SUPPLY OF DENTISTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16265, 16 July 1918, Page 4

SUPPLY OF DENTISTS.

PROPOSALS TO MEET THE I SHORTAGE. j (press association telegram.) | WELLINGTON, July 15. 1 A deputation waited on Ministers to-1 day with regard to the shortage of dental students. Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., said that they should hav© regard to the future, but there should be no lowering of the standard to meet the deficiency. With regard to the suggestion, that there should be dental institutions in the whole four centres, he thought such a step , would be retrograde. The best solution was the offer of bursaries to secure proper training. Mr N. Mitchell, president of the New Zealand Dental Association, said that it was, estimated that the dental profession should be recruited by 20 students a year. Therefore it was recommended that there should be 20 bursaries allotted each year for the Dental School at Dunedin, with the addition of fees, and an extra £30 to be given to students who had to live away from home.- In return for State assistance it was suggested that on the completion of the fourth year's training, the students should enter into an agreement to do dental service for the State on terms to be arranged. After other speakers had given their views, Sir James Allen said that the bursary scheme must go before Cabinet. If the Otago School was full there might be something to be said' for the institution of schools in other centres, but at present there was no such need. Tiw Hon. G. W. Russell said he could not support a policy , which would concentrate all dental training at Dtmedin. I He suggested that it. 6hould he possible !to give the earlier part of training away- from Dunedin. Ho hoped that the sequel to State bursaries would be a system of State dentists, for the benefit of all children. The Hons. A. M. Myers and J. A. Hanan adopted a sympathetic attitude towards the deputation's suggestions for aid in keeping up the supply ot' dentists.