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with General lasted as Chairman and Mr. McGregor from the Mnance
Department as Secretary. The Board met in April, 1952, when it
was reconstituted with the addition of three members of the Municipality
and contimed under General lasted's chairmanship until November, 1953.
During this period the main outlines of the developent programme
were agreed, contracts were signed with the British *Big Five"
contractors and work was started under the control of the State Development
Department with General Hasted as its head. The Public Works Department
contined to function separately under ir. Halaby. In November, 2953,
Sheik Fahad, the President of the Publie works Department, took over the
chairmanship of the Development Board.
6. The Kuweitis disliked the sand patronage which General Hasted
seemed to have and tried to curb it; consequently he found himself
more and more unable to exercise control or to get major decisions taken.
In February, 1953, Mr. Halaby resigned and br. Jabri, a Syrian engineer,
was appointed Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, and in
April, 1953, the State Development Department the Public Works
Department were amalgamatéd. General Hasted was appointed Chairman
of a technical sub-committee to advise on technical matters. He and
and
his British staff continued to administer the vork of the main
contractors but he was gradually divested of authority as regards new
work. By April, 1954, he came to the conelusion that he was no longer
able to perform the functions for which he had been appointed and resigned.
A few weeks later air. Jabri also resigned, having been unable to reach
agreement with the State on the terms of his employment or the authority
he should exercise.
7. These resignations left a Palestinian, Nr. 1. Khalaf, as
Acting Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department and Mr. C. R. Bird wood as Acting Chief Engineer for development. dr. Tal at Ghusten, who
had been appointed in October, 1953, renained as Secretary of the Board.
