Page 209 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

POR THE TEAR 1913. 67
denials of ju9tico by authorities.” Tho number of eases outstanding on
J? / pooombor 1913 was therefore actually 38 of a value of about Krs.
12067. It is impossible to state tho total monetary value of tho claims
^ actiy* as111 801110 cas°3 daima havo been lodged for goods tho value of which
•„otspeoificd-
Of tho 0 remaining “frosh eases” tho settlement of 3 is in progress or
Ij promised.
Resides suffering from tho bad faith of Persian debtors aud tho corrupt-
fS3 of Persian officials, added to highway robberios and tho helplessness of the
jutboriti03* trade in Kermau is hampered by several more easily removable
causes-
Postal Service-—The first of theso isl a slow, irregular and untrustworthy
postal service—The matter is receiving His Majesty’s Consul's attention,
Jnd it is ho pod early in the ensuing year to put up a case for the re-organisa­
tion and reformation of the Postal Service which it will be impossible for the
responsible authorities to neglect.
Telegraphs.— The second is tho absence of direct Telegraphic Comma ni-
cation between Kerman and Bandar Abbas. At present telegrams sent have to
pass over the submarine cable anu are charged at the rate of 3J Krans
(about Re 1) per word.
A demand for a direct land line has been officially submitted by His Majes­
ty’s Consul. It has been favourably received by His Majesty’s Minister, tho
Telegraph Authorities in Persia ancl tho Persian Foreign Minister, hut it is at
present meeting with opposition from some quarter in London. It is hoped
that this may soon ho overcome
Banking.—A third cause of inconvenience is the absence of all Banking
facilities at Bandar Abbas A recommendation that the Imperial Bank of Persia
should be pressed to open a branch there has been put in by His Majesty's
Consul. It is understood that all the local Managers of the Imperial Bank of
Persia in the Gulf expressed themselves last year in favour of such a step
The prospects of a general improvement in the commercial conditions of
Kermau in the coming year are not altogether gloomy. It is hoped that, in
course of time, the gendarmerie may prove effective in putting a stop to
brigandage on the main trade route, that connecting Kerman with Bandar
Abbas
Fraudulent debtors and bankrupts have been run hard duiing the past
year. The most notorious, one Ali Asghar Khoi, fled from Kermau in Febru­
ary, only to be arrested in Tehran, where he has been kept under restraint
of a sort, ever since. His father, who was implicated, was forced to come to
Tehran from Tabriz, and proceedings have been taken against them under the
auspices of His Majesty’s Legation. Had the man stayed in Kerman and made
any effort to pay up, he and his family would have passed a much happier year.
The debtors Kausian have been so harassed that they are sick of life and
Husain Kuli Khamnai, after making some measure of restoration, found life
strenuous in Kerman that he absconded. As there was little hope of
Staining further satisfaction from him it was not considered worth whole to
pursue him.
Continuous pressure was kept up on the unwilling authorities until thoy
found it expedient to take effective action against some of the Kausians' more
^portant debtors and so recover some of the assets of the firm.
lu none of these instances have the pecuniary results, at least as yet. been
striking, but it is believod that this relentless harrying of the fraudulent
JH have an excellent moral effect a*d serve to deter many from following
lu their footsteps.
If robberies are stopped, fraud restrained within reasonable limits, tho
Postal service reformed, direcc telegraphio communication with Bandar Abbas
published, and banking facilities provided at that place, the commercial
immunity of Kerman will not have much reason left for complaint*
xl