A., . , . Suva, Aug. 3.

Polynesian Nmp's

Quotas Nearly Filled by the Suva School

N interesting and important stage in the history of the Central Medical School of Suva, Fiji, has been reached.

The number of trained native medical practitioners required by the Polynesian Territories which support the famous training institution are now within sight; and soon the school, instead of training regularly a full quota for those Terri tories, will train sufficient only to main tain NMP strength in Polynesia, and will devote its main activities to training selected men (and nurses) for the Mela nesian Territories, where a larger num ber is required.

I renewed acquaintance with the school to-day, and found the principal, Dr.

Hoodless, busy with an unusually large class of first year students mostly Poly nesians. The boys appeared to be even better than the high standard of mental and physical fitness to which these selected students generally conform; and one observed the usual happy relation ship between teacher and pupil. The in fluence of Hoodless will be felt through out the South Pacific long years after Dr.

Hoodless himself has passed on.

In this year’s first class, there are no less than eleven Samoans—five from the Mandated Territory, and six from Ameri can Samoa. The arrival of this contin gent from the American Territory is note worthy recognition of the value of the Suva training institution.

Dr. Hoodless gave me the following figures, which show how the needs of the Polynesian Territories have been met:— Tonga: 15 trained and now at work as

NMP's; 4 in training; 20-22 required alto gether.

Gilbert and Ellice; 16 trained (includ ing 2 taken at Ocean Island by the Japs —fate unknown); 5 in training; total re quirement, about 24.

Western Samoa: 23 trained; 6in train ing; probably will want only 2 more to complete the native medical corps.

Nauru: 3 trained. Do not want any more.

Cook Islands: 8 trained: 3in training; probably will need only 3 more.

This means that in about four years the only places which will still need NMP’s, apart from replacements, will be Fiji. New Hebrides and Solomon Islands.

In the view of the medical authorities the Solomons could do with a minimum of 50 trained men—they now have only 6. Fiji has 70 trained men—Fijians and Indians—and at least another 30 are needed.

IT has been thought, over the years, that students from Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea eventually would be sent to this well proven institution; but—as in so many other things connected with the Islands —Australian political considerations override everything else, and Australia remains stubbornly aloof.

Instead of NMP’s, with four years’ in tensive training behind them, being at work in the Papuan and New Guinea native communities, Australia is trying to do the job with natives who have had short and almost rudimentary instruc tion, Bureaucratic and political stub bornness is depriving the Australian Ter ritories of the best native medical service

yet devised in the Pacific.-

R.W.R.

The Rev. John Goldie has returned to the Methodist Mission, BSI.