A response to Mr Hardman’s letter on 19 June about the employment of men arriving on the Windrush, 21 June 1948. Catalogue ref: LAB 8/1516
Contains original language used at the time, which is not appropriate today.
- What preparations are needed for the employment of these men according to the writer?
- What concerns does the writer have about finding them jobs?
- Which industries are suggested as possible employers?
Transcript
- In your minute of 19thJune you asked us to give urgent consideration to the question of finding employment for the 400 or so Jamaican men who are expected to leave their ship at Tilbury tomorrow. (Incidentally I understand that the B.B.C. have announced that the men in question are in fact arriving tonight.)
- What would you do if 400 or so white British subjects suddenly appeared in this country wanting employment if no steps had been taken beforehand to find out what their experience was, what sort of jobs they were willing to take and where they might suitably be placed with necessary accommodations?
- Whatever would be appropriate in the hypothetical case suggested in the preceding paragraph would no doubt be appropriate in the case of these Jamaicans. In their case, however, there is undoubtedly the additional problem that, whether we like it or not, there is among certain of the population a colour prejudice which will add to the difficulties of placing and accommodating the Jamaicans I am afraid we have no specific information readily available about the existence of any such prejudice in the case of the industries for the labour supply to which we are responsible.
- I assume that arrangements have been made to interview the men immediately it becomes possible to do so and if we could be given particulars of the men’s ages, qualifications, past experience, and so on we might be able to help with suggestions for placing them in suitable employment.
- In so far as the men are found to have some skill or experience in particular industries there will probably be very little difficulty in placing them. So far as the unskilled men are concerned, we would suggest that consideration should be given to the possibility of their filling vacancies in such industries as the foundries, iron ore mines, china clay [pottery industry], sugar refining, food canning and possibly flax processing.
- In connection with the selection of appropriate vacancies the Officer concerned will no doubt be bearing in mind any possibility of colour prejudice affecting the men being suitably accommodated.
L.S.A.I. A. Kingham
21st June 1948