Page 14 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

6
GENERAL REVIEW.

The year 1361 brought a closer realisation of the war to the people of Bahrain
owing to various rules and restrictions which directly affected their lives. During
the first half of the year the black-out was intensified, A.R.P. measures were
undertaken and rationing was introduced. The efforts and propaganda of an
active A.R.P. committee produced little co-operation from the public, the only
noticeable result being that many of the wealthy townsfolk who might have set an
example spent the summer months in barasti camps along the coasts. Towards
the end of the year the black-out and A.R.P. measures were relaxed. Rationing
was accepted without any demur and was welcomed by the poorer people who
having no hoarded supplies had been the first to suffer. When rationing began
they found themselves enjoying equal rights to the upper and wealthier classes.
The introduction of rationing among the illiterate inhabitants of the country was
simplified by a census having been taken for the first time in 1941. The sale of
rationed foods at controlled prices in Government shops in towns and villages
struck a blow at the credit system. Formerly most people were in debt to their
local shopkeeper but with rationing in force debts were no longer possible.

The presence of British and Indian troops in Bahrain for the first time in
history was accepted with complete equanimity by the Arab population and owing
to the admirable behaviour of the troops no undesirable incidents of any kind
occurred during the year. The provision of fresh supplies for the troops put an
additional tax on the markets but this was partly compensated for by the money
which the troops spent in the country on labour and purchases.

His Highness’s Government gave all possible assistance and co-operated
fully in all things connected with the furtherance of the war. The Government
enlisted for the Royal Air Force two companies of Levies which were recruited in
a very short time, twice this number could have been obtained had they been
required. Land for camps and aerodromes and other military purposes was
provided freely by the Government in various parts of Bahrain. Two large wards
on the first floor of the State Hospital with ancillary services were provided for
services patients and the hospital was used during the year by officers and other
ranks of the Navy, Army and Air Force. The State Public Works Department,
never very heavily staffed, was employed throughout the year almost entirely upon
military works such as camps and temporary and permanent military buildings and
aerodromes. Military work was also done by the Electric Department and the
Government Garage.
The most urgent problem which faced the Government throughout the year
was to ensure a steady flow of essential foodstuffs into Bahrain from outside.
Apart from fish and a small proportion of the dates locally consumed all supplies
were imported from abroad. One of the first acts of His Highness Shaikh Salman
when he succeeded was an attempt to purchase from India a large stock of rice but
unfortunately he was too late as owing to restrictions on the export of rice it was
mer-
unobtainable. In the beginning the Bahrain Government relied upon local
chants to import foodstuffs from India but owing to the controlled prices in Bahrain
and the limited, though not ungenerous, amount of profit allowed to importers the