DENTAL SERVICE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4995, 2 July 1926, Page 1

DENTAL SERVICE.

HAURAKI PLAINS' SCHOOLS.

TREATING OUTLYING CENTRES.

Matters in connection with the dental service to children attending the schools on the Hauraki Plains were briefly discussed by the Ngatea District High School Committee sitting as a dental advisory boa,rd at a special meeting called for the purpose on Saturday evening.

Mr F. G. Stockwell, the dental officer, reported that following on the refusal of the committees of the outlying schools to encourage the children to attend the central clinic at Nga,tea he had visited most of the outlying schools and examined the teeth of the children. Every child examined needed some attention, and accordingly he had supplied them with forms on which their parents could signify their consent to the work being done free by the school dentist at the clinic at Ngatea. Since then the children from the Pipiroa school had attended for treatment, and advice had been received that the Orongo children would visit the clinic on a date to be arranged. The Kerepeehi school committee had advised that in its opinion the dentist should visit the Kei'epeehi school, where there were 22 children to be treated; A similar view had be,en taken by the Wa.itakaruru and Kopua,rahi committees. The Turua committee had entered a strong objection to having to send the children to Ngatea, but later had decided to obtain the opinion of parents by means of a referendum. There were about 40 children requiring attention at Turua. No reply ha,d been received from Netherton.

Despite the action of the committees, said Mr Stockwell, some few children were being brought in for treatment, but the number wap nothing like sufficient to keep him fully occupied. He had communicated with the head of the department and had been advised to carry bn as as present until the inspecting dental officer arrived to go into the whole matter. Presumably this visit would be made in the next few days, and it would be advisable for the various committees to interview him if possible, as his recommendations 1 would undoubtedly be adopted. Members expressed the opinion that the children 'from districts outside Ngatea could hardly be expected to visit the clinic, as required by the department. Mr Foster said- that the people of Ngatea should do what they could to prevent the clinic being closed.

Mr McDuff said that the people of] Ngatea would undoubtedly continue, to pay for the maintenance of the. clinic if the people of the other districts would send their children for? treatment and thus ensure that the, service would be maintained. The Ngatea children had been treated, and it really mattered little if the dentist was transferred, as the fact of having a clinic would ensure future visits from the nearest dental officer.

In view Of the approaching visit of the Dental Department’s inspector it was decided n't to call a meeting of school committees, as suggested, but to get the inspector to meet them.