DUNEDIN DENTAL COLLEGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1917, Page 6

DUNEDIN DENTAL COLLEGE.

"A COLOSSAL FAILURE." Dissatisfaction with the arrangements existing in New Zealand tor the training of dentists was expressed last week by the Hon G. W. Russell, Minister for Puolic Health, who stated with regard to the proposals for the Dental School that the inquiries he had made did not lead him to consider favorably any scheme for the establishment of busaries. He understood that the period necessary to qualify after matriculation was four years, and he was of opinion that some easier and less expensive method of training dentists would have to be. provided. "I cannot help thinking," he said "that it should be possible to learn the profession of dentistry by a system of cadetship in the various dental workrooms in surgeries, followed by a course of technical instruction, which I hope to see made available in the various dental colleges." He referred to the fact that in six years 15 students had passed through the Dunedin Dental College fully qualified. This number was so small, he said, that ho must still regard the presnet method of supplying dentists to the Dominion as a colossal failure. The reason was that the cost of a four-years' course at the Dunedin Dental School was prohibitive, and he, therefore, insisted on the necessity for a cheaper and easier method of supplying the Dominion witli dentists.