Page 99 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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with Bahrain for the RE porta' trade, there being no import

duty, aa auch in Dubai.
Native craft cargoea, ahew a decreaae caused by
1. direct transhipment at Bea,
2. the Manama Baladia tax upon imports of tobacco of
2%. Thi8 tax ia levied upon imports of tobacco
whether intended for consumption in Manama or
otherwise•

The tax eepecially affects the imports of Batna tobacco which
ojrdinarily ia of a little better quality and consequently more
expensive than the tobacco and cigarettes imported from Europe.
The municipal tax makes this kind of tobacco still dearer, and
smokers naturally buy the cheaper European product. I consider
the loss of duty through this position is about Ks.3,000/-. The
import of fish oil has considerably decreased owing, I am told,

to an insufficient rainfall on the Africal coasts.
•parcels duty shews ah increase of Rs.2,7l3/-, mainly due
to an increase of luxury articles such as perfumes etc.
■Passengers 5§ggage shews an increase of ks. 16,328/-, due
to closer supervision of Persian craft, which are now made to

anchor closer to Manama Pier, and are inspected at sea, when­
ever possible, by the Passport Officer, who hires a launch for
this purpose. The necessity for a State Launch is therefore
justified. Also, a large quantity of ghee is brought here from
Busrah as passengers' deck cargo, and the duty thereon falls
under this head.
"Export Duty shews a decrease due to slackness in export
of oystershellB to Europe. This of course does not include pearls

or specie on which no duty is charged.
"RB duty shewB an increase of Hs.4938/- partly due to the
ooncession granted to al ^aseyby to import a consignment of
rice for H.IC. The Sultan of Najd, all of which bags of rice

wre of special weights, and partly due to the secure situation
of Bahrain for trade purposes.
"Miscellaneous includes an increase of ks.600 in super­
vision fees, due to facilities granted by the Customs for
landing