Page 419 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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It is however a fact that an unofficial light
has been put upon this beacon by The local B.I.S.N.
Coy's agents oh stormy nights, to assist their
lighters in making the Customs Pier, but the beacon
was rebuilt by the Bahrain Government, and somewhat
improved; out I observed that quite recently it was
broken up ov a oerson acting upon outside orders
and I hear that' the Persian Gulf Lighting Authorl
but I^ave
propose to erect there a permanent light —
hot* as yet heard that this has been sanctioned by the
Bahrain Government
General* It has to be remembered that while the
total of the receipts for the past year has decreased,
the quantity of work to be done has increased, espe­
cially clerical work in connection with refunds and
statistics which have now reached a point of reasonh-
able efficiency; there is actually as much clerical
work in collecting a small amount of money as a large
one. It may perEai'.s be said that since the collec­
tions have decreased, the staff should also decrease;
but I suggest that this is a wrong ooint of view to
take, and "it is better to keep together a trained staff,
although its cost may increase a little each year ov/ing
to the annual increments in pay. It will be remembered
that last year, all pay was cut by ten per cent, but I
will not suggest this as a matter of merit, since it
v/ill be seen from above how the cost of the prime
commodities has fallen so sharply, that actually
the present rates of pay have a much larger purchasing
power locally than three years ago.

Thus, although the Customs receipts have fallen
sharply, yet the cost of living has fallen quite as
sharply; and if expenses are made to fall consistently,
I suggest that the outlook for the future should not
be too pessimistic.