HOROWHENUA DENTAL SCHEME.

Shannon News, 25 September 1925, Page 3

HOROWHENUA DENTAL SCHEME.

EFFORT TO ENLARGE ITS SCOPE

A meeting was field in Levin on Tuesday of representatives of various schools on this coast interested in a comprehensive dental scheme for school children. The Rev. J. D. McArthur, chairman of the Levin District High School Committee, presided, and there were also present—the Be v. W. H. Walton, Mr M. Pcrreau, and Mr Mason (headmaster), representing the Foxton. School; Mr T. Clifford (Manakau), Mi; S. Rolston (Poroutawhao), and Messrs Adams, Kerslake and Foss (headmaster) representing Levin District High School, invitations were sent to twelve schools fo .send delegates, and while the response was disappointing, it was thought that the weather and other engagements might have prevented some delegates from attending.

The matter of increasing the scope of the dental scheme enjoyed by the Levin school was discussed fully, the Foxton delegates seeking further information as to the details o-f the scheme. The Levin delegates staled that a position had now been reached when either the benefits of the scheme would have to be extended to embrace all the schools in the area, or practically confined to the Levin School. The Levin Comanittee wats only interested to the extent that it, wished to see all schools have the opportunity of benefiting. It the local dentists in each centre were willing to participate on the same basis as in Levin it was open to the individual schools to make their own arrangements, and it was only fair that the local practitioners should have the opportunity of expressing an opinion. The meeting agreed that whether the schools combined to employ one well-qualified dentist or whether each made its own arrangements with local dentists, it would be advisable to have a controlling association for two reasons—namely, the greater influence of a strong association in obtaining a Government subsidy, and the advantage of being able to transfer scholars from the denial register of one school fo another. Mr Foss made the point, that in the Levin scheme the dentists accepted the onus, of seeing that the scholars' mouths were in good dental order. The position of small schools if the. larger scheme was dropped was referred to by Mr Clifford, who regretted such a possibility. Mr Rolston said the same terms had been given to the small schools by Mr Mackenzie as to the larger ones, but Mr Adams pointed out Uiat conditions had now changed so that probably the work would have to be confined to Levin if the larger scope could not' be given ta the idea. It was agreed to adjourn till luesday, September 2», the Foxton delegates in the meantime to ascertain the views of the local dentists a.s to Whether they would be prepared to co-operate. Jt was decided that all committees in the district be asked to send reiproiscntativcs to next meeting and that an effort be then made to finalise the matter one way or the other. Mr Perrciiu said the outside schools appreciated the -action of the Levin School Goinittec in trying to spread the benefits their scholars enjoyed and he was sure the parents would appreciate it later on.. The Levin Committee took a very broad view of the matter. The chairman thanked the delegates for their attendance.