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Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1925, Page 2

Tub Minister of Health states that it is impossible to make immediate provision for the free dental treatment of every child up to and including Standard 11, though it Is hoped in time, as the service is extended, to do this. Indeed, in some centres, where a clinic has been in existence for some time, the children in Standard 11. and over are already receiving treatment. Jt is to he rememlwrod, however. that the service is as yet only in its initial stages, and that it will he a considercdable time before a staff sufficient to cope with the tremendous amount of treatment- required can he built up. The training of nurses for the work is being proceeded with as last as circumstances will permit, and until the number of these in the field can be very largely increased, it wili no necessary to restrict- treatment as at present to children who are in the primer classes when first registered at the clinic as patients. The position of children attending private schools is fully appreciated, hut with the present small service it is necessary for the time being to restrict treatment to purely State schools. If any definite results are to lie obtained, a limited field of operations and a thorough system of working which will achieve lasting results, is preferable to the indiscriminate acceptlainjo of patients for treatment with no possHle chance of following u]> the work done.