Page 254 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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Stock on Hand as on 9th February, 1940. Average Monthly consumption.
Approx, lbs.
Rice Rangooni ... 31,000 bags
Rice Ballam ... 8,000 bags ... 8,000 bags 164
Sugar Java 6,500 bags ... 1,200 bags 224
Wheat Flour ... 2,900 bags ... 2,500 bags 196
Vegetable Ghee ... 1,600 tins ... 1,400 tins 35 to 40
Pure Khaldi Ghee ... 500 tins ... 600 tins 35 to 40
Coffee ... 1,000 bags 160 bags 168
Tea ... 400 cases ... 70 cases 100 to 140
From the comparative figures of prices it will be noticed that there is no
marked increase in prices of British manufactured goods with the exception of
cigarettes, the prices of which have gone up by about 40% over pre-war. However,
the slight increase in selling prices of general commodities of British manufacture
in Bahrain is due to a very slight increase in manufacturers’ prices and due to
increased rate of freight and additional war risk insurance.
In regard to goods of Amerioan origin, the manufacturers’ prices of many
American commodities remain same as pre-war. The increase in selling prices of
American products in Bahrain by about 25% is due to increased rate of dollar
exchange, and also due to increase in freight and additional war risk insurance.
The local prices of tea and coffee are same as pre-war, due to there being no
imports of these commodities since the war.
As most of the essential foodstuffs are produced in India and Iraq, and as
long as there is a regular steamer service between the ports of Bahraio, India and
Iraq a shortage of essential foodstuffs in Bahrain appears unlikely. In view of
the rise in prices of the essential foodstuffs and other necessities of life, it is
estimated that the cost of living has gone up per head by about 25%. It has only
been necessary to take legal action against 18 persons for breach of the regulations
since food control was introduced.
KING IBN SAWS VISIT TO BAHRAIN.
At the end of April, 1939, his Majesty King Ibn Sa'ud came from Nejd to
Hassa to visit the Dhamara oil field and his Highness Shaikh Hamad took this
opportunity of inviting the King to pay a visit to Bahrain. The last time his
Majesty was in Bahrain was ten years ago when he landed for a few hours on his
way from Iraq to Hassa.
The Amirs Sa'ud and Faisal arrived before the King; the former from Arabia,
the latter by air from Cairo where he had been attending an Arab conference.
The Amir Khalid and his Excellency Shaikh Hafiz Wahba, Minister of Sa'udi
Arabia at the Court of St. James’, accompanied the Amir Faisal.
The royal visitors and their suite, which included a number of ministers and
notables and several hundred followers and retainers, were accomodated at liafaa,
because it was cooler than Manamah, in houses of the Khalifah Shaikhs and in the
Kozaibi house. Telephones and wireless were installed and guards were provided
outside the King’s residence.
A programme of events, had been arranged for the visit, which included the
King’s official arrival at the new customs pier where he was met by his Highness
Shaikh Hamad. After inspecting a guard of honour he drove with Shaikh Hamad
in an open car, with a cavalry escort, to the Manamah Palace, where the leading
Shaikhs of the Khalifah family and a number of local notables were presented to
him. During the following days his Majesty witnessed a review of the State
Forces in front of the Palace and attended a reception in the Municipal garden
given by the Manamah and Muharraa municipalities, a garden party in the Political
Agency, and visited the refinery and the oil field, where he was entertained by the