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35
need "specialist" treatment, although he might need a little more
patience and knowledge of the background might be helpful. Of
course I was always happy to provide any information I may have
had, or if I did not know the answer myself suggest some specialised
authority where this information might be obtained. In the second
place the sheer weight of numbers concerned would make it physically
impossible for anything less than a very large department to deal
with.
My policy has been conditioned all the while by the principle
that our ultimate aim is the integration and assimilation into our
society of this influx of immigrants and with as little disruption as
possible. Any suggestion of segregation in this whole field would
be a very retrograde step. I have frequently found myself explaining
that generally people from overseas were coming to England because
they were attracted to the prospect of a reasonable standard of
living in common with the other inhabitants. They did not ask for
special consideration and in fact the provision of any special official
arrangements could only tend to make them feel they were being
looked on as different and as a special problem. Also this would
make different looking people a target for discriminators. Unfortunately
at this stage we must always bear in mind that there is
not sufficient enlightenment on either side to cancel out the feelings
of prejudice that still exist, and therefore any decision or action
taken in this connection needs the most conscientious and painstaking
examination.
I am pleased to say that by now the position is pretty generally
understood and in fact the various problems that arise are being
dealt with by the organisations in the normal course of routine.
Inevitably the outcome of this tidying up has resulted in the fact
that all cases that are not the clear cut property of one organisation
or another come to me. This in effect means that the overwhelming
number of problems I deal with are the ones of friction and
misunderstanding between landlord and tenant, tenant and tenant,
or neighbours. These cases are referred to me by most of the
organisations including the Court and police. It is flattering to
realise that when there is a misunderstanding that cannot be resolved
by law it is hoped that my personal approach and explanation to
both sides may be helpful.
Before discussing the types of problems which are coming to
me I think it would be useful to recall that historically Paddington
is a place that has always had social problems, mainly because a
large section of the Borough has always been occupied by a transient
population. It is a main railway terminus, adjacent to the West
End and with a large number of hotels and the cheaper type of
lodging houses. The houses in Paddington are generally large and
do not conveniently lend themselves to being split up, but most of
them are divided into flats, flatlets and bed-sitters. Added to that
it has a very mixed community both socially and racially. This
type of area has always attracted newcomers and migrants and
unfortunately also people who are drifters or social casualties.
I think it fair to point out that the problems which I have
encountered are as a result of the general pattern and structure
of such an area such as I have outlined and which has always existed.