Page 127 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat
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British interests and influence, 1898-1904 117
Aid
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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