Page 415 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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the end of the year. In fact the formation of the first Company was sup­
planted by another called the “Ia’timadieh Weaving and Spinning Com­
pany, Bushire,” the formation of which Mr. Agar, Husain Aqa Ia’timad,
of the firm of Jiaji Ali Akbar Shirazi and Sons, Manchester, had suggested
to the local merchants when he visited Bushire in July. The Governor at
this time being Aqai Ahmad Sadri, and the merchants being more in favour
of this new Company than the Steamship Navigation Company, whioh
they could not control, obtained sanction from the Central Government for
the importation of a weaving and spinning plant and another for dyeing
purposes. All these had been brought in by the end of December and the
construction of a house, bought outside the town for installing the plant,
was being accelerated.
Education.—The local school examinations were held on the 1st March
and 57 students sat for the examinations. The budget allotment of the
Education Department, Bushire, was put up by Rials 200,000 (£2,500) and
sanction was conveyed for the construction of two schools in Lingah and
Charbar at a cost of Rials 200,000 (£2,500). The Education Department,
Bushire, had made arrangements in the local schools at Bushire and the
Iranian ports for some 2,GOO illiterates to be taught to read and write.
They were instrumental in encouraging the discarding of the veil and in
November introduced public speaking on ordinary educational subjects.
They made some progress in collecting o per cent, out of the rent of ‘waqf*
properties (religious endowment properties).
Bushire Municipality.—The Municipal Council could not resume the
work of levelling the town streets because of a deficit in its budget allot­
ment. It retained a staff of 70 persons to look after the sanitation and
lighting of the town. It also retained ten beds for the lying-in ward of
the poor of the town in the local infirmary, a local Doctor to look after the
patients free of charge, a local Government school, a small asylum for a
few lunatics and an isolated house for accommodating some 20 lepers.
Only in June did the Council interest itself in market prices and fixed
the price of a pound of mutton at Cts. 70 instead of Cts. 80 previously.
The Council received its budget allotment of Rials 25,000 a month*
although irregularly.
SECTION 4..

MILITARY AND MARINE.
Army.—In January Brigadier-General Ibrahim Zand, the Officer
Commanding the Army Division of Ears, visited Bushire on inspection.
The Recruiting Office, Bushire, re-opened with its members, viz., the
.Governor as President, a Doctor from the Iranian Navy, anothSV from the
Iranian Military Department, the Imam-i-Jumah, two local merchants
and the Head of the Police Department. Its branches also re-opened in
the districts. The names of youths who had attained military age were
notified, exemption papers of others were examined and some 200 youths
were sent from Bushire to Khorramshahr to join the Iranian Navy and an
equal number sent to the Military Barracks, Bushire.
In February a plot of land was bought outside the town and the con­
struction of a Military Barracks, large enough for a regiment, proceeded
with. The Military Authorities commandeered almost all the labourers
available and at times they took away labourers from the gangs that were
employed by Mr. Agar for the construction of his factory. Building mate­
rials also were commandeered making it difficult for the inhabitants as well
as the Iranian Wireless Telegraph Authorities to complete their .Wireless
Station.
The strength of the Bushire Garrison remained at 600 under the
command of Major Niknam who relieved Major Qotbi on the 23rd March.
46(C) ExAffa’riDi'pt,