Page 274 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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It might, porhaps, bo thought that the above figures denote an unexpected
increase in looal commercial activity for the past year; but a comparison of actual
receipts indicates the position :—
Budget Head. Year 1357. Year 1358. Increase. Decrease.

Rs. Its. Rs. Rs.
Customs & Import Yard. 10,51,741 10,09,326 42,416
Pearling Licenses 15,916 13,353 2,563

Craft Licenses 2,701 2,724 23

Total 10,70,358 10,25,403 23 44,978

Net Decrease: Rs. 44,955

In view of this decrease it would be well to ascertain how it occurred; and a
comparison of classified receipts explains the position :—
Comparison of Customs’ Classified Receipts.

Source. Year 1357. Year 1358. Increase. Decrease

lts. Rs. R8. Rs.
A. Steamers 4,37,962 4,66,732 28,770
B. Native Craft 82,844 95,562 12,718
C. Parcels Post 24.599 31,744 7,145
D. Passengers 27,786 30,083 2,297
E. Exports 1,971 1,334 637
F. Direct Transhipment. 2,24,399 1,08,330 1,16,069
G. Import Yard 2,43,336 2,62,488 19,152
FT. Miscellaneous 8,844 13,053 4,209
I
Total 10,51,741 10,09,326 74,291 1,16,706

Total Decrease: Rs. 1,16,706
Increase : 74,291
it
Net Decrease : Rs. 42,415

E. The decrease in Export Duty Receipts is explained mainly by (a) the
outbreak of war having stopped the export of “Linga” mother-of-pearl shell to
German ports, and (b) a falling-oil in the export of dates due to a desire to conserve
food supplies.
F. The Customs Report for 1357 explained that year’s abnormal increase
in collections from Direct Transhipment duty by the great quantity of machinery
•and plant etc, imported via Bahrain by The California Arabian Standard Oil
Company Inc. prior to the development of the Saudi-Arabian port of Ras Tanura.
It was to be expected that, in any case, the quantity of ‘ capital ’ plant would
decrease once it had been installed and consequently the collections of duty would