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40
At the time of writing this report the question of restriction
of immigrants is being hotly debated and reported upon. While not
wishing to comment on this question, I feel it right to mention that
reports and articles which are now appearing in profusion seldom,
if ever, comment knowledgeably on the economic pressures which
are frequently the reasons for people taking the enormous step
of leaving their comparatively simple communities to come to a
strange and sometimes hostile and suspicious one.
I am reminded of this when I am shown letters from children
in the depressed areas of the West Indies, who have been left perhaps
with an ageing grandparent, or other relatives, but are financially
dependent on their mothers here, when for some reason the
mother has not been able to send the usual remittance, or extra
money which is required for necessary items. The mothers would
like to have the children join them here, but insufficient money, lack
of suitable accommodation and the need to work very long hours
often preclude them from doing so.
The problem of working mothers is not, of course, confined to
immigrants, but it can be an even more acute problem with immigrant
mothers who are forced to work full time and have their
children minded. Day nurseries are not always available for the
times required, and private minding which is so often of poor standard,
can result in emotion and development deprivation of the
children. There are particular problems with coloured children.
I think it would be true to say that during the five years I have
been reviewing, there has been an easing of certain individual and
personal problems as a result of adaptation and understanding,
but, as I anticipated, there are more general problems arising, and
these will continue to rise because adaptation does not yet mean
acceptance.
In Paddington most of our immigrants are English-speaking
and of our own religion. West Indians particularly share many of
our interests and cultural pursuits. This, of course, does mean that
many problems they experience can be adequately dealt with by
the existing services, especially as workers in the social field become
more knowledgeable of the social history, origin and background
of immigrants. Areas such as ours have now reached a stage when
it is easier to consider the long-term problems arising from minority
groups and migratory movements. I feel it is on these problems we
should place emphasis.
The question which comes sharply into focus is—how long are
we to regard people from the Commonwealth as immigrants? We
must remind ourselves that many have been earning their living in
this country for a number of years and have borne children here
who by definition, birth and rights are as English as I am. The only
way in which the new generation are likely to differ from other Londoners,
if they are coloured, is in that respect only. This is a situation
which has arisen almost without conscious attention.
By continuing to describe adapted citizens as immigrants,
particularly if they are coloured people, we are tending to condition
society into regarding them as people who are different, thereby
perpetuating the difference.