WEST INDIAN MIGRANTS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29368, 22 November 1960, Page 8

WEST INDIAN MIGRANTS

Record Number In Britain (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON. Nov. 21. The greatest ever number of migrants have this year left their homes in the West Indies and arrived in England to settle down and find jobs. A spokesman at the London office of the High Commissioner for the West Indies told the “Daily Telegraph” that the increase, which reverses the trend of the last four years when the number of immigrants dropped, was "something of a mystery.” Up to September this year, 38,100 immigrants had arrived compared with 11,000 in the same period ot 1959. Although thousands of West Indians are dissatisfied with the conditions they find in England and return to their own islands, it is estimated there are now between 175,000 and 200,000 West Indians in Britain. “Suddenly the number of immigrants has gone up for no apparent reason,” said the spokesman. “No-one can explain it. It may be that the West Indians here are doing well enough and have encouraged friends to come over.

"They come here to work and In spite of the fact that it is sometimes said that they go on the dole most of them do get jobs. Their salaries, which may not seem much to an Englishman, are well worth having to the West Indian raced with the problem of unemployment.’ ’