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22. IMMIGRATION
There are immigrants of many nationalities in the Borough; Indian, Pakistani,
West Indian, Polish, Irish, and one family each from Persia, Thailand and Fiji. Most
of these integrate easily into the community and present no particular problem, and
it is only the concentration of Asian immigrants in the Southall part of the Borough
which calls for special help. It is largely with them that this section of my report
is concerned.
For some years this area has formed an attractive target for immigrants from
India and Pakistan. It has the advantage of close proximity to London Airport with
many different types of work available. Indians form the majority of immigrants in
Southall and most of them are Punjabi Sikhs but a small number come from Kenya.
There is a small percentage of Pakistanis,estimated to be in the region of 10% of the
Asian population.
There is a local belief that the arrival of Indian immigrants began with one
Indian ex-soldier who sought and obtained work from his former British officer, by
then working in,a nearby rubber factory. During 1950/51 the wages and standard
of living obtainable attracted some of this Indian's friends and relatives who in turn
influenced other compatriots. Finding it difficult to rent accommodation they
gradually purchased many houses of the gabled Victorian villa type south of the
Uxbridge Road. By 1961 the census showed there to be 1,780 Indian or Pakistani
immigrants.
The 1966 census, a 10% sample, does not give the populations of the former
boroughs separately but it shows an estimated total Indian and Pakistani population
in the whole Borough of 9,327.
Since that Census there has been a further influx of immigrants, some coming
as additional separate families or parts of families, and others to join relatives who
were already established in the area. These immigrants can mainly be placed into
three categories:
1) Permanent
The immigrant who comes to Southall, obtains a local job, buys a
house, settles down, and is inclined to remain there with his family.
2) Originally temporary, but remaining permanently
It is a traditional obligation to supply accommodation to relatives and
friends when they arrive in this country and this tradition is practised
frequently. Some immigrants taking advantage of this system find
employment in the area and eventually find permanent homes of their
own in Southall, Hill ingdon or adjoining districts.
3) In transit
This group also takes advantage of the traditional obligation, but stay
with friends or relatives in Southall for only a short period before
moving off to other parts of the country. A great number find employment
in industry in the Birmingham area and others in the brick-fields
of Bedford.
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