Page 556 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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Monopoly 28 per cent, during the yoar under roviow. Since March 1938 tho
bartor agreomont with Oorinany has been cancelled and this of courso caused
a very groat advanco in the pricos of Gorman goods still arriving to complete
orders placod boforo tho cancellation.
It will bo seen from the foregoing that Bushirc has just about held its own
during tho year. There has been some slight incroaso in exports. It is said
that this is bocause export via Russia has ceased. Most of the exports, such
as dried fruits, gum Arabic, cotton, goat-hair and herbs, havo been shipped
to Germany. Tho over-prosont foar in Bushirc is that its remaining trade will
go to Bandar Shahpur. And it seems to bo quite obvious that this is bound
to take place soonor or lator. At tho moment howovor, it is said locally that
this will not happen for the noxt two or three years owing to the lack at
Bandar Shahpur of jetty facilities. '.Phis seems, however, to bo very much a
ease of tho wish being father to tho thought.
In March 1938, a second largo crano was erected in tho Customs but did
not come into operation until Novembor when an extension to the quay was
openod. Unfortunatoly however, tho new quay has proved far from satis-
factory, sinco the sea wall has a large number of beam-ends and store-blocks
protruding from it, some, it seems, deliberately as part of the design, and some
accidentally from faulty construction. In consequence, when tho sea is in
any way rough, tho lighters find thomselvos unable without damage to lie
close to tho wall. In fact only a short time ago a lighter smashed its side
against one of these stone out-crops and sank.
The now Governor who took office in August has to a certain extent tried
to improve the town. Ho has repaired the sea-front and by planting trees on
it is trying to make it a pleasant walk. He is also taking some interest in the
bazaar and is doing his best to see that tho shops are kept clean. The wireless
equipment and telephone exchange formerly belonging to His Majesty’s
Government were handed over during the year to the Iranian authorities.
The beacon at the aerodrome which month by month has boon reported to be
ready for work has, for reasons unknown, still not come into use.
In June an office of the Registration Department for lands and bonds was
opened. The complaint is general that local property, in view of tho
present condition of trade, has been grossly over-valued. There appears to
bo much substance in this complaint, but appoal by tho local landlords to
higher authorities has had no effect.
Industry.—There has been no further development of industry, either by
the Government or private individuals since last year. The spinning section
of the local mill came into operation in January this year, it produces 10-
counts and 20-counts yarn. A master-weaver was engaged from the United
Kingdom. Ho arrived in June and some cloths (unbleached shirtings and
coloured prints) were put on the market in September. The prices charged
however, were too high for local acceptance. Tho proprietor of the mill,
Mr. Agar, held a meeting of shareholders at Shiraz in September. A managing
committee of 7 merchants mostly from Bushire was appointed. The distri­
bution of the profits agreed upon was 5 per cent, for Mr. Agar as proprietor,
4 per cent, to be divided among tho members of the committee and 1 per cent,
for the auditor, the remainder of course to the shareholders. The company
now goes under tho name of “ Etimadieh Spinning and Weaving Mill Limited ”
(Sherkate Schami llisandcgi Va Bafandegi Etimad).
The question of electric light in the town joins up with that of the mill.
In an endeavour to improve tho supply for the town the Governor held a
meeting of influential merchants and other local people of standing in
September. He got the proprietor of the mill to agree to supply 24 hours
current as well as ice to the town. For this it was agreed to raise a subscrip­
tion of Rials 1,000,000, which was to be included in the capital of tho mill.
Tho proprietor further asked that foroign exchange to the tunc of £5,000
should be sold to him by the Government in order to buy oxtra parts for tho
necessary machinery. This £5,000 did not materialise and tho proprietor
went to Tehran to see if he could get it. He returned having been given tho
amount not in sterling but in marks.