JAMAICANS CAUSE BRITAIN WORRY

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 June 1948, Page 5

JAMAICANS CAUSE BRITAIN WORRY

450 ARRIVE AT TILBURY AS BRITISH IMMIGRANTS (N. 1-. A. —Special—Copynghn Recd. 8.10 p.m. London, June ,23. Four hundred and fifty Jamaicans who have arrived at Tilbury on the former troopship Empire Windrush have set the Colonial Office and labour authorities a problem. They apparently decided that Britain offered them better prospects of employment than the West Indies, where unemployment is rife, and they decided to rely upon their rights as British citizens to get them into this country. The Colonial Office was warned of their arrival only 12 days ago, and when a question about them was asked in the House of Commons the Minister of Labour (Mr. George fsaacs) said little could be done for them.

This reply caused some criticism, both in Britain and Jamaica, where several Barbados members of the Legislative Assembly strongly attacked the British attitude. The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee) then intervened, and as a result special arrangements were made by the Colonial Office and the Labour Department to receive the men and to look after them until they find work. Fifty-two of them have volunteered for the armed forces, 204 will go to friends in various parts o' Britain, and the remainder will be accommodated in emergency air raid shelters on Clapham Common until work is found for them.

When the Empire Windrush berthed six stowaways, including one woman, gave themselves up.