Opotiki News

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 541, 26 May 1933, Page 2

Opotiki News

Our Own Correspondent.)

DENTAL CLINIC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF DISTRICT COMMITTEE.

(From

At the annual general meeting of the Opotiki Dental Clinic committee on Tuesday night, Mr. W. Burrett occupied the chair. After the chairman's report was read and adopted, Mrs. T. Fleming was elected a new member. Mr. F. Kibblewhite (headmaster) thanked the nurse, Miss L. Ferguson, for her loyal co-operation with the teachers and &lso for the smooth running of the dental clinic. The chairman endorsed the headmaster's remarks and expressed the committee's appreciation of the nurse's work. Chairman's Report. The chairman's report was as follows: — On behalf of the Opotiki School District Dental Clinic committee I wish to present the following short resume of activities during the first year of administration. As you are no doubt aware, financial difficulties finally prevented the erection of a building for the establishment of the dental clinic in our district. As a result of repeated requests through the local school committee, the Health Department offered to establish' the clinic on temporary premises providing we could find approved accommodation. This difficulty was overcome hy a. very fine offer on the part of the district school teachers in giving up their own private room to our use. The Board of Education approved of the arrangement, and our clinic was duly established. The room available required very little adjustment to make it suitahle and with th'e willing co-operation of Nurse Ferguson the treatment of children was soon proceeding lyHowever, it was early apparent that quite a number of children, particularly those in the country, could not be treated before the end of the school year, thus depriving them permanently of the advantages of treatment. To keep faith with parents as far as p'ossible, your committee decided to seeure the services of an assistant nurse, with a result that within three months all the eligible children were treated. Extension of Service. During the year we extended an invitation to the Convent authorities to join up with the clinic in order to give their children equal advantages with the children of the public schools, but they could not see their way to accept. Several native schools have been brought into the scheme and our service now extends as far as Maraenui. Nurse Pickett will now represent these schools on our committee. Now that the initial work in treatment is well in hand, it is possible to consider the further extension of our district, and at the suggestion of the district superintendent, the Taneatua district school committee was approached with the result that they have made application for the establishment of a sub-base at Taneatua, and their request has been granted. Fninacially, the result of the year's working has been satisfactory and the expenditure has not exceeded our estimates. In working account our income came from: — Transfer from capital, £50; proceeds of dance, £10 6s; annual fees, at 2s 6d each, £27 8s 6d; total £87 14ai 6d. The administration expenditure was as follows: — Lighting and heating, £9 13s 9d; cleaning and'laundry, £9 13s; Health Department (proportion of nurse's salary, etc.), £32 16s 6d; and sundry items, £8 4s lld; a total of approximately £60. It is apparent that if continued under the present policy we will each year take about £20 from our capital. With the cooperation and extinguishing the amount available in two years, interest of country and native schools, this sum, which virtually amounts to a loss, could he materially reduced. We could then continue the present low charge of 2s 6d per patientv per annum for a much longer period. We are hopeful that this co-op'eration and financial assistance from our country schools will be forthcoming. Capital expenditure for permanent fittings which will not be receiving amounted to £21. We desire to place on record our appreciation of the sympathetic co-ope-ration of our local dentists. We regret the loss through death of one of our valued members in the person of Mrs. Stephenson. Unfortunately, also, Mrs. J. G. Murray has been forced to resign through ill health. We express appreciation of the efficient services of our nurse, Miss LFergusson.