Papua-New Guinea Students at Suva Medical School

SUVA. April 25.

TF all goes well, three of the Papua-New Guinea natives pictured below will qualify as assistant Medical Practitioners in wo years time (they have already :ompleted the first two years of 'he course at the Central Medical school, Suva); while the cheerful tttle fellow kneeling in the ex- Teme right of the photograph is expected to graduate at the end of December, 1953. (He is not taking he full medical course*.

Prank Aisi, of Yule Island (not hown in the photograph) is doing ds fourth year, and should return o Papua with his AMP Diploma t the end of this year.

Natives who have already quali ted and are back in the territory re Moi, of Tufi (first to qualify); ’om, of Misima; and Reuben of lula (the last-named married a alented Fijian girl).

Much sympathy was felt for poor ieslie Atiu, of Gasmata, District of lew Britain; for, despite his seven ears’ study at Suva, he just could iot make the grade. He was opular among the heterogeneous roup of South Pacific students at he school, and tried hard to pass is final examination. He returned 3 P-NG in 1952 and may be given ompassionate consideration. It is aid that he failed in theory but his ractical work was satisfactory.

Highest credit is due to these '-NO lads, who must suffer in srioritv complex, for they are at n immediate disadvantage when in lass with the more sophisticated Frians, Cook Islanders, amoans, Tongans, etc., all of whom

may have been fairly skilled in the use of the English language from infancy.

The students are well-fed and well-clothed. Accommodation is good. They are quite happy, though they occasionally sigh for Papua- New r Guinea. Every bed has a good mattress, with snow-white bed linen and mosquito net. There is every facility for sport and all sporting equipment is supplied free.

They are paid £1 per month.

A day in Suva with these smartly clad, clean-looking P-NG lads is entertaining. They have numerous friends in the town; they speak fairly fluent Fijian and they have an uncanny knack of getting a full penny’s worth for every penny they spend.

The four natives in the photo graph, which was taken In the Government Gardens, Suva, in April, are, standing from left to right: Maori Kiki (of Orokoro, Papua >; Mr. J. A. Crockett (or Rabaul, who was in Suva at this time); Kahu Sugoho (of Bukawa,

Morobe District, NG); Jophiel [[ravila (of Boianai, Milne Bay); .md Jonathan Baloilol (Papuan*.

It is interesting to note that the Wew Guinea boy, Kahu Sugoho, is Holding his own with the Papuans —indeed, he is considered as “quite , bright prospect.” —Special Corre spondent.