Page 410 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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abolishing of price controls was strongly advocated by importers, merchants and
shop-keepers, who in Bahrain are the most influential people in the community,
but for the majority of the inhabitants, who are more or less inarticulate, the reten­
tion of controls for a little while longer would probably have been advantageous.

Various public works were completed or in progress during the year, these
included the new pier sheds, passengers’ baggage hall and passport office on the
pier and on land adjacent to the pier which was reclaimed from the sea. The
sheds are stone walled, with cement floors and roofs of asbestos sheeting, handling
of cargo has been speeded up and cargo is now stored under greatly improved
conditions and without loss of grain from vermin. A large Arab house at Muharraq
was adapted as a women’s hospital and a new dispensary was built at Rafaa.
Another house in Muharraq was converted into a boys’ Kindergarten school and
additions were made to several existing schools. The public works office, flat
and sheds were completed and progress was made on nine shops in the principal
road in the bazaar and a new police station and post office. A store was built
for the Electric Department with new offices above it close to the Power House.
Holloway Brothers proceeded with laying the pipes for the Manama town water
supply and Cable and Wireless began work on the automatic telephone system.
Apart from government activity there was a good deal of building development
in the towns, many new houses were built and work was begun on a cinema in
Manama with seating capacity for 800 persons.

Trade flourished during the year and the bazaars were well stocked with
imported goods but the diving industry suffered a serious set-back owing to the
action of the Government of India which forbade the import of pearls into India.
The situation in the middle of the diving season was so serious that loans were
given to the principal diving Nakhudas by the government in order to enable them
to continue diving till the end of the summer.

The state of public security was good, there were few serious crimes during
the year and less civil litigation than usual. This was due to the generally pros­
perous conditions and to the fact that anybody seeking employment could find
work.

C. DALRYMPLE BELGRAVE, C.B.E.,
Adviser to the Government of Bahrain,
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