Page 713 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

67
FOR THE TEAR 1010.

which would bo a visiblo sign to tho poople that we are propared to support tne
authority of His Highness on the coast.
A rough budget of monthly expenditure was obtained from the new
. , ,
administration and it is given below as an indication both of the financial cuaoa
prevailing and of the remarkable system of Government
Bough Budget of Monthly Expenditure*
B«.
1. Total of allowances to tho mcrobera of family and others, coat of fodder
for riding animals, household expenses, price of bailey for boraen
and other expenditure fixed in dolljra. §12,531 at 2aU per cent. • 81,677
2. Total allowances fixed in rupees and fodder for borsea . 12,4*6
8. Total expenditure for Castoms employees fixed in dollars. § 635 at
260 per cent. . . 1,667
4. Total salaries fixed in rupees . 2,085
6. Presents of Ids and ctber festivities have not been entered here and
will be entered when occur • • • •
'lotal . 4? ,694

The first menth’s working showed receipts Its. 86,918, expenditure
Hs. 47.312 for tbe State. On this a monthly allowance of Rs. 10,000 was
provisionally fixed for the Sultan’s privy purse. Including tliis payment the
Teceipt/and expenditure for the next two months were :—
November Receipts Its. 78,768, expenditure Rs. 70,071
December » „ 61,020, „ 67,219
giving a balance of Rs 42,234 a* the end of the year under report.
A rough budget compiled from the very small amount of material avail­
able, estimated receipts of Rs. 10,76,400 and expenditure of Rs. 9,01,280 during-
the year ending 1st October 1920.
On the 1st December 1920 Rs. 55,250 comprising Rs. 39,0C0 a year interest
on the loan and Rs. 1G,250 first payment of principal is due to Government.
Should therefore no specially untoward situation occur, the State should be
able to pay its way, though it will not have much money to spend in improve­
ments. These may wait, however. There is no hurry and with the establish­
ment of a moderately sound control of income and expenditure, the money
necessary for the very slight reforms suitable to this medieval Arab State will
eventually appear.
His Highness in accordance with his undertaking in May established a
regular law court with Saiyid Nadir as judge. The result cannot be said to-
have been successful. The personal decision of the SultaD, which when he was
roused, was fairly speedy, has been replaced by the dilatory attendance of Saiyid
Nadir for an hour a day, and the labourious examination of witnesses and
writing of unnecessary statements: There are more pending cases than them
ever have been before and discontent is growing. A radical reform of per­
sonnel and system is required. All that is necessary in Muscat is that justice
should be speedy, popular and free. The present system meets none of these
requirements.
The administration of the Walis on the coast has continued as before and
has in no war sunk from the high water mark of corruption . weakness and
incompetence which it had previously reached. No attempt is made hr the
Sultan to control them ar.d no account is ever demanded of their exoendi-
Slhpre^’1’' ^ bU‘ add 10 th® S,Utau’8 unpopularity Tmd