Page 687 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

21
It was commonly thought that after the Shah’s speech in June on the occasion
of the dismissal of the Prime Minister there would be some alleviation in taxation.
It is true that the collection of “ voluntary ” subscriptions to the national aviation
fund was discontinued but this was only a minor easement. During the year
income tax was increased by 25 per cent, and vehicle tax on lorries by 10 per cent.
In addition the following new taxes were imposed ;—electricity rial 1 per unit;
bicycles rials 5 p. m. ; motor cycles rials 150 p. a. ; all applications to a government
department rial 1 ; local taxes on fruit, vegetables, charcoal, firewood, etc., from
10-110 per cent, of value (in 1938 a donkey load of bushwood cost rials 2, in 1939
rials 4 and in 1940 rials 9). Further the price of loaf sugar was increased by rials 3
and granulated by rials 1 per maund (Gi lbs).
Many petitions were submitted to Tehran against excessive taxation but no
good came of them.
Bank-i-Milli.—Last year’s instructions that all correspondence with the bank
must be in Iranian has not been strictly adhered to. The Local branch has been
known to use both English and French on occasions.
The bank has been authorised to grant special credits to merchants to the
extent of the value of their property or business possessions.
Farmandars have been appointed supervisory heads of the bank and are re­
quired to inspect the working of local branches monthly.
A branch of the Agricultural Bank (Bank-i-Falahat) operated in Kerman
throughout the year. It advanced considerable loans to landowners for which land
was mortgaged with interest at 18 per cent.
Judiciary.—The Minister of Justice inspected the working of the local
courts in November. One result of his visit was the re-opening of an Appellate,
Court in Kerman. This court was closed in August 1939 and appeals lay at Isfahan
430 miles away. The impracticability of this arrangement having been fully ex­
posed the original system is reverted to. Aqai Ali Akbar Musawi assumed charge
of his post of Chief Judge of the Appellate Court on 7th December.
No important ease involving British subjects came before the courts during
1940.
Police.—Sargurd (Major) Yusuf Bahrami was in charge until relieved in May
by Pasyar II (Lt.-Colonel) Amjadi. The new Chief is reported to be popular.
The C. I. D. staff was increased to watch the movements of foreigners. But it
was noticed that these men were less in evidence in the neighbourhood of this Con­
sulate than formerly.
The attitude of the Police Department towards this Consulate and its staff
was very satisfactory.
Posts and Telegraphs.—This department now employs a number of young male
and female telegraph operators whose lack of training causes many hours of addi­
tional labour to li. M.’s Consul.
A combined postal and police censorship was established at the beginning of the
year and suspect letters and telegrams arc subjected to examination. So far as is
known no postal covers to and from this Consulate have been interfered with.
As a result of many anonymous and abusive letters being addressed to the
Shah and other high officials mostly on the subject of taxation and the high cost of
living, C. I. D. men were set to watch for persons who posted covers to these add­
resses.
During the year new post offices were opened at Jiruft, Zarand, Ravar and
Mahun. A telegraph office for military use only was opened at Jiruft; a military
T. 0. already existed at Rudbar.
Education.—The Pehlvi boys’ school was moved to the former C. M! S. build­
ings.
Eleven night classes for adult men were opened during tho year.
MSI53EAD