More About Miss Baksh

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Oct. 13.

WHEN the Sydney Daily Telegraph on October 10 headlined a story ‘‘Colour Bar Exiles Fijian Nurse” (see PIM page 72, October), a familiar chain of events started.

The “Fijian” is an Indian girl, Miss Melba Baksh, and, judging by the string of official denials made at Suva to-day, the story is mainly fantasy.

After completing her training in New Zealand, it is officially stated, Miss Baksh went to Adelaide for an advanced course in midwifery. During this course she returned to Fiji because of the ill ness of her brother. Later, Miss Baksh was unable to obtain a permit to re enter Australia, but, with the aid of a strong recommendation from the Medi cal Department, Fiji, she was successful, and went back to Adelaide to complete the course.

Neither a “Fijian” nor a “native”, Miss Baksh never at any time applied to the hospital authorities in Fiji for any post, although the Sydney report alleges that she “was refused a responsible post be cause of her colour” and that “white people in Fiji don’t want a native girl to educate herself ”

Although it is strongly implied that this nurse has been the victim of “dis crimination,” the official statement indi cates that the authorities at Suva did everything possible to help her.

The Australian press is capable of labelling an Eskimo “Fijian” if he hap pened to travel to Australia from Fiji.