Page 648 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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3 Mmicipa:Ui/.—-fi'he Municipality has functioned during the year with
somo success. Although no major works have been undertaken some effort
has been made to clean up the town and repair some of the roads. A tinielv
fire at .Muscat destroyed the vegetable maikc.t. and colleo shops outside the
“ Rah al Snghir The Municipality have approved and are carrying <»m ;l
scheme to pi*ovide cement concrete shops some distance from the gate. Work
lms already commenced and some dozen shops have been completed. The old
lemuorary shelters that sprang up alter the tire will be abolished and it is hoped
to maintain a reasonably high level of sanitation in the area. Thu .Municipal
President, Sniyid Ililal bin Bndr, is a pleasant and well meaning man but lacks
snllicient drive to really make much impression on the condition of the town.
The leading merchants are completely lacking in public spirit and the .Municipal
Committee seem to have neither the desire nor the courage to introduce neces­
sary sanitary and public health reforms. The merchants and the public seem to
prefer the present insanitary and disgraceful conditions to giving material
and moral support to the .Municipality in their endeavours to improve the
living conditions of the people.
4. General Communications.-—Mr. G. Gilby remained in charge of the local
office of the Cable and Wireless, Limited, from 1st January to 8th February
1939, Mr. F. Lobo from Dili Fcbruar) to (ilh September 11)39, and Mr. J. A.
Faithful from 7th September to the end of the year.
From 1st January to 18th April 1939 and from 1st August to 31st December
1939 telegraphic communication with the outside world was interrupted owing
to the breakdown of the Company’s cables. Gallic and Wireless, Limited,
arranged with the lioyal Air Force Authorities to send and receive all classes of
traffic through the Air Force Wireless Station at Muscat. This arrangement
continued until the 17th December 1939 when the installation of the Company’s
new wireless transmitting and receiving set was completed.
5. Muscat Infantry.—Subadar Ilazur Hussain acted as Commandant of the
Muscat Levy, with effect from 1st January to 8th March 1939, when Subadar
Jahaa Dad of the 2nd Battalion of the 8th Punjab Regiment arrived from India
and took over charge.
For the first, few months after his appointment Subadar Jalian Dad was
keen and did excellent work. Lately however there lias been a falling off in bis
work. Very few V. C. Indian Officers arc capable of maintaining a high standard
of work and efficiency unless supervised : unfortunately Subadar Julian D*»d
docs not happen to be one of the few. However, in spite of a tendency on the
part of their Commandant to lake the line of least resistance, the Levy are
more efficient than when he took over.
6. State. Finances.—Rai Sahib Duli (Jliand, the Director of Customs and
Comptroller, left Muscat in March without the Sultan’s permission and was
dismissed from State service on the same day. Since his departure the Sultan
has himself taken control of State finances. He admits no one to the financial
secrets of Muscat. The Agency is provided with figures quarterly which are
said to show the financial position but as it is not possible to check them it is
very difficult to estimate accurately the degree, of solvency or insolvency the
State finances have reached. From figures produced by tiic Sultan and from
careful enquiries it seems that this year the State has just managed to pay its
way with a very small margin on the credit side. Copies of the State “ .Re­
ceipts ” and “ Expenditure ” statements for the last quarter of the year form
an Appendix to this report. The increase in Customs receipts was due f«>
abnormal imports of commodities owing to the formation of a food reserve in
Muscat and Matrah. The abnormal expenditure under “ P. W. T). and Muni­
cipalities ” was due to ail endeavour to complete the new school building during
the year.
On the 31st December the State’s financial position was said by the Sultan
to be as follows :—
Rs. a. i*.
Lash on hand in the Muscat Treasury .. .. 1,27,932 14 0
Invested in Government of India Loan • » .. 99,905 4 0
Invested in Newfoundland Stock 36,209 5 0
Gash in the Imperial Dank of India .. 32.000 0 0
Advances recoverable 4,822 8 0

Total .. 3,00,869 15 0

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