CHILDREN'S TEETH

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 62, 7 December 1920, Page 8

CHILDREN'S TEETH

THE MINISTER AND HIS SCHEME ANOTHER REPLY TO CRITICS "The opposition to the Department's schema for the employment of women dental nurses/-in schools is dwindling," said the Minister'of Health and Education (Hon. C. J. .Parr) yesterday. "It is very evident that the agitation against employing women, for this work originates in tho Dunedin Dental. School, which "at.present enjoys n Dominion monopoly of training facilities. Two dentists vn different towns have sent mo a copy of a voting card which Professor Pickerill last week sent out to all dentists. Professor Pickerill has. apparently taken it on himself, presumably wi.ihout lha knowledge of the University which employs him, to take a' poll of the dentists in order to got a vote against tho new scheme. The voting card 'is disingsnipus and unfair, as it leaves room for only ono opinion. It is worded as follows:— '■ I entirely disapprove of employing women as dental operators in the State service unless Vthey are fully qualified and registered dentists. Signed ; Degrees ••••' "Professor 'Pickerill appeals to each dentist to sign it. .As will he seen, no dental surgeon who approves of ilhe new scheme is given a chance to vote- at all on this precious voting card. Moreover, accompanying the voting card is a long explanatory statement by Professor Pickerill, which is nothing more or less than a perversion of the ac/uul facts, and an appeal to professional selfishness. I hope the dentists will not bother their heads over this vote. It can have, no value, .because it is based on a one-sided statement'of lihe case. After'the holidays steps will be taken to put the actual facts before all practising dentists. "Jly problem is, as soon as possible, to give relief to nearly 200,000 school children, ■ who the figures show all need dental attention... To do any good the Department must striko out on i*w lines. lam satisfied that the dental school is no:| turning out half eiiuugn dontists for the adult needs of'the community, and .we shall wait till Doomsday if we rely upon the dental school for the children's needs. The school dental department, tho doctors of tho Public Health Department, and sound dental practitioners such as Jlr. Nelson Mitchell, Dr. Norman Cox, Colonel Eishwortli, and many others, arc agreed that carefully selected women w««a a -no years' course of'special training will do. the children's work quit© as efficiently as any student from the dental school, 50 per cent, of whose courso is really not necessary for our special purposes., "The Dunedin opponents are poor sportsmen. Three months ago they opposed (he new scheme before tho Dontal .Association, and were beaten after full argument by 1G votes to 7. They cannot take a -beating, and now hy dovious methods and misstatement of the issuci, are seekini: to arouse professional opposition. ■ I repeat mv previous assurance to the dental profession that tho new scheme will not prejudice the profession, but on the contrary will raise its importance and. valuo in the public eshmailion."