Appointment of Dr
p. 33 · Read in the full issue
Dr. Thieme [?]rged by Samoans Shortage of Doctors in Territory
From a Special Correspondent APIA, Sept. 18.
TO decision has been reached by \ the Administration of Western Samoa on the proposed Dpointment of Dr. H. Thieme as medical officer of the Territory.
Dr. Thieme with his wife and uld, his sister, Mrs. Senning, and s brother, Mr. F. F. Thieme, re ntly arrived from Germany. Their ther, the late Dr. F. Thieme, a erman, died in Apia during World ar I. Their mother, Mrs. L. lieme. is still living in Apia. They sre sent to Germany to be edu ited and Dr. Thieme’s medical igrees are German and as such e not recognised by the New ‘aland Government. Therein lies e official reason for hesitating er his appointment.
However, the Samoans are ixious to see Dr. Thieme take up edical duties in the Territory aich is woefully short of doctors — Tee doctors to about 80,000 of a ipulation and none at all for the rge island of Savai’i which has tween 25,000 and 30,000 of a pulation.
A motion asking that Thieme be (pointed was introduced in the st session of the Legislative ;sembly and supported by all scted European and Samoan embers. A delegation to the esident Commissioner in mid :ptember urged also that he be (pointed.
It is pointed out that the fact at European degrees are not re gnised in British countries did (t prevent the appointment of a sech doctor to Western Samoa, ir has it prevented the appoint ent of scores of refugee European ictors to the medical service of ipua-New Guinea.
Haying failed to make any im ession on either official circles in imoa or the NZ Government in gard to this appointment, the imoans feel that this is an ex nple of discrimination against ople of Samoan blood.
In the face of what New Zealand is already done to give Samoa If-expression, this conclusion ems ridiculous. But if this is not e reason, the Administration ould give up sheltering behind e screen of red tape and, in view the great need of medical men Western Samoa, appoint Thieme give some practical reasons why ey should not.