Page 213 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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in the cost of living and any increase by the Government would automatically have
caused another general demand for higher wages throughout Bahrain.

The state of public health was satisfactory and no serious epidemics occurred
during the year. At the end of 1364 the two wards in the Government Hospital
. which for 3J years had accommodated Navy, Army and R.A.F. patients were
relinquished by the R.A.F. and taken into use as public wards. During the war
over 1,300 service men were admitted to the Government Hospital as in-patients.
When the war ended the force of Special Police which was provided by the
State for service at oil field was withdrawn and absorbed into the State Police.
There was a decrease in smuggling and also in thieving and the activities of the
British Police patrols and the traffic section produced a marked effect upon the
dangerous driving which in recent years has caused such heavy casualties in
Bahrain.
Municipal activities were restricted by the difficulty in obtaining materials
for building and road repairs. During the year a new Municipality was instituted
in the town of Hedd, on Muharraq island and plans for organising a Municipality
in the two Rafaas were under consideration. During the war scarcely any new
buildings were erected in Manama and at the same time the population increased,
this resulted in a serious housing shortage and afforded an opportunity to landlords,
especially the owners of modem style buildings, to profiteer at the expense of the
tenants.
Financially the State enjoyed a successful year, the revenue amounted to
64 lakhs and the expenditure was 38 lakhs, but this expenditure represented only
the normal recurrent cost of administration and did not include any new projects
or public works. In the Budget for 1365 the estimated revenue is 59 lakhs and
the estimated expenditure is 49 lakhs, a sum of 10 lakhs will be available for
investment. No provision has been made in the Budget for the cost of the Manama
town water supply scheme or for a town building scheme which is under considera­
tion as it is considered unlikely that these works will be paid for during the year
1365.
C. DALRYMPLE BELGRAVE, C.B.E.,
Adviser to the Government of Bahrain.