Page 72 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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Tho desire for Municipal progress has not confined itself to Kuwait for during
the year it is interesting to note that the people of Qatif in Bin Saud’s territory,
also petitioned for progress in the same direction.
All this proves the contention, oft put forward by the writer, that the Arab
can 'be got to do most things by means of example, and careful propaganda, but
as soon as you attempt to drive him, you come up against suspicion, hostility
and a brick wall.
In the writer’s view it is only a question of time for instance, when the wild
townspeople of Dabai on the Trucial Coast will catch the fever for local reform
and cleanliness, and then will automatically follow the desire for better communica­
tion with the outer world, and the present hostility to landing grounds for acro-
planes, etc., will disappear, whilst a wireless station will be the first modem
innovation to bo asked for.
The year 1931 saw an almost unbelievable change in the cleanliness of the
town of Kuwait, and last but not least the introduction of an Electric Light plant
foreshadowed in my report for 1930 has become now an accomplished fact. On
8th December of 1931 the Ruler granted the necessary concession to a firm of Jews
in Baghdad, and it is confidently hoped that the coming summer of 1932 will §ee it
installed together with suitable Ice Plant sufficient to meet the needs of the people.
The concession runs for 35 years.
Among some of the improvements carried out during 1931, the following may
be cited as examples :—
(i) The completion of the new wide road with easy gradient from the Ruler’s
Town Palace on the sea up into the main bazaar. Previously this
portion was so narrow that 3 cars could not pass. Now 3 cars can
move abreast, and the former excessively steep gradient has been
turned into a comparatively gentle slope.
fit). The water front for about COO yards in the vicinity of the Agency, has
•been doubled in width, and dhow owners have been given a line
beyond which they may not transgress, when drawing up their boats
on the beach.
(Hi). Many blind street corners in the Town have been rounded off where
•before they were right angular, and motor cars now negotiate them
with ease and safety.
The energetic Mudir al Belladiyeh (Municipal Secretary) Sulaiman al Absani
is today regularly to be seen touring the»city in his car,.and inspecting the various
Municipal gangs at work on improvements.
.This is a pleasant change from the old Sleepy order of ^things.
(c) Education.—There are a number of schools of a sort in Kuwait. The Arabs
conduct at least 52. The Persians have 11, and the Jews and Christians one each,
making a total of 65.
• Of the Arab schools 27 are for boys and 25 for girls. The schools are not
under local :Government control.
Most Of the boys’‘schools and the Girls’ schools teach nothing but the reading
of the Qoran and speaking generally no higher form of education is available in
the town which in the writer’s opinion is rather a.blessing than otherwise, it being
open to question whether progress in *tliis direction does not breed discontent and
unhappiness.
There are three notable exceptions to the 'above, viz.'.—»
(a) The American Mission School.
(h) The Mubarakiyeh School.
(d) The Ahmadiyeh School.
The first (a) gives by faivthe best education dn Kuwait, particularly as regards
-English, but it only accommodates 20 boys, .Jt is under the direction of the Rev.
J. DeJong.
'The second (6) was established as ifartback as 19.12. A sum of Rs. 85,000
was collected by public subscription, of which :Rs.'40,000 was used to provide the

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