Page 457 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

45
FOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT

(Report by Mr. G. W. R. Smith, M.B.E.)
Despite the cessation of World War hostilities, some eighteen months before the year under
review the food position in Bahrain was no better and it was therefore necessary for the Government
again to devote a considerable amount of time, energy and money, to providing the necessities for
the general public. Altogether during the year 1366, the Government spent Rs. 113 lakhs in purchas­
ing rice, tea, sugar, wheat and mixed Persian grains. The monthly cereal ration per adult was main­
tained at 20 lbs. throughout the year.

In the towns of Manama, Moharraq and Hedd sixteen pounds only, consisting of 8 lbs. rice
and 8 lbs. wheat, were issued direct to th€= ration card holders, the remaining 4 lbs. of wheat were
delivered to licenced bakers who baked and sold bread at controlled prices. The increased rice ration
over last year proved very popular with the inhabitants who are essentially a rice eating race, and it
became evident during the course of the year that a large number of people were not now taking up
their wheat ration. In the villages, where some 32,000 people live, the monthly cereal ration per
adult throughout the year was 4 lbs. rice, 4 lbs. mixed flour and 12 lbs. of wheat.
It will be noticed that flour was issued to the villages and not to the towns, the reason for this
being that there are no milling facilities in the villages as is the case in the towns. The sugar ration
for the towns people was maintained at 2\ lbs. per adult per month throughout the year. For the
villagers, where tea is scarcely used, the monthly ration per adult was $ lb. The Government again
subsidised the price of rice and wheat, which remained the same throughout the year. The price of
sugar rose during the last three months of the year owing to delays in obtaining quota sugar, and the
necessity of obtaining supplies elsewhere at market rates.
After another satisfactory harvest in Persia there was a steady and continuous supply of live­
stock, potatoes, onions, gram, fresh and dried fruits, walnuts, etc., imported into Bahrain.

The system of food distribution continued smoothly and there were few complaints against
shopkeepers.
On the 1st Rajab 1366 (the seventh month of the year) the Government discontinued the
practice of employing paid shopkeepers and staff in nine shops in the villages and asked the inhabitants
to choose their own suppliers who paid for the rationed articles in advance. This arrangement has
proved satisfactory and there have been no complaints against the new shopkeepers.
The system of cloth rationing continued smoothly throughout the year and in the towns five
rations were issued to the public at varying times, the types of cloth which were issued consisted of
white longcloth, white mulls, suwahli, gatras and loongies for men and English and Indian prints and
black netting for women. For the villagers, where the inhabitants on the whole are much poorer
than in the towns, white longcloth and suwahli were issued on two occasions to men, and coloured
voile and black netting to the women.
Many more commodities were de-controlled during the year, articles still under control, apart
from cement and tinned provisions, being either under quota or those commodities, including motor
vehicles, for which foreign exchange has been granted by H.B.M’s. Political Agent.
Black Market trading was on a much smaller scale than last year because more goods became
available and a more competitive spirit developed among importers.
n There was no sign of any downward trend in prices during the year.

■

M