Letter from a clerk at Cardiff Town to the Home Office about lodging houses in Cardiff, 21 April 1921. Catalogue ref: HO 45/11897/332087
Transcript
City Hall, Cardiff.
21st April, 1921.
Sir,
My Authority have received a report from the Inspector of Lodging Houses to the following effect, viz:-
“I beg to draw the attention of the Committee to the serious congestion at present existing in the Seamen’s Lodging Houses in the City. Some of the houses are full, but most of them are overcrowded. This is caused principally by the fact that very little trade is done in shipping at the Docks. I am also informed that many of these men are paid off in foreign ports and are not allowed to remain there and take their chance of signing on another ship; they pay their passage across to this country, and when they land here they have very little money on them. They cannot get away again owing to the stagnant state of trade at the Docks.”
The following statement shows the licensed Seamen’s Lodging Houses which are overcrowded, viz:-
Date
|
Situation of House | Nationality | No. of persons licenced for. | No. of persons in house. | HO Inspector Report. [handwritten] |
13.4.21 | 38 Maria St | Arab | 9 | 38 | 40 |
13.4.21 | 1&2 Maria St | Arab | 10 | 24 | 38 + 1 |
13.4.21 | 224 Bute St | Arab | 18 | 40 | 73 |
13.4.21 | 220 Bute St | Japanese | 18 | 36 | 80 |
12.4.21 | 215 Bute St | Arab | 34 | 72 | 75 |
13.4.21 | 234 Bute St | Portuguese | 14 | 17 | 17 |
15.4.21 | 268 Bute St | Arab | 13 | 50 | 66 |
15.4.21 | 24 Bute St | Maltese | 10 | 19 | 19 |
14.4.21 | 223 Bute St | Arab | 20 | 52 | 63 |
14.4.21 | 156 Bute St | Arab | 10 | 41 | 45 |
14.4.21 | 161 Bute St | Maltese | 29 | 34 | 55 |
14.4.21 | 185 Bute St | Arab | 18 | 45 | 72 |
15.4.21 | 18 & 19 Angelina St | Arab | 17 | 29 | 24 |
15.4.21 | 16 Maria St | Arab | 6 | 7 | 17 |
15.4.21 | 26 Maria St | Arab | 5 | 17 | 20 |
15.4.21 | 24 Maria St | Arab | 7 | 9 | 14 |
15.4.21 | 23 Loudoun Squ | Russian/ Finn | 8 | 12 | 12 |
15.4.21 | 52 Loudoun Squ | West African | 15 | 37 | 28 |
17.4.21 | 43 Loudoun Sq | British | 9 | 23 | 23 |
17.4.21 | 11 Frances Str | West African | 9 | 17 | 19 |
17.4.21 | 4&5 Maria Street | Egyptians & Arabs | 15 | 16 | 27 |
18.4.21 | 11 West Church St | Arab | 8 | 72 | 16 |
303 | 707 | 840 |
The following places are also being kept open during the night shelter, viz:-
The Seamen’s Mission at the entrance to the West Dock, from 100 to 150 are accommodated there every night.
The Fennish Mission, Hannah Street. There were 18 men sleeping there on the 17.4.21.
The John Cory’s Sailors and Soldier’s Rest, Bute Street. There were 16 men sleeping there on 17.4.21.
I am desired by my Authority to draw the serious attention of His Majesty’s Government hereto and to point out that the Boarding House Keepers state that they are unable to keep these Seamen any longer without payment. The position here is, therefore, very serious, and likely to become more so.
I am to ask that instructions be given so that those who are not British Subjects may be either repatriated forthwith, or accommodated in a concentration camp.
I shall be glad to hear from you.
I am Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Cecil G. Brown
TOWN CLERK.
Look at source 6a.
- Why is trade at the dockyard described as ‘stagnant’ in 1921?
- Why does the writer suggest that overcrowded lodging houses is a ‘serious’ issue?
- What possible consequences could he be referring to if matters are not resolved?
- How many of these men could claim to be British?
- What do the following suggestions for non-British Subjects mean? a) Repatriation (b) Accommodated in a concentration camp