A memorandum from the Colonial Office Working Party on ‘the employment in the United Kingdom of surplus colonial labour,’ which provides an outline history of settlement from the First World War, 5 October 1948. Catalogue ref: CO 1006/2
Contains original language used at the time which is not appropriate today.
- When and where have colonial citizens settled in Britain before the arrival of the Empire Windrush?
- What problems have they faced in the port cities?
- How was the issue of accommodation tackled for Windrush workers?
Transcript
WORKING PARTY ON THE EMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OF SURPLUS COLONIAL LABOUR
Colonial Office experience of Colonial workers in the United Kingdom
This memorandum deals with two aspects of the significance of Colonial workers in the United Kingdom namely accommodation and their ability to find and retain employment.
- Accommodation
Historical
During the past 30 years groups of Colonials have been domiciled in Great Britain. Originally, they came here as seamen in the 1914-1918 war. After the war, many settled down, married, and have lived here ever since. They have produced a group of citizens of mixed birth. During the depression periods, the original settlers endured, in common with other workers, years and years of unemployment, and for the most part their families were reared during these periods. Upon reaching working age their off-springs had little opportunity for employment, partly because of the economic depression, but more so on account of racial prejudice. These family units therefore became social problems. The fathers were for the most part Negros from West Africa, the West Indies and Somaliland; also from Aden. A smaller proportion came from Ceylon, Malaya and Hong Kong. (Maltese, Cypriots and other Mediterranean Colonials excluded for the purpose of this memorandum). These seamen settled, for the main part in the sea-port towns which were familiar to them-viz. Liverpool, London, Cardiff, North and South Shields and Hull-these towns are arranged in the order of the seize of their communities. As it is not customary in Great Britain to include in any census particulars of racial origin, it is impossible to give any particular sea-port town. There are reasons for thinking that at the commencement of the late war these communities in the towns after mentioned numbered 15,000 persons. This estimate must of course include English wives.
In all the sea-port towns mentioned above, the colonial communities live in the most depressed and sordid part of the town. In Liverpool and Cardiff in particular their districts are no more nor less that “coloured ghettoes”. In London, North and South Shields and Hull conditions would appear to be a little better. With town-planning and slum clearance it my reasonably be assumed that these conditions will be greatly improved in due course, in particular in Cardiff, where plans have been submitted for the virtual replacement of what is now known as Tiger Bay.
The relationship between these sea-port coloured communities and the rest of the population has varied from place to place, and over periods of time. Liverpool and Cardiff, which contain the largest communities have not had a very good history. The riots of 1919 in Liverpool and in Cardiff will be recalled. Even 20 years ago Tiger Bay was notorious or the lawlessness of its cosmopolitan (which include, as it does today, hundreds of Mediterranean people) inhabitants- a reflection no doubt of the difficulties with which the
(b)
coloured people were faced. During and since the late war a great change for better relationships has come about. Perhaps less visible progress has been made in Liverpool than elsewhere. Conditions in Liverpool are not improved by the continual influx of seamen, bona fide and otherwise plus stowaways, many of whom appear to be unemployable.
Because of the existing Colonial Communities described above, Colonial Workers (i.e. people arriving in the United Kingdom from the colonies in search of employment) usually direct either to Liverpool or Cardiff, with London a close third. It is in these places in particular that accommodation generally and especially for coloured people is most difficult to obtain. With the exception of London, the other sea-port towns still regard all coloured people as seamen, and as belonging to the local coloured community, and they expect them to keep their places and live within the section of the City occupied by the coloured community. The result is that unscrupulous lodging-house keepers, who know all the local circumstances batten on these inexperienced newcomers. There can be no doubt that the most undesirable thing which can happen is that large numbers of new coloured workers should be forced or encouraged to go into those areas. It is true to say however, that if they are to be in these sea-port towns their chances of obtaining accommodation outside of these “ghetto” districts are negligible…
(c)
…
The Colonial Office has no financial authority in peace time to establish and manage industrial hostels. Through the good offices of the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Health recent arrivals (such as EMPIRE WINDRUSH and ORBITA men) have been accommodated in appropriate Government hostels. Firms wishing to employ the labour have in a few instances helped in the accommodation problems e.g. at Bicester, the Royal Ordnance Depot have accommodated the men. Many men could have been employed in the Midland, especially Birmingham, but accommodation was not available. In Liverpool and Cardiff, where somehow or other coloured men can squeeze in with the coloured community, are areas in which the Ministry of Labour have indicated unemployment exists. The position is that men who could not be placed in the Provinces on account of accommodation difficulties drifted to Liverpool and Cardiff to swell the already large numbers of unemployed coloured people in those areas.
It would appear from past experience that the first difficulty is the accommodation of coloured workers, not the question of finding them work. It should be recorded that despite the social difficulties confronting these people, those anxious to work, usually find work …
(d)
…
It might be observed here that the town of Bolton is a good example of how a small colonial labour force can be integrated into the ordinary life of an English community. The colonial workers numbered about 100, most of whom were accommodated in a hostel. Bolton had no “colour problem” and the men settled down. Many have remained there and they have been joined by some West Indians who were formerly in the R.A.F. In order then to get the best out of Colonial workers careful attention must be given to their accommodation and their welfare constantly supervised until they become completely acclimatised. This process may take as long as 12 months.
- Employment
It is difficult to give an accurate picture of how West Indian Workers stand up to their jobs. It is perhaps a fair observation to say that there is a fair amount of movement from job to job. The arrival of the EMPIRE WINDRUSH men and placing them in employment has been a recent experience. On the whole, it would appear that them have, for the time being, remained in the employment found for them, with the exception of a small group placed in the tin-plate works in Wales. These men complained that the work was unsuitable and that they could not work near furnaces. The result is that nearly all have left and have drifted to Cardiff where the majority are unemployed. On the other hand, a large group sent to Bicester (the Royal Ordnance Depot) have settled down reasonably well. A small group employed as radio technical trainees in Wales are well reported on. The salvation Army are satisfied with about a dozen tailors…