SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5006, 28 July 1926, Page 3

SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC.

retention on the PLAINS. --'X

meeting of COMMITTEEMEN.

The question of whether the: primer children of the Hauraki Plains schools should be sent for free dental treatment to the central clinic pron vided was the subject of a meeting of representatives of school committees at Ngatea on Saturday atterncon. The desirability o£ having the service was unanimously affirmed, but the objections raised to the department’s policy of centralisation were such that it would appear doubtful, from the statement made by a departmental official at Ngatea a few days previously, whether the service will be maintained unless a,n alteration Of attitude eventuates. The department advocates centralisation, and hints that unless 7 this can be effected on the Plains, there are other districts with much better claims to the establishment of a dlinic which are willing to tall in with the department’s policy.

There were, present Messrs W. E. Hale, D, J, O’Oa.rroll, and J. G. Millen Kopuarahi; P, C, Hall, Orongo; J* Porter, Pipiroa ; L. R. McTndOe, Kaihere ; G. T, Davidson and R, Burke, NgateaW. Chapman, A, Walker, S. G, Williams, T, White, S, S, Murray, C. Dale, and F, Loader, Turua, Mr W, E, Hale was appointed to preside. The meeting was opened by the reading of the report, published in the “Gazette” last week, of the policy of the department and suggestions of how the difficulties may.be overcome.

Mr Hale agreed that the; difficulties were undoubtedly due to the fact that the policy of the department had not been explained prior to the establishment of the clinic, and he voiced regret that the inspecting officer had not 'arranged to meet all the school 'committees when he was on the Plains.

Asked to address the meeting, Mr F, G. Stcckwelk the school dental officer, stated there was little to add to the statement of policy that had just been read. The children of all the schools had now been chartered and forms sent out for the parents’ signatures of consent to the treatment being undertaken. I.t was necessary for patients to come. for treatment- in a steady stream, and he would welcome a discussioln on ways and means of organising the treatment of the children from the; outlying schools. In regard to the maintenance of the clinic, it should be recognised that all schools, should 1 assist.' This would give them a proprietary interest and a direct'voice in its conduct.

In reply to a question Mr Stockwell said that the cost of maintenance was about 8s a week. The matter was one for the committee to arrange.

Mr D, J, O’Carroll said that the Kopuarahi school x committee had made efforts to ensure that the children received treatment, but unfortunately'the parents, had not carried out their pa.rt as well as cbluld have been desired, and the, supply of patients had been somewhat erratic. The opportunity to get free dentail , service was too good to be missed. The chairman said it was desirable to get am expression of opinion from the meeting as to whether it was agreeable to falling in with. the policy of the, department and supporting the central clinic.

- After having been informed by the dental officer that it was not possible foir him to state how long it would take to treat a patient until, he knew what work was required, a Turua presentative asked y r hich would be the easier—for 40 children to go to Ngatea an unknown number of times or Tor the dentist to go to Turua ; and do the work there ? - Mr Stockwell answered by stating that he had to do as instructed cy the heads of the department.

Mr W. E, Hale s,aid that the dental officer had done the Tight thing in going to Patetonga and Kaihere and treating the children. Mr Chapman sa.id that his committee took up the attitude that if the dentist could visit Patetonga he could visit Turua.

Mr Hale pointed out that the roads were impassable to Patetonga, whereas there were, good roads to Turua. Mr Chapman agreed, but pointed out that there were 40 children in the primers at the Turua school.

The chairman said that it was desirable to decide whether the clinic shbluld be supported or hot. Mr Walker said that the Turua.people supported the Ideia, but 1 realised the difficulty of transporting the large number of children. The department ha 4 argued that centralisation would effect a saving of time, but he contended that if the. dental officer visited the o'utlying schools his work would not be, subjected to the innumerable delays due to the nonarrival of patients in a steady stream. Even with the best organisation hitches were bound to occur. There was also .the lack of accommodation tor children wa.iting at the clinic for tieatment.

Mr Hale said that seeing Ngatea had the clinic, and therefore did-not have to pay for the transportation, of its patients, could it not pay for the maintenance.

Mr Davidson said that the argu■ment wag, a sound one. Ngatea had ■paid for .the maintenance up to the present, and he would place before ■the committee the question of continuing to do so. In reply to the chairman Mr Chapman said that the -Turua, committee had taken a vote of parents, and all had agreed that they wanted the service, but they wanted the treatment to be given in Turua and were agreeable to paying the necessary expenses. Jf this was not possible, the committee would make efforts to get the children to Ngatea. Mr O’Carroll urged that the best thing to be done was to fall into line. He moved that the various schools represented agree to the centralisation of the service at Ngatea, and that they endeavour to fall in with the department’s policy. Mr Davidson seconded.

Mr Loader said he did not think many Turua parents would spnd

their children to Ngatea. They would sooner take them to the dentist who visited Turua than Waste time travelling to Ngatea. Mr Davidson urged that the service should be given a triad for twelve months. Mr Hale said that it would be a misfortune if the dental officer was transferred. The Plains had a highly qualified dentist, while other clinics were in the charge of nurses, who had not received anything like aS much training. He reaflised the difficulty of transportation, and that it was a matter for the parentis. In his opinion if the subject was explained to them they would fkill in with th® scheme.

Mr Williams said th.at there were Certain weaknesses which they should endeavour to overcome before definitely committing themselves to the service. He moved as an amendment that the. weaknesses be poiinted out to the department, and that a further meeting be held to consider the reply. _ Mr Loader seconded.

Mr Hale; suggested asking the inspector to again visit the district and confer with the various committees. Mr Burke considered that Mr Elliott would not return to the Plains, nor would he recommend the breaking of the regulations in regard to centralisation.

Mr Chapman said that the dental officer would visit Turua for the first treatment, and particularly the extraction's, the children could go to the clinic for subsequent treatment. If the dentist visited Turua merely fb-r the extractions the committee would pay all his expenses. He suggested that this offer be communicated to the department. Mr Stockwell, pointed put that Kerepeehi and Waitakaruru would want the same service.

The chairman .'suggested that the meeting 'approve or otherwise of the establishment of the clinic, and then, if the scheme was approved, set up a committee for the purpose ot endeavouring to get a better system, of working. It would be wise to decide quickly. He as,ked whether the Turua representatives approved of the dental service.

Mr Loader said that the Turua parents had agreed to have, treatment a’t Turua, but they would not send their children to Ngatea. After further discussion all the previous motions were withdrawn and the following motion by Mr Hale was carried unanimously: “That this meeting of representatives of school committees, is in favolur of a school dental clinic for the benefit of Hauraki Plains children, but considers that a committee of the chairmen of, all the Plains school committees should be set up to arrange details in regard Jo the carrying bin of such clinic to the best advantage of all Mr Davidson was instructed to call the meeting as s,oon as possible. Asked if he had any information concerning the attitude of the Kqrepeehi and Waitakaruru committees, which ' were not represented at the meeting, the dental officer stated that both committees had written to, him refusing to arrange to send children to the central clitiic.