Page 439 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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MINORS' DEPARTMENT

(From the report by Mr. Mohammed Dowaiger, Superintendent of the Department).
Revenue. Expenditure.
Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p.
Proceeds from 16 estates .. 1.45.429 4 0 Maintenance allowances 70.391 4 o
Rents collected 85,412 1 9 Upkeep of buildings 56.603 8 6
Refund of loans advanced .. 1.53,745 12 0 Purchase of properties 56,172 0 o
Interests on loans 15.372 9 0 Payments in cash 1,42,643 9 o
Proceeds from sale of Loans advanced 6,25,293 0 0
properties....................... 50,869 0 0 Balance in the Bank 49.997 10 1
Outstanding debts recovered 26,211 1 5
Balance from 1365 .. .. 5.19.061 3 5
Total Rs. 10,01,100 15 7 Total Rs. 10,01,100 15 7

The department administered 16 new estates during the year, this was the same number as
were dealt with during 1365, but the value of the estates was lower. The two most important estates
which were dealt with were those of the late Abdulla Bahlool and Haji Mohamed Ali Saroo, the latter
estate consisted mainly of immovable property. Receipts from rents and leases were lower than
last year because last year a loan of Rs. 37,000 was included under this heading which was granted by
the government towards building a new S-econdary school on property which is administered by the
department. The department deals with 399 properties, which are leased out, and 74 houses which
are occupied by minors and orphans whose affairs are managed by the department. Applications
were received, but not accepted, from certain persons of mature age and full competence asking that
the department should undertake the management of their estates on their behalf. Although such I
request implies an appreciation of the department’s work the Minors department was not instituted
to care for property of people who can well look after their own estates. ij

There was an increase in the funds which were given on loan to the public, this was partly i
owing to the new arrangement by which the President of the committee was authorised by His Highness
the Ruler to approve of loans in consultation with the Ruler himself thus obviating the inevitable
and undesirable publicity which ensued when the members of the committee discussed applications
for loans. Owing to Bahrain being such a small place it is not possible for any committee to keep
silent in matters such as these.
Twelve properties were sold during the year at good prices in cases where cash was required
to clear off debts against the estates. There was an increase in the amount of interest on loans.
Allowances to minors and others amounting to Rs. 70,000 were paid out, the number of persons
in receipt of allowances was 398 but during the year 54 persons attained their majority and ceased
to be under the administration of the department.

Ten houses in Manama were bought, owing to the high price of house property not more than
this could be purchased, Rs. 56,600 was spent on repairs to property including the construction of a
small house in Manama, Rs. 1,42,000 was paid out in cash to persons attaining their majority and
as dowries to minors on their marriage. Loans advanced during the year amounted to Rs. 6,25,000,
in addition Rs. 1,51,900 was on loan from the previous year. Loans are secured by mortgages on
gold or on immovable property, either the gold or the title deeds are lodged with the department.
The cost to the State of paying for the Minors Department, since it began nine years ago is
Rs. 85,000. As its work increases the cost of maintaining it has risen. At the end of the year discus­
sions were in progress about the possibility of making a charge of 2 per cent of the value of each estate
towards partly paying for the cost of the administration.