Page 252 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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On the 26th August government issued proclamation No. 32/1358
prohibiting:—
(a) Exports of foodstuffs ('this did not apply to direct transhipments.).
(b) Increase of rates over those prevailing on that date.
(c) Refusal of 6ales to public.
A list showing these prevailing rates was issued. On the 26th August
government also issued a ciroular No. 1411/SF-1358 requesting foodstuff merchants
to inform government of quantity of foodstuff in their possession. The Assistant
Adviser, then acting as Director of Customs, had many personal interviews with
merchants, when he explained the aims of the government to them and requested
their co-operation. Some days later merchants reported that there was a sudden
and extraordinary demand for foodstuff, especially tinned provisions, the latter
mostly by housewives of Awali. Consequently government issued proclamation
No. 33/1358 dated the 27th August, 1939, restricting the quantities of individual
purchases. On the 28th August direct importers of sugar complained that there
was a heavy demand for this commodity. Investigations were made and it was
proved that the local wholesale^purchasers and retailers were purchasing more than
their normal requirements and that the normal sales to the general public were not
being maintained.
By this time the prices in countries of origin had considerably increased and
the deduction was obvious. On the 2nd September the direct importers were
summoned to a conference and the subject was thoroughly discussed. The general
opinion was :—
(a) That traders should be classed as,
t. Direct importers
it. Local wholesale purchasers
iii. Retailers.
(b) That rates should be fixed for each class of traders.
(c) That permits for the purchase of sugar should be introduced.
The government adopted this measure and fixed the rates whereby the direct
importers obtained at least 5% of profit and the other two classes profited in
proportion. On the 11th September this was made known to the general public by
customs notice No. G/38/350. Upon checking transactions between these classes
of traders it was found that the local wholesale purchasers were endeavouring to
cheat by concealment of purchases. They were purchasing from several sources per
day. On 23rd September the government called a conference for the discussion of
this subject. Thirty-four traders attended and all classes were represented. It was
suggested that better control could be obtained by:—
(a) Calling for a weekly return of foodstuffs from direct importers.
(b) Making local wholesale purchasers maintain a book showing a record of
their daily purchases and sales.
This system has been adopted and is already in force.
As regards cotton and woollen piecegoods the government issued a proclama­
tion forbidding the raising of the prices over those prevailing on the 26th August,
1939. About the beginning of October merchants complained that they were
selling woollen and cotton piecegoods at a loss, so they were allowed to raise their
prices by 10% over those prevailing on the 26th August 1939, reference proclamation
No. FC/5/58 dated 8th October, 1939. Towards the end of the month of December
public complained that cloth merchants were not selling freely certain qualities of
the piecegoods, which are generally used by the locals. It was found that there was
a stock of piecegoods valued at about 7 lakhs of rupees in the bazaar. By
proclamation No. FC/68/58 dated the 10th January, 1940, exports of certain