Page 181 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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It is probable that they arc working elsewhere in Bahrain or on the mainland. These Persians,
though good workmen, arc a type whose presence in Bahrain is not desirable. A round-up of un-
employed persons was made by the Police towards the end of the year but only a few of the foreign
Persian labourers were found.

The Passport Department working in co-operation with the Food Control verified the claims
of all persons who applied for ration cards on the score of having entered Bahrain since the rationing
system was introduced, the Department also supplied details of people leaving Bahrain in order that
their names should be cancelled on the ration register.
During the last five months of the year over 700 persons from Qatar were registered as having
entered Bahrain owing to the removal of the ban upon Qatar subjects coming into the country.
The number of Qataris who have actually entered Bahrain is undoubtedly very much greater than
the number of arrivals which were registered. These people land on the coast or on small islands
at night and join their relations at Hedd or in Muharraq or in the villages on the south east coast
of Bahrain where their presence is not detected. Numbers of Qatar Arabs obtained work with the
Bahrain Petroleum Company, declaring themselves to be Bahrain subjects. There is reason to
believe that the Qataris wish to settle permanently in Bahrain as in many eases they brought with
them their families and livestock.
Destitute Persians continued to enter Bahrain without permission. During the year 42 men
of this type were arrested and some were sent to work on the oil fields and others were repatriated.
The number of men who were caught is probably small in proportion to the number who evaded the
authorities. Though during the year there was ample work to provide employment for all Bahrain
subjects and for foreigners as well yet when conditions become normal, after the war there may be
unemployment which will be aggravated by an increase in the numbers of men who do not specialise
in any trade but are useful only as coolies.
During the year 36 persons acquired Bahrain Nationality including one Iraqian and one
Abyssinian. The majority of the naturalised Bahrain subjects are Persians who have lived and
traded for many years in Bahrain and who have severed their connection with their native country.
Only people who have lived not less than 10 years in Bahrain and who own property are eligible
for Bahrain nationality. The conditions under which people can obtain Saudi-Arabia nationality
are apparently less strict as cases have been noted in which people with no connection with that
country have visited a Saudi-Arabian port for a few days or weeks and have then returned with
Saudi-Arabian passports.

FOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT.
(Report by Mr. G. W. R. Smith, Director oj Customs and Food Controller, Bahrain).
The problem of providing suitable and sufficient food for the people of Bahrain was once again
one of the main preoccupations of the Government and during the year under review, in attaining
this object, some 84 lacs of rupees were spent by the Government 011 the purchase of such essential
foods as wheat, flour, barley, rice, sugar and dates, about 7 lacs was spent on buying tea and 6J lacs
upon piccegoods.
The quantity of rice purchased was however only just over 400 tons, it was of Iraq origin and
for the majority of people wheat formed the staple diet throughout the year.
Despite the lack of rice in any quantity there were no signs of malnutrition amongst the people
and there was a considerable decrease in the number of cases of Bacillary Dysentery which many
people had previously attributed to the change in diet.

The system of Food distribution which commenced during 1363. continued unchanged through­
out the year and there were few complaints from the public against the shop-keepers.