Page 393 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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PRICE CONTROL.

Price control and prevention of profiteering measures continued to be enforced throughout
the year under the direction of Mr. C. C. L. dcGrcnicr, the Director of Customs, who is responsible for
this important work in addition to his customs duties. The various measures which are taken by
the Government to prevent hoarding, overcharging and to ensure a sufficient and fair distribution of
food supplies arc extremely distasteful to the general mercantile community who compare sadly
the difference in their profits in this war and in the last war. The general public however arc unani­
mously grateful to the Government for the action which has been taken and which they fully appreciate
as they are aware of the great difference in prices of foodstuffs in Bahrain and in the neighbouring
countries and Gulf states. Recently the price of a bag of sugar in Bahrain was Rs. 33-8, at the same
time the cost of a bag in Kuwait was Rs. 70 and in Dubai, Rs. 80 ; in Basra sugar was sold at Re. 1
per pound. The price control would be more effective if more people made complaints to the authori­
ties, unfortunately however so many of the poorer people in the country are in debt to the shopkeepers
with whom they deal and therefore they are afraid of making complaints when they are overcharged.
The system which has been followed allows a reasonable and sure profit to importers, whole­
salers and retailers. Current market prices are fixed according to the prices of the goods when they
are imported and when the tariff is changed, from time to time, the public arc informed by notices,
in the newspapers and by broadcast. In addition to these methods of acquainting the public with
the correct tariff special shops have been opened in Manamah and Muharraq for retail dealing at
controlled prices. This experiment appears to be likely to meet with success.
In spite of shipping and export difficulties it has been possible to preserve in Bahrain a supply
of essential foodstuffs sufficient in most cases for about five or six months though certain commodities
cannot be kept more than two months owing to deterioration. The export of foodstuffs from Bahrain
to the mainland is carefully supervised in order not to reduce the supply in Bahrain too drastically
at the same time with the view of not diverting transit trade from Bahrain to other ports.
In spite of the efforts of the Government to stem the rising tide of prices the cost of all foodstuffs
and many other essential imports is continually increasing. This is due partly to increased freight
charges and speculation but mainly owing to increased cost of goods at the places of export. In this
matter the Government is powerless to protect the consumer, all it can do, and this is being done, is
to take measures to ensure that no additional illegitimate profits are being made by local merchants.
The inevitable result is that local wage earners cannot buy as much as they used to with the same
amount of money.
Bahrain is liable to be seriously affected by the high prices prevailing in Iraq. Although the
quantity of dates which are grown locally in Bahrain increases every year there is still a large import
of dates from Iraq. The price of Basrah dates has increased 145 per cent over last season's prices.
Among the instances of increased prices of goods imported from Great Britain are following
items:—
Cigarettes ...................................... increased by about 40%
Hardware .. .» .. 200%
Cooking utensils.......................... „ „ „ 100%
Haberdashery and hosiery „ .. .. 100%
Headwear and footwear .. .. 75%
Indian cement (others unavailable) .................... 50%
Another cause which has had an effect on trade is the necessity for paying cash against docu­
ments at sight for all imports which prevents small importers from trading on credit. It seems pro­
bable that Bahrain will come to depend mainly upon India for its imports owing to the difficulties
in trading with the United States or Britain. Here too the local merchant is confronted with restric­
tions on the export of many goods except with a permit from the Government of India.
The outlook for the future is gloomy and it seems inevitable that the cost of living will steadily
increase until the war is over and normal conditions return.