cousin, Haji Mirza Muhammad
Reza, the Chief Mujtahid of Kerman, telegraphed personally to the Shah
after Ahmedi’s defeat here, and gained his aid towards his later success in
Isfahan.
Finance and Revenue.—His Excellency Mirza Ali Akbar Khan Davar,
Minister of Finance, arrived from Bandar Abbas en route to Tehran on the
13th February and left for Tehran via Yezd on the 19th February. The
Minister did not see the Governor-General, who was ill at the time. The
Finance Member saw the local merchants and advised them to form com­
panies for trading and to utilise modern methods in agriculture.
He recommended the formation of a company to improve the Carpet
trade, with a capital of Rials 1,000,000, 30 per cent, to be contributed by
local merchants and chief manufacturers and 70 per cent, by the Agricul­
tural Bank, after a branch of the latter Bank opens in Kerman. This
company has not been formed.
He advocated an increase of carpet weavers’ wages by about 40 per cent.
This was found to be impracticable because of the slump in the carpet trade.
He was adversely impressed by the local consumption of opium and recom­
mended an increase in price from 1-25 to 1*50 in order to check consump­
tion. His advice was not taken as it was feared that a rise in price would
increase smuggling. However, in the following month the price was raised
and subsequently reduced in order to increase the sales!
He sanctioned Rials 30,000 for the permanent supply of water for the
trees to be grown along the new avenue in the town. He was impressed by
the suggestion to construct a motor road from Kerman to Bandar Abbas
via Jiriift and Itudbar, and promised his hell). Nothing further has been
done so far!
He recommended the retirement of Amir Khan Suhrabian, the Provin­
cial Director of Finance, Kerman, who has since been relieved by Asadullah
Khan Mujarrad, Acting Provincial Director.
He dismissed Sanjari and Benan, two of the senior officials in the
Kerman Finance Office. They had been accused of corruption.
Amir Khan Suhrabian, Provincial Director of Finance, left for Tehran
in March, and Aqayi Asadullah Mujarrad was officiating in the post until
18th August when he handed over charge to Aqayi Beenish. The latter
remained in the post for the rest of the year.
The Opium Monopoly Department was amalgamated with the Final ice
office early in January and the surplus staff was discharged.
The price of opium was raised from 1-25 to 1*50 in March, but subse­
quently was reduced as the sales fell off.
225(C) FJtPD.