Page 257 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET 1370—contd.
(b) Lunatic Asylum 1,00,000
(r) Police Fort Married Quarters 2,00,000
((/) Customs : Rs.
Pier Reclamation 1,75,000
Completion of New Shed 50,000
Pier Repairs and Crane 50,000
2,75,000
(e) Construction of New Transport Shed and Equipment. 1,00,000
(/) Water Supply Stores............................................. 50,000

(g) Miscellaneous Approved Works ....................... 3,00,000
23,75,000
Major Public Works:
New Roads ,3,50,000

Rs. .. 32.75.ooo

FOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT
(Report by Mr. G. W. R. Smith, m.b.e.. Director of Customs.)
During the year under review the Government again spent over Rs. 60 lakhs on buying such
essential foodstuffs, as rice, sugar and wheat to be issued as rations to the people of Bahrain.
With the exception of the month of Safar (the 2nd month of the year) when Government
stocks were exhausted, the Government was able to issue an adequate monthly rice ration to the
population at prices well below the free market rates.
The outbreak of hostilities in Korea caused a scare of further world hostilities amongst the
merchants and some of the public, with the result that there was an outbreak of hurried buying and
selling of commodities such as rice, sugar, flour and tea, with a view to hoarding by certain unscrupu­
lous merchants.
Prices reached alarming heights before the Government took action, first by reducing the margin
of profit allowed on cereals, rice, sugar, coffee, etc., from 25 per cent to 10 per cent, secondly by re­
questing importers to enter into the town 50 per cent of' in transit * cargo such as mentioned above,
and lastly by increasing the monthly rice ration from 6 lbs. to 10 lbs.

At the time of writing this report these methods have had a salutory effect on the free market,
the price of which at present is little more than for that of Government stocks.
As from the 1st Rabial Thani the Government reduced the selling price of wheat to four annas
a pound, in an endeavour to dispose of stocks, but as in the previous year, owing to the plentiful
supply of Canadian and Australian flour, a very small proportion of the populace took up their rations
of wheat.
Commencing the month of Shaban the Government had to increase the price of rationed sugar,
by one anna per pound, due to an increase in the cost at source of supply.
The following statement shows the quantity and kind of food sold throughout the year, together
with the price charged for each commodity.