Manley Assails Migration Curbs

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 15

Manley Assails Migration Curbs

f N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, November 15. The British Commonwealth “will never be the same again” as a result of the Government’s decision to introduce legislation to control immigration, the Prime Minister of Jamaica (Mr Norman Manley) said in a statement issued on his behalf in London last night.

"No-one can doubt.” he said, “that if migration had been from countries where the people were of European origin or from Europe itself, this sort of legislation would not bp coming before the British Parliament.

"Whatever excuses may be given and whatever the reason may be put forward to conceal the reality of the matter, the truth is that England has failed the first time it has had to cope with the problem of assimilating a fairly substantial number of persons of different races and colour.

"There is no question of economic necessity. Coloured migrants find work and are making a substantial contribution to essential needs. England is, in fact, and for years to come will continue to be, short of labour. “Admittedly, housing is a problem but the migrants did not cause this problem, and this cannot possibly justify what is being done,” he said. “It is admitted on all sides that the migrants are good citizens. "As far as we in the West

Indies are concerned, we have been careful to screen them to secure that people with criminal records are not allowed to go to England. “We have done our best to build up an education service (in the West Indies) to prepare them for the life they will have to lead in England. “In addition, we have built up a substantial service in England to assist in every way in dealing with the migrants themselves and their problems, and in assisting the British Government in coping with whatever problems might arise from time to time.

“In spite of all these plain facts, the Conservative Government has yielded to the popular clamour fed by neoFascist elements and there hes been little positive attempt to take a strong and decisive stand in favour of the principles which should inspire a multi-racial Commonwealth and should manifest themselves in the country which is the head of that Commonwealth,” Mr Manley said.