THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 14 May 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Children's

Teeth. Of xeepnt 'years dentists and medical men have been continually impressing on the public the necessity for the exorcise of greater care of children's teeth. Modem science has revealed the fact that a grout many of the ailments of the people of to-day are caused directly or indirectly through bad* teeth. " To satisfactorily grapple with" this prolific cause of ill-health it is; absolutely necessary to treat children from the earliest'stages of the development of their teeth. However, the general public have gone on so long without giving this matter any attention whatever—or very little in the great majority of cases—that it is most difficult to prevail on parents to give this matter the attention that it demands. The Government has realised this, and the Education Department -ends experts round to examine children's mouths. This is a step in the right direction, but, unfortunately, the matter practically ends with the inspection, and very little is done to meet the appalling deterioration of teeth, with all its attendant evils, that these visits of inspection reveal. The Minister of Public Health, also, ha? shown keen interest in this matter, and has offered generous to the various hospital boards with a view to treating children. The boards, however, have done very little. The Palmerston North Hospital Board recently made attempts to grapple 'with this question, but after consultation with the dentists of Palmerston North and the consideration of a scheme submitted for treatment of the public, was compelled to reluctantly abandon the project for the time being. Mr D. S. Mackenzie, of Levin, has now propounded a scheme for the treatment of tke children of the Horowhenua disI iiiet. Details of Mr Mackenzie's propolis S-ere set out in our last issue, and the matter is to be discussed fully at a public meeting to be held at Otak. to-morrow night, when Mr Mackenzie will be present. This scheme scorns a practical and serviceable one and Mr Mackenzie deserves the thanks of the community for taking up the thoroughly. He gets at the root of the whole trouble by proposing the tabling of children from the very begin.ninlr. before the evil effects of. bad teeth arc apparent, and it would seem that this is not only the best way but the only satisfactory way to get good results. Prevention is the keynote of Mr Mackenzie's scheme, and it his advice is acted upon children will receive attention before the teeth commence to decay, or before other irregularities begin to cause such serious results. The only difficulty with the proposed scheme "is the financial aspect, the proposal being that parents pay J per annum for each child treated. AVhile all will agree that the expenditure of such a small sum is amply warranted, there will be difficulty in persuading many parents, wc are afraid. However, it is quite probable that the State will come forward with assistance, if the scheme is approved. Certainly the proposal is on right lines. We hope that there will be a large attendance at to-merrow night's meeting. so that parents and others may become fully conversant with the proposals,, and* the need of some such action as that proposed.

OtaJri Literary and Debating Club. Seeing that the annual meeting of ' this Club will be held' on Monday evening next, we would appeal to the public to accord their heartiest support to this organisation. Such a club is really a necessity in every town, and is specially needed in a small town like Otaki, where very little provision is made for the .enlightenment of our young people or the culture o£ -their minds. Practically the only anmsenierjts open to oar young men. and ladies ~are the picture shows and billiard saloons, and surely something more.is required than this —something that will enable the people to pass fheir evening* pleasantly, and. yet improve their minis. 'ln the past_?he l«al Literary and Debating Club has done good work, and members have been well pleased: with the results attained; the membership is not- nearly- so .large as it ssonM be, and many who should assist with such a worthy; movement hold aloof. Tor -tie

sake of our young people, in particular, it is to be hoped that better support will be accorded the club this season, and that the coming session may-be. the best yet held in Otaki. It seems :to us that the club might well extend its sphere of activities, provided the public would only support .them..' ; Now that the hotels closest l> p.m., many young men, who, unfortunately, do not feel satisfied with home life, find their winter evenings hang heavily on their hands, with practically nothing but pictures and billiard saloons to attract them. If good, wholesome entertainment were provided by the Debating Club, with plenty of variety, it should attract these young nJen, and serve q, most useful purposes. We hope to see this phase of the question fully considered at Monday night's meeting, and appeal to aii who have the welfare of our young people at heart to make a point of attending, and assisting in this deserving project."