Page 346 - 2 Persian Trade rep Bahrain 2_Neat

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12. Taxation.—Private property is free from Japanese ]*-rt.js. The British Overscan Airways
taxation lot there .are municipal taxes in the towns hair, at Bahrain on their east and west bound
of Manama and Muharraq. A considerable pro­ flight*.
portion of ;hc total State income is derived from
Oil Royalties, and most off the balance tomes from
Customs duties. The Customs tariff is fixed at 17. General.—Manamah, the capital town, con­
5 per cen*. ml ro?orem <»n general merchandise tains three hospitals, three schools and a technical
and 10 per cent, on •certain luxury articles such as school a Post Office maintained by the Indian
carpets. trilfims, cycles, clocks and watches, electrical Postal Department, :i wireless and cable station,
goods, furniture, gr.ainophooies, gold and artificial ami a branch of Messrs. Gray, Mackenzie and
sold thread, hosiery, henna, motor cars. j>erfumery, Comipmy, Linuitcd, who act as agents for the
toilet- sr ojH, silken goods, mowing machines, rubber British India Steam Navigation Company, Limited.
tyres and tubes, typewriters, boots, and shoes
playing raids, etc. Alcohol, tobacco and cigarettes
pay 15 per cent. duty. Tlicrc arc municipal councils in Muharraq and
Manama. Th'-re is ;an electric power station at
Masiamah and power is carried along the causeway
Transit dues on goods landed at Bahrain for the
mainland are charged at 1} per cent, and export ami by submarine cable to Muharraq.
duty of R-». 10 prr bundle is paid on hides and two
annas per Whet uu -dates.
Tie Political Agent, Bahrain, who is in clo--e
touch with local and mainland affairs, will be glad
The Customs Department is under the direction
of a:i European Director -of Custom®, who is an to answer any enquiries regarding trade from
merchants in the United Kingdom through the
official of the Bahrain Government.
Dcpanracnt of Overseas Trade.
13. Agriculture.—The area of Bahrain is roughly
13^,000 acr®s, of whi-eh roughly l;12th is cultivable Enquiries from India should be made through
ai.d 1 20:h is at present color cultivation. The the Director General of Commercial Intelligence,
principal crops grown arc dates and Sueerne. As Calcutta. Tirr_e would probably be saved by
a result < f greatly it.«ereased demand, more attention addressing the latter official direct, as information
is now being paid to the cultivation of vegetables.
on most ordinary matt-vrs is available in his records.
14. Ii'Aujfri/.—Bahrain i® famous throughout the
world for its pearl industry on which givat numbers
of ]>eopl^ still depend for their livelihood. Unfor­
tunately this industry has be-ca in decline in recent
years. Tl.-e possibility of initiating a mother-of-
piarl industry should be explored. £d. R. G. E. W. ALBAS, Major,
Political Agent, Bahrain.
15. Minn.—The Bahrain Petroleum Co., Ltd.,
now owns a fully developed oil field. A veiy
modern refinery, capable of dealing with over BaHRxI*,
25.000 barrels of oil daily, has been working steadily
to full capacity. 13th February 1941.
16. Counsvmeatiowts and transport.—Motor roads
suitable for cars and lo*ri*s exist over most
of the two main islands. There are 281 motor
cars, 115 bu-cs, SO lorries of various types and 35
motor eyolts, which are almost exclusively of
American manufact are. Motor boats ply regularly
between Bahrain, Qatif and 'Ojair and occasionally
to other porta on the mainland. The fares are
cheap. TWe is a regular weekly steamer service
(British India Steam Navigation Company) from
and to Ji.dia and Iraq. Thin Company's fast mail
also calls at Bahrain weekly. In addition the
St rick, Silver Java Paicific and Mitsui lines main­
tain regular service* from British, American and