Page 169 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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representative one and includes most of the leading men of
Manama. ' Members who had5 sat on the retiring Hujlis were
debarred from being re-elected by the Public but the Government
retained the right of re-appointing them, Eventually only
two of the old members returned. An indication of the interes
c
taken in the elections was the fact that in some cases large
sums of money were spent in endeavours to obtain votes.
It was found that in the Hindu Community only three
persons were entitled to vote, and in the Mohammedan Indian
• and Jewish Communities only about ten persons were eligible
to vote* A letter was written by the President of the Hujlis
to the members of these three communities informing them that
owing to the smallness of their numbers their communities
would be allowed to nominate a member from each community who
would be accepted on the Council subject to the approval of the
Government. The Jews accepted this concession and nominated
a representative who was accepted, but both the Indian com­
munities refused to nominate anybody unless the clause in
which the approval of the Government was mentioned was with-
drawn. The clause ?/as not withdrawn so there are now no
Indian members on the Municipal Council, In spite of their
own refusal to elect members it is understood that the reason
for their non representation is being ascribed to political
motives on the part of the Government.
Huharrak.
The Huharrak Municipality is a newer and a less wealthy
institution than that of Manama and its work, although very

useful, is less conspjcious. It will take several years of
regular scasenging before the back part of Huharrak town become;
really clean.
SeaM Road.
The most noticeable work carried out during the year
was the construction of a sea road, similar to the one in
He name, along the foreshore of the town north of the Customs.