DENTAL CLINICS FOR THE COUNTRY.

Shannon News, 10 August 1928, Page 3

DENTAL CLINICS FOR THE COUNTRY.

LEVIN SCHEME MENTIONED IN

HOUSE,

When the annual report of the - Health Department was before Parliament, Mr J. Linklater (Manawatu), took the opportunity of making a strong plea for more consideration for the country* districts in the provision of dental clinics. He also dreV; the attention of the House to the voluntary scheme in operation with its headquarters at Levin. "I had the privilege," said Mr Linklater, of listening to the lecture given this morning by Dr. Elaekraore, and I desire to join with other hoa. members in thanking the for his very fine lecture.' We all recognise the great menace that tuberculosis is in the country to-day; but we also realise the very groat and* important work that the doctors of New Zealand are doing in their endeavours to combat the disease. The question of dental clinics has been strongly urged this afternoon, and it. dees hot 3eem necessary for me to enlarge, upon what has already been said; but I ,dq want to point out that so far as Manawatu is concerned, very little attention has been paid by the Government to the necessity of something in that direction being done in the electorate. Although we have had the advantage of several vißits to the schools by Dr. Gunn—and - we appreciate the good work done in that connection —we unfortunately have no clinic at all. I think it will be agreed by hon. members that it-is absolutely necessary for the Government to provide for the establishment of dental clinics in the country districts to a greater extent than has been the case in the past. In Levin there is a school with an attendance of 800 children and the people of the town and surrounding districts have done a great deal of work in providing the necessary service on their own account. They have paid for the services q£ a well-qualified dentist and he has done remarkably good work during the last few years. But surely it is only fair : to expect that a dental clinic should be established for the benefit of the children, which could supply the necessary service for those in the distriet extending as far north as Shannon and as far south as Paekakariki. I .am sure after what has been said ; ,this afternoon the Minister will realise the urgent ned that exists for extending to the country the same advantages that 'the town enjoys; Of course, I realise that in the towns the teeth of the children are* in a worse state than those in the country, but at the same time it is just as necessary that the teeth of the children in the country should receive proper attention. It is recognised that a great deal of the illness' in the home is due to the bad condition of the teeth and therefore I hope the Minister will extend 1 to the people in the country districts those privileges which the town people enjoy. "I agree with those who contend that the feeling is growing throughout the country districts that we are being, over-burdened with increased hospital taxation, and that the responsibility so far as providing the necessary finance is concerned is not equitable; but at the same tinre the money has to be found. The County Councils have found that the hospital rate has been growing at au alarming extent year after year, and in the ease of the Manawatu the hospital rate has doubled during the last couple of years. The result is that the roads of the country have to be starved to a great extent in order to provide the neeessary finance in other directions. I therefore think the time has come when some other provision should be made for supplying the necessary finance for the hospitals of this Dominion. ■■'