Page 613 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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Germany. So far, however, there has been no difficulty. The products of the
mill are too expensive for the local market, and are sold chiefly in Shiraz.
Four English experts have been in charge of the technical working of the
mill throughout I he year. The other employees number about 450.
Finance.—The demand for credit required for customs and forwarding
charges, has varied from about 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 Rials per week. Draw­
ings, as last year, ranged from T. T\ to 61 days sight, and, since the war, for
longer periods : merchants in the interior have been holding up goods in the
expectation of a rise in prices, and towards the end of the year large quantities
of tea were cleared and are said to have been retained in Tehran for speculation
in this way. At the same time the purchase of foreign exchange through ; B
1 C ’, and * D * accounts has been increasing. It may be expected that Bushire’s
comparatively small “ black bourse n transactions will diminish still further as
a result of December's law, which was introduced in order to meet the increased
demand for foreign exchange. The price of foreign exchange has risen with
the demand, and by the end of the year to pound sterling was worth 180 or 200
Rials.
The interest rates of the Imperial Bank of Iran and the Banque Mellie were
Die same as last year.
Agriculture.—The wheat and barley crops were good aud sale was loss
restricted than last year. The price of wheat was controlled as usual ; grain
of inferior quality was bought by the Government, which discounts of 15 per
cent, of the weight for adulteration, at Rials 140 for 500 kilos, and sold at Rials
200. The poor quality of this wheat made it necessary for bakers in Busbire to
mix with it wheat illicitly bought from private dealers.
The price of barley was not controlled ; it is used only for export, and, locally
for animals.
Dates are produced at Borazjun and neighbourhood in small quantities ;
most are sent inland rather than to Bushire, which generally obtains all its needs
from Khorramshahr. The price is uncontrolled, and has been about Rials
G-25 for 12 lbs.
Smuggling.—Smuggling is said to have decreased since the outbreak of
war, owing to lack of supplies on the Arab Coast.
ir«//rs and Cost of Living.—As shown by the following Tables there lias
been a rise both in the average rates of wages and in the cost of living since
1938. At the outbreak of war, prices of articles other than food-stuffs rose by
as much as 50 per cent. Certain articles, such as cement and iron, ceased for
a time to be obtainable at all.
One explanation for the recent increase in the cost of monopoly sugar may
be that there is now less danger of competition from smuggled sugar.
.Wages : Rials a day :—
1938. 1939.
Customs coolie . . 3 5-50
Labourer . . 4-50 4-50—6.
Cotton operator . . 2-50—6 7
Skilled builder . . 20 30
Semi skilled builder . 10 12
Builder’s foreman . 6-50 8
Carpenter . . 12-15 14-20.
Foodstuffs : Rials :—
Per man of 7-75 lb*. Each Sugar 500 gr.

Bread Bread Crystal. Loaf. Tea.
Flour. Meat. Glii. Tomatoes, Potatoes. Rico. (local). loaf. 3 kilos.

1038 3*50—4 8-0-00 38 4-10—4-50 4 8*25—10 3J—1} 2J—3 8*75 7*75 20
1930 2*20 9-GO 38*50 310—G 11*50 3—3*50 3 9*25 8*25 22
Poit war
17*20 10*50