DENTAL WORK AMONG CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 53, 26 November 1920, Page 7

DENTAL WORK AMONG CHILDREN

REPLY TO CRITICISM

TREATMENT BY TRAINED WOMEN

Seen by. a Dominion reporter, Air. T. A. Hunter, Chief School Dental Officer, said: "I. note that Professor Piekerill is still returning to the attack upon tho proposed scheme of specially training dental nurses for work amongst school children, despite the fact that afteV tho Dentists' Conference he voluntarily expressed to us his acceptance of the decision c-f his colleagues, nu<l said he would assist me in any way he could. His reference to the statements made bv Dr. W. Guy, of the Dental- Hospital, Edinburgh, conveys a wholly wrong im pression, without the necessary explanation, .which' is that in Great Britain there are at least five unqualified to ono qualified person practising dentistry in competition, and it is this feature that naturally, excites the ire of a professor whose aim is to get as many students into his school as possible. ' Purthermore,J3r. Guy Is including the general practice 6f dentistry, whereas the New Zealand scheme does not presume to train its dental nurses in or for general dentistry. I deny emphatically that there is any intention to inflict upon the public any unqualified dental nurse. • She will first be proved to be thoroughly well qualified in theory and practice w-ith that class of treatment that she will be culled upon to' carry out. Otherwise I aha quite in accord with Dr. Guy's principles. Another appointment, which I havc_no doubt Dr.. Guy had in mind, sfiiu wnicli is causing controversy at Homo, is the suggestion to utilise the services of dental nurses for treatment purposes after a period of six months' training. In Derbyshire, where nurses had been trained for a period of one year, it was' found after, examination by a qualified dental surgeon, o member of the British Dental Association, that these nurses were well qualified and competent to do oven more than our nnrses will be expected to do. . Nevertheless, it is not intended to make the course of training in New Zealand cover so short a time."

Air. Hunter described as misleading Professor Pickeries reported statement that "the. Minister docs not deny that State dentists have been appointed to the four chief centres, where dental hospitals already exist, and thus four other towns which possess no facilities are neglected," and "neither does he deny that one school only in each centre is to be privileged to receive free Stato dentristry." In a big scheme snch as the one they were launching, a start had to be made somewhere, it could not possibly be made in every school at once, but as soon as possible—that was, as soon as the money, equipment, and personnel were available—the scheme would be extended to other schools. There was opposition at the outset to every great reform. In OTder to combat the possible opposition of children, - parents, and ethers to the new order of things, they liau to 3o'some educative work, and that could best ha done at one school, instead of dissipating the onergies.of the 6taff over many. The results would give a practical demonstration of the good they hoped to achieve, after which all fractious opposition to free dental treatment would disappear.

THE SOLDIERS' LOAN

CLOSING DATE TO BE DECEMBER 16

The Minister of Finance (Mr. Massey) - stated yesterday that the period allowed for voluntary subscriptions to the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Loan had been extended until December 16. This extension had been made at thq re-qi-*st of-.financial institutions and other organisations which were assisting tho Government to raise the money. The compulsory clauses of the authorising Act -would apply after December 16 if the required amount of.money had not then been subscribed. The secretary oi the Wellington Cnattiber of Commerce .yesterday livened the following/letter from the Prime Minister:—

"In response to suggestions that have been made by some of the chambers of commerce, 6tock exchanges, and certain financial institutions, it has been decided to extend the time for receiving voluntary applications for the .£6,000,000 Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Loan until December 16,- after which date the compulsory clauses of the Act will apply. I shall be pleased to secure your co-opera-tion in endeavouring to obtain contributions towards the .loan so that its successful' flotation may be assured."