Page 63 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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(6) Considerable savings from the estimated costs as in the case of nearly all "major works. "
The only item in the 1367 budget which was overspent was " miscellaneous approved works. "
This is always bound to be a problematical item to estimate.

FOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT
During the year under review the Government spent Rs. 31 lakhs on buying food for the
people of Bahrain, but in the previous year, 1366, it spent Rs. 113 lakhs on food supplies. The reason
for the lower expenditure was due to certain decisions which were made at a special meeting of the
Food Committee, presided over by His Highness, which was held in the first week of the year. A
number of prominent merchants and importers attended this meeting and gave an assurance to the
Government that they could and would purchase and import into Bahrain sufficient sugar to meet
the State’s requirements for 1367. It had been the Government's intention to buy the whole sugar
quota, as it had done in previous years, but as the merchants declared that they would import sup­
plies of sugar the Government decided to encourage private enterprise and therefore withdrew its
application for a quota. The merchants also stated that they would import rice, provided that
they were allowed to sell it in Bahrain without restrictions. Their request was allowed.
As in the past the merchants failed to carry out their promises, they were too optimistic in
their expectations. Very small quantities of rice were imported and in some cases rice was landed
in Bahrain only because the Government refused to allow the cargo to be re-exported unless one-
half of the rice was sold in the State. During most of the year rice could only be obtained at an
exorbitant price in the Black Market. At times it was sold for Rs. 5 per " ruba " of 4 lbs. Only
wealthy people could afford to buy it at such a price.
In the middle of the year it became known that the export of sugar from the United Kingdom
to the Persian Gulf was being curtailed. The amount set aside for Bahrain merchants, 1,500 tons
for the year, had been exported from the United Kingdom and it was therefore not possible for the
Government to obtain further supplies. Towards the end of the year sugar became short and its
price rose sharply. This had an adverse effect on the barter trade; when the price of sugar in Bahrain
became the same as it was in Persia there was little incentive for Persian nakhudas to bring livestock,
etc. to Bahrain, so the cost of meat and imported foodstuffs from Persia rose accordingly. The
situation caused much concern to the Government which had been endeavouring to lower the cost
of living by reducing the price of essential foodstuffs. At the end of the year, in order to stop pro­
fiteering in sugar, the Government put on the market as a ration the remainder of its small stock
of sugar which was sold at a subsidised price. This action had a satisfactory effect.
The following statement shows the quantity and kind of rationed food sold throughout the
year. The small ration of rice which was issued during two months was the last of a stock of rice
which had been held in reserve.
Cereal ration per adult
Month Rate
in towns in villages
Rs. a. per ruba of 4 lbs.
Mahurrum 1367 .. 10 lbs. wheat 16 lbs. wheat o 14 „ „ „ „
2J lbs. sugar Jib. sugar 28,. ................
Safar 1367 10 lbs. wheat 16 lbs. wheat o 14 .. *# ## M
Rabia alAwal 1367 10 lbs. wheat 16 lbs. wheat 0 14 „
Rabia alThani 1367 10 lbs. wheat 16 lbs. wheat 0 14 „
Jamad alAwal 1367 10 lbs. wheat 16 lbs. wheat 0 14 „
Jamad alThani 1367 10 lbs. wheat 16 lbs. wheat o 14 ..
Rajab 1367 10 lbs. wheat 16 lbs. wheat 0 14 „
Shaban 1367 10 lbs. wheat 16 lbs. wheat I 0 „ #1 M
Ramadhan 1367 .. 8 lbs. wheat 14 lbs. wheat 1 0 „
5 lbs. rice 5 lbs. rice 2 14
Shawal 1367 10 lbs. wheat 16 lbs. wheat I O „
Dhulqaada 1367 .. 10 lbs. wheat 12 lbs. wheat 1 2 • t II
2 lbs. rice 2 lbs. rice 2 14 ..
Dhul Haj 1367 .. 10 lbs. wheat 12 lbs. wheat I 2 „