Page 182 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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The monthly cereal ration for an adult was maintained at 20 lbs. throughout the year ; but the
proportions of different cereals varied at times, for example, at the beginning of the year, the ration
was made up of 12 lbs. wheat, and 4 lbs. each of No. 1 flour and barley, in Jamad-al-Awal, and for
the three ensuing months, the ration consisted of 10 lbs. wheat, 7 lbs. mixed flour and 3 lbs. of rice,
commencing in Ramadhan and until the end of the year the ration was made up of 12 lbs. of wheat
and 8 lbs. of mixed flour.
During the pearl diving season the crews were also issued with a ration of Jarcesh (crushed
wheat) and an unlimited supply of dates and date juice.
At the beginning of the year up to the end of Shaaban the sugar ration was 2J lbs. per adult for
those living in the towns, and 1 lb. per adult in the villages from Ramadhan and until the end of the
year the ration was increased to 3 lbs. per adult in the towns and l lb. per adult in the villages.
The reason for the difference in the rations, between the townsfolk, and the villagers is that in
the towns there arc large non-Arab communities who consume large quantities of sugar whilst the
villagers normally scarcely consume any sugar. It became possible to increase the sugar ration
when an additional quota of sugar was allowed from India for the purpose of barter, previously a
certain amount of sugar had to be set aside for sale to Persians importing barter goods such as meat.

Tea was very short supply for the first half of the year and in order to ensure a fair distribution
it was found necessary to open Government Tea shops, staffed by Government employees and to issue
an equal ration to all. Just before Ramadhan Bahrain’s 1943-1944 quota of tea arrived and from
then onwards the position was easier and the public were able to purchase their requirements from
the same shops from which they purchase their cereals.

During the month of Shaaban there were many complaints from the public against the local
butchers for refusing to sell meat at controlled prices and for withholding livestock from the market.
At a special meeting of the Food Control Committee called for the purpose of discussing ways and
means of combating this practice, it was decided the best method would be for the Government,
through the medium of the Municipality, to purchase all imports of livestock and to sell slaughtered
meat in the meat markets direct to the public. For this purpose salaried butchers were engaged
and since then there have been no complaints. Towards the end of the year under review there was a
distinct falling off in the quantity of imports, and it was found necessary in order to conserve stocks,
to slaughter and sell meat to the public on four days a week only.

The barter system, whereby Nakhudas importing such commodities as livestock, ghee, firewood,
potatoes, etc., were allowed to export tea and sugar in similar value, worked well and there was a
plentiful supply of most of these commodities, at reasonable prices, available throughout the year.

The Government continued to purchase one-third of various types of Indian cotton piecegoods
to sell by the yard at 5 per cent, over cost to poor people.
The cost of living in Bahrain rose again during the year, prices, especially those of piecegoods,
reaching peak heights as will be seen from the comparison of prices.
A very strict control was again exercised on the export of all types of goods from Bahrain.
Many arrests were made by both the Police and by Customs officials in cases of attempted smuggling
of sugar and piecegoods.
The general increase in wages due to the great demand for labour became an incentive to
profiteering and hoarding as many people preferred to pay high prices for what they needed rather
than report the profiteer to the authorities. Those eases which were reported were all successfully
prosecuted.
Due to a considerable increase in staff and to relieve congestion towards the end of the year
the Food Control Department removed to new premises which provided better facilities for the public
to obtain their piecegoods rations and for approved shopkeepers to purchase their food supplies.