Page 151 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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V. Annual Repairs, etc.
The sum spent on repairs, maintenance and decoration was considerably higher than in previous
years. As the number of Government buildings increases so will this work also increase.
Most of the decoration work consisted of outside painting, etc., and the following buildings were
dealt with :
Adviscratc
Customs House
State Medical Officer’s House
Government Hospital
Police Station, Post Office and flats above.
Assistant Political Agent’s House
Public Works Department’s offices and flat
Law Courts and flats above

and a start was made on the Fort. The usual summer holiday work to the various schools was carried out.
Labour
The labour position was rather better than in the previous year. The demand for good tradesmen
on the mainland—where very inflated wages are paid—slackened ; also men arc beginning to learn that
high wages arc not the only thing that matters and that steady work in the well-ordered conditions of
Bahrain has much to be said in its favour.
A higher standard of work was aimed at and results were encouraging ; especially in the case of I
plumbers, fitters and carpenters. The general standard, however, is still lower than it was a few years I
ago and the number of real craftsmen is declining. In certain trades, notably painting, there is still great
room for improvement.
Rates of wages were substantially unaltered ; but small increases were made to certain leading
tradesmen, while all drivers benefited from a general Government increase.
The number of men on daily wages averaged well over 900.
Transport

The Department was better placed than ever before ; starting the year with twelve trucks and
acquiring an additional six. The extent of the works programme puts the Public Works Department’s
transport to very heavy usage ; and the standard both of driving and servicing is definitely poor ; the result
being that the Department seldom had the use of all its transport and was often hard put to it to cope with
its works programme.
Stores
Locally obtained stores were in good supply at about the same rates as heretofore. Running
contracts of four months duration were again let for the supply of coral, sand, gutch and lime. Undoubtedly
this checks any big rise in prices. During the year various parcels of softwood (European) were obtained
from local merchants, as well as the normal hardwood ; and in Dil Qada a large quantity of excellent teak—
the first in the island for many years—was purchased.
Stores from the U.K. were extensively ordered and in many cases were delivered a very long time
later than expected. Another difficulty in dealing with U.K. suppliers is that many of them do not
appreciate the difficulties of overseas buyers, who are out of touch with modern developments. It is
difficult to obtain really informative lists or catalogues ; and too few good sales representatives visit the island.
Some U.K. manufacturers appear to have no wish to meet overseas buyers’ requirements ; but offer
products which no doubt are excellent in many countries but which are not suitable for the Persian Gulf.
In view of the much advertised " export drive " this attitude seems very strange.