Page 127 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat
P. 127

British interests and influence, 1898-1904       117

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          charges for a guard will, however, ho connected with the Military Dopartmout,
          and will not ho auhjoot to any local control, I have not included it in my tabu­
           lar proposition statement, which only deals with charges which would como
           under tho head of " 25—Political '* in the Kosidoucy Budget Estimates. Tho
           sum of Rs. 18,000, which I have estimated ns required for tho building of the
           house, will, I think, ho sufficient for tho inclusion of quarters also of tho
           guard.
               15. It will be ohservod that my proposition statement includes cortain
           proposals for changes in tho office establishment, oto., at tho hond-quarlors of the
           Residency, and I would, in submitting them for tho favourable consideration
           of tho Government of India, invito attention to tho fact that there was a re­
           duction in the numbor of assistants here in 1879, boforo which thoro wore two
           assistants belonging to tho Political Department on Its. 1,00 ) and Rs. 700 res­
           pectively. Colouoi Ross, being asked if some reduction could uot ho mado in the
           cost of the Persian Gulf Residency, suggested the reduction of ono of tho Assist­
           ants on Rs. 1,000, and it was then bottled thoro should only bo ono Assistant
           from tho Political Department ou Rs. 800. Practically, howover, t.lio First Assis-
           ant hero raroly draws this, and tho pay of tho Residency Staff, exclusive of tho
                                         Residency Surgeon, which, prior to 1879,
                                  iu.
            • First Aniilaut   ... 1,000  came to its 2,000* per mensom, is at pro-
             Second do.           700    sont only about Rs. 1,350. The First
             Uncovonantod Aiiiilant and Trea­  Assistant generally gets some temporary
              sury Oflkor ...   ...  300
                                         grado promotion for serving in tho Persian
                      Total   ... 2.000  (iulf, but ho doos not always really bene*
                                         lit from this, and 1 think a local allow­
           ance of Rs 200 would’ ho tnoro suitablo, and induco officers to remain boro
           longer than they do at present. I think, with tho creation of the post at Bahrein,
           that tho designation of Uncovcnautcd Assistant may ho changed and that tho
           incumbent may instead he styled Superintendent of tho Residency Office on a
           reduced prty of Rs. 200 rising to Us. 250. An avorago saving of Rs. 62-8 a
           month would bo mado by this change, and, as tho First Assistant should not,
           I consider, rccoivo house allowance if ho gels tho local allowanco of Rs. 200 a
           month, tho actual increased charge to Government, on this account, will be
           R9. 87-8 a month, which will, probably, ho saved by tho First Assistant gotting
           no special grade promotion.
               16.  As regards tho status, pay and allowances of an English officer for
           Bahrein, I think tho appointmont should ho hold .by a 2nd Class Political
           Assistant on Rs. GOO a month with a local allowanco of Rs. 250. This will bo
           sufficient to attract a good man, especially if ho is given hopes of succeeding
           eventually to tho more lucrative appointments at Muscat, Bushiro and Baghdad
               17.  I have already written that tho incumbent should know Arabic, at
           any rate to exlont of speaking it fluently, and it may, perhaps, be mado a con­
           dition of his remaining that ho qualifies in other rospects up to the Higher
           Standard or ovon High Proficiency examinations. An officer with this qualifi­
           cation will, no doubt, be often very useful to tho Govorumont of India in the
           performance of duties outsido his immediate ouos at Bahrein, and on tho Arab
           Coast, and ho may also be able to assist tho Rosidout occasionally when neces­
           sity arises in disposing of Arabic work at tho Head Qunrtors of tho Residency













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