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41
In this country we are fortunate not to have passed the stage
where we are able to plan a multi-racial community living in harmony,
and this, of course, underlines the need to avoid making any
minority group a target for discriminators.
It is interesting to note that a situation is now arising where
we begin to see the need for helping immigrants to understand their
English children, and where we have to discourage indigenous people
from regarding the children of immigrants as immigrant children.
The last year did not bring any deterioration in actual immigrant-host
relationships. Unfortunately, however, the inevitable frictions
caused by the problems of housing shortage, shortages of
certain welfare services, incompatibilities and clashes of behaviour
patterns have attracted far more attention than usual and have been
reported on very widely in the press. Much of this attention was,
I suppose, to be expected during the election year. Unfortunately,
however, some of the articles and reports are more enthusiastic
than accurate or knowledgeable, and what is more disturbing is
that even where the articles themselves have been constructive, the
headlines and introductions on several occasions have been little
short of inflammatory.
The intensification of publicity and attention resulted in a
noticeable hardening of attitude and apprehension all round.
The increased interest has meant that I have been inundated
with requests to help, advise, assist with and meet people from a
variety of organisations, publishers, groups and the like who wish
to learn about the problems (usually in little more than a couple
of hours) in order to prepare a survey, thesis, article or booklet.
While I am naturally happy to do all possible to further understanding,
interest and concern in the task of integration, it will be understood
that I have sometimes had to refuse this assistance, not only
because of sheer pressure, but because I have sometimes felt that
the resultant publications could do more harm than good.
My task has been made easier by the unfailing encouragement
I have always received from Dr. Oldershaw, to whom particularly
on this occasion I would wish to express my gratitude. I am also
indebted to the Staff of the Public Health Department and members
of our Town Hall staff whose co-operation and help I have valued.
I would also like to express my thanks to the officers of the London
County Council with whom I have liaised, all of whom have been
most helpful, and to the officers of the Citizens Advice Bureau who
have shown a deep understanding of the problems with which we
have been mutually concerned.