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17
With the exception of the Scandinavians and, previously to the war, the
Germans, the housing of foreign seamen, Lascars, Arabs, and Chinamen particularly,
has always been a serious problem There was difficulty with the Lascars in 1922,
when for want of more suitable accommodation large numbers were housed in
common lodging houses, including Carrington House, in Deptford. It was felt that
much of this accommodation was unsatisfactory; not only was there no provision
for the special preparation of their food, but there was no privacy for them when they
wished to carry out their devotional exercises. It was no uncommon thing to find
them praying in the common kitchen exposed to the ridicule of the other lodgers.
The India Office was informed, and as a result increased use was made of the Asiatic
Home. Since that date little difficulty has been experienced, owing first to the smaller
number of Lascars now requiring accommodation and to the shipping companies
taking greater advantage of the Asiatic Home.
The Chinese problem has always been a serious one. In the earlier days it was
mostly in connection with opium-smoking and gambling that difficulty was experienced,
to-day it is associated with the fact that the Chinese restrict themselves
to quite a small area, where the houses are old, worn and badly planned and practically
all let at weekly rentals. Usually the reconditioning and the works asked for
as health requirements are not particularly expensive or extensive, but owing to
the construction and arrangement of the premises, the fire danger is a real one and,
owing to the short tenancies, few keepers will risk the expenditure. Consequently,
when from any cause there is a large number of Chinese seamen to be housed, the
available accommodation is insufficient, and the residue drift into unlicensed
premises.
Since the introduction of licensing, nearly the whole of the convictions shown
in the table (p. 18) have been for lodging seamen, generally Chinese or Arabs, in
unlicensed premises. The advent of the Chinese seamen dates back some 50 years
or more. First a store was opened in Limehouse Causeway, to be quickly followed
by boarding house masters from Liverpool. The colony gradually increased and
encroached on the surrounding streets, including Pennyfields, West India Dock-road
and High-street, Poplar. In 1910, the estimated Chinese population was about 1,500.
In 1913, there were 12 licensed premises and 42 other houses frequented by Chinese.
By 1915, the licensed houses had dropped to 9, but the other premises had increased
from 42 to 81. This maybe taken as the period when the colony was at its maximum,
probably some 2,000. During the War, a large number left London to work on
munitions and did not return when the War was over. Some went to Rotterdam
and Amsterdam, others to Antwerp, from which places it was much easier to get
boats, opportunities in London being very slight, although wages were higher.
To-day there are only 3 licensed houses specially catering for Chinese, with accommodation
for 40 persons. The total population of the Chinese colony to-day is perhaps
250. Of the unlicensed houses some are occupied privately, others are used as clubs,
and some as Chinese stores. In 1913 it was felt that some additional powers for dealing
with Chinamen were necessary, and it was suggested that certain areas should be
scheduled by the Board of Trade, and that instead of the Council having to prove
that any Chinaman in the area was a seaman, the responsibility of proving that
he was not a seaman would rest on him. Since that date, however, the Aliens Act,
which does not allow aliens to enter or remain in this country without registration
with the police, has practically met the difficulty. At the same time the number
of Chinese seamen using the port has materially diminished and to-day difficulty
is experienced only occasionally when a crew is brought to London.
Opium-smoking, at one time so prevalent in the Chinese quarter, has practically
ceased in the lodging houses owing to the operation of the by-laws and of the Pharmacy
and Dangerous Drugs Acts.