Page 155 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

51

FOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT
(Report by Mr. G. W. R. Smith, Director of Customs.)
During the year under review the Government spent Rs. 66 lakhs on buying food for the people
of Bahrain ; in the previous year only Rs. 31 lakhs were spent on the purchase of food.
The increased expenditure was on sugar and rice, quotas of which had been asked for by the
Government and received through the British Government.
During the months of SafFar, Rabia alAwal, and Rabia alThani, prior to the arrival of Government
quota sugar, the Government was fortunately in a position to check the somewhat inflatory tendency in
the free sugar market by issuing a small ration of 2 lbs. per adult per month for the townsfolk of Manama,
Muharraq, and Hedd, and J lb. per adult in the villages, from a reserve high priced stock at a subsidised
rate of Rs. 1.9.0. per ruba of 4 lbs. (The free market rate which had risen to Rs. 2.4.0. per ruba returned
to Rs. x.12.0 per ruba).
The 1949 quota sugar duly arrived in mid Jamad alThani ; commencing with the month of Rajab
and continuing through the remaining months of the year, a sugar ration of 3 lbs. per adult in the towns
and J lb. per adult in the villages was issued at a rate of Rs. 1.8.0. per ruba.
Rice
As in the ease of sugar, prior to the arrival of Government quota stocks, prices in the open market
rose far beyond the means of the poor and working class people to Rs. 4.8.0. per ruba of 4 lbs. Commencing
with the month of Shaban, the Government issued a ration of 6 lbs. Egyptian rice per adult per month
throughout the State at a rate of Rs. 1.6.0. per ruba of 4 lbs. For the month of Ramadhan 8 lbs. per adult
were issued, in Shawal and till the end of the year, 6 lbs. per adult per month were issued, at Rs. 1.6.0.
per ruba of 4 lbs.
The fact of the Government having and issuing low priced rice had a salutory effect on the free
market, rice prices tumbling to from Rs. 2.8 to Rs. 3.0 per ruba.
Wheat
The Government continued to receive from the British Ministry of Food, Busrah, regular monthly
shipments of wheat. Towards the end of the year in addition to the rice ration, considerable quantities
of white and wheat flour arrived from Australia consigned to local merchants. The flour market became
overstocked and this commodity was sold locally in many instances at cost price, thus comparing favourably
in price with rationed wheat. It soon became apparent that the public were not buying their wheat ration
in full and the Government were forced to give up three months’ quota, having at the end of the year, on
the basis of consumption at that time, nearly one year’s stock in hand.
The following statement shows the quantity and kind of rationed food sold throughout the year.
Cereal Ration per Adult
Month. In Towns. In Villages. Rate.
Mahurram 1368 .. 10 lbs. wheat 12 lbs. wheat Rs. 1.2.0 per ruba of 4 lbs.
Safar, 1368 10 lbs. wheat 12 lbs. wheat . Rs. x.2.0
2 lbs. sugar i lb. sugar Rs. 1.9.0 „ „
Rabia alAwal, 1368 .. 10 lbs. wheat 12 lbs. wheat . Rs. 1.2.0 „ „
2 lbs. sugar A lb. sugar . Rs. x.9.0 H M
Rabia alThani .. 10 lbs. wheat 12 lbs. wheat . Rs. 1.2.0 „
2 lbs. sugar i lb. sugar . Rs. 1.9.0 „
Jamad alAwal .. 10 lbs. wheat 12 lbs. wheat Rs. 1.2.0 „ ,,
Jamad alThani, 1368 10 lbs. wheat 12 lbs. wheat . Rs. 1.2.0 „ „
Rajab, 1368 .. 10 lbs. wheat 12 lbs. wheat . Rs. 1.2.0
3 lbs. sugar £ lb. sugar Rs. 1.8.0 „ „