SCHOOL CHILDREN'S TEETH

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 45, 17 November 1920, Page 7

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S TEETH

LEGAL OPINION ON GOVBRN- > MENTS PROPOSALS. Bi Teleuratih-Prcss Association. n .i i, P unet ""i November 16. i i? , c i e Uiterest has been taken Jn the. latest proposals of the Government m connection with tho development of tho State dental scheme for treatment -of tho teeth of children. Tho proposal io employ partially-trained uonien has Aroused considerable interest, and created a' widespread impres-. eion that the Government' is actin" along unsafe lines. Somoof tho.se keenlv interested in the Subject havo obtaine'd a legal opinion from Mr. S. Solomon, XX. In the couree of his opinion Mr. holonion says: "I am nE i !C( i to n<lv j se whether the appointment/of women, with only eighteen months' t-uitioit in dentistry, in Ihe public .schools is legal without special legislation. I must assume for the purpose of my opinion that .schools are institutions receiving financial air from the Government, and that it is proposed that these ladies should bi> attached to the sohools as other officers are. •If that'is so, nlthough I cannot Kiy.that tho matter.is .entirely free from doubt,, l have yet to come to the conelusion that the employing of them in that capacity will be a breach of section 20 of the Dentists' Act, 1008 That section provides, inter alia, (hat no person other than a dentist shall hold any appointment as denial surgeon in any institution receiving financial aid from Hie Government. I am assured that the duties which it is proposed to cast upon these ladies are described as the dental cnl ? £ n( ! of school children, «nd that these como within tho regular duties of a dental surgeon. Under tlic«e efrctimsfnncßs, I am forced to the conclusion that it they are attached to FChw>ls that i will bo an equivalent fo holding an appointment, and that theretore it will be <i breach of tlio section."