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Under the new regime, an educational policy has been developed which is to provide elementary education for Moslem children by establishing children's schools accommodated and maintained by Auqaf and inspected by the Ministry of Education, secondary schools for boys who desire to devote themselves to a religious life, and higher education for the latter also.

The children's schools have been in operation four years now and are reported upon favourably by the officials who inspect them.

Secondary schools have been established in Baghdad, Basra, Kirkuk, and Samarra.

Higher education has been established in the Al al Bait University where a Faculty of Theology has been instituted.

Teaching in the children's schools is free but students in the secondary schools and the Theological College receive allowances and most of them are boarded and lodged free as well.

In addition to the foregoing, Auqaf makes a monthly contribution to a private school in Mosul and one in Najaf.

For the present, owing to the continual fall in property-values and revenues, further building on the Al al Bait University is suspended, in the college already completed, the school of Theology and the school of Engineering are accommodated, and it is hoped that a school of Medicine will be established in the near future.

The table attached to this report shows the annual charge on Auqaf funds which this educational effort involves.

3. General.

The administration of Auqaf sustained a very serious set-back in 1923, from which it is not likely to recover fully for two or three years; it will only recover then if the policy developed in the years 1918-22 is followed faithfully in future. The principal causes of the set-back were the absence of the British Adviser from April to December on leave, and the resignation of the Director-General, Hamdi Effendi al 'Adhami, in April. The Ministry was thus left for three-quarters of the year without an official with the experience and influence necessary to maintain the policy in the face of the efforts made to change it.

In the middle of 1924, it was found impossible to pay salaries and debts; this led to the British Adviser taking over administrative control of expenditure and building schemes which he will retain until all debts are paid.

4. Ministers.

The portfolio of Auqaf was retained by 'Abdul Latif Pasha Mandil until December, 1923, when Ja'far Pasha al ‘Askari formed a new Cabinet in which Auqaf was entrusted to Shaikh Salih al Basha'yan: both of these Ministers are Basrawis. On the formation of the Yasin Pasha Cabinet in August, 1924, Auqaf was entrusted to Shaikh Ibrahim al Haidari, formerly Shaikh al Islam at Constantinople, who held the portfolio at the end of 1924.

5. Revenues and Expenditures.

The revenues for the period under review were as under :Revenues. Expenditure

Period.

April, 1923 to March, 1924

Rs. 21,25,986 21,28,973

Rs.

March, 1924 to December, 1924 12,66,995 13,60,605

Rs.33,92,981 Rs.34,89,578

The 1922-23 figures were :

April, 1922 to March, 1923.. Rs.20,65,437 Rs.24,63,999

The surplus of expenditure was drawn from accumulated funds from previous years.

As regards revenues, the fall in property values has continued, as will be seen from the rentals of three large business premises in the business centre of Baghdad :

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Fortunately, the rental-rolls were lengthened by the addition of new properties built from funds accumulated during 1918-20, hence the total revenues have not fallen so quickly as individual properties.

The amount available for the development of the properties and the repair of mosques is now very much reduced and the Ministry of Auqaf must now begin to retrench its expenditure in order to meet its obligations, for instance, the amount spent on the repairs of mosques for 1922-23 was Rs.10,46,000; 1923–24, Rs.2,33,200; April 1924 to December, 1924 Rs. 1,63,212.

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(For the Report for 1923 see Non-Parliamentary Publication, Colonial

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PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE
To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses:
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or 120, George Street, Edinburgh;

or through any Bookseller.

1925.

Price 3s. Od. Net.

[Colonial No. 14.]

Report of the

East Africa Commission.

T

Cmd. 2387. Price 3s. 6d. Post free, 3s. 8d.

HE Commission was appointed "to visit Northern
Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Tanganyika Territory, Uganda,

and Kenya with a view to obtaining as much information as possible in the time available on all subjects covered by the terms of reference to the East Africa Committee, and to report to the Secretary of State on any facts which they may consider have a bearing upon the above matters." The terms of reference to the East Africa Committee

were :

"To consider and report :

(a) on the measures to be taken to accelerate the
general economic development of the British East
African Dependencies and the means of securing
closer co-ordination of policy on such important
matters as transportation, cotton-growing, and the
control of human, animal, and plant diseases;
(b) on the steps necessary to ameliorate the social
condition of the natives of East Africa, includ-
ing improvement of health and economical
development;

(c) on the economic relation between natives and non-
natives with special reference to labour contracts,
care of labourers, certificates of identification,
employment of women and children;

(d) on the taxation of natives and the provision for services directed to their moral and material improvement."

The fundamental importance of this Report to all interested in Imperial relationships has been recognised by all sections of the Press. Nature describes it as "a valuable report.' The Economist refers to it as "the exceedingly interesting report of the East Africa Commission. The Times says it is "a much needed survey of British East Africa as a whole"; and the New Statesman, "a document which ought to have a wide circulation."

May be obtained from the addresses shown on the attached cover.

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(For the Report for 1923 see Non-Parliamentary Publication, Colonial

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PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE
To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses:
Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2; 28, Abingdon Street, London, S.W.1;
York Street, Manchester; 1, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff;

or 120, George Street, Edinburgh;

or through any Bookseller.

1925.

Price 3s. Od. Net.

[Colonial No. 14].

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