THE DENTAL CLINIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1919, Page 6

THE DENTAL CLINIC.

THE POSITION IN NEW PLYMOUTH. A correspondent lias asked us the position in respect of the proposed establishment of a dental clinic in New Plymouth. He points out that, judging from the reports of Dr. Gunn, the condition of the children of New Plymouth is deplorable, the chief cause being malnutrition caused by bad teeth. This being so, he says, the Hospital Konra, which moved some year or so back in the matter of establishing a dental , clinic, should be asked for an explanation of its inactivity in a matter of such prime importance to 'the community. We have therefore made enquiries and find the position so far as the Hospital Board is concerned shortly is this: In the early part of last year a scheme was arranged for the building of a new nurses' home and also new offices for the Board, the upper storey of the latter building being intended for, and designed, as a dental clinic, It .was estimated that £20,000 would be needed to carry out the undertakings, and on this basis the matter was submitted to the Department and approved by the ex-Min-ister for Public. Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell), who visited New Plymouth in May of last year, and after going into the matter with* the members of the Board, expressed his approval of the site for the nurses' home, and &190 of the Board's decision to establish a dental clinic. The Board 'then proceeded with further details of 'the scheme. It was estimated that the nurses' home could be built for £'15,000, the new office building for £I6OO, and the balance would pay the cost of furnishing both establishments, purchase such land as had to be acquired, pay architects' feeß and all contingencies likely to arise in connection with an undertaking of such magnitude. When tenders wore received for the work of the nurses' home it was found that prices had so far advanced as to make it impossible for the work to be completed for the amount originally estimated. The question also arose as to whether the site suggested for the new offices—at the corner of Dawson and Fulford I streets, in the Hospital grounds—would jbe really the best for the purpose. There also arose a difficulty in the matter of staffing the dental clinic, the local dentists stating that owing to the number of men in the profession being away in camp and at the front at that time there was no possibility of any of them undertaking work at the clinic. In view of these considerations the idea of erecting new offices was held in abeyance, and a lease of new premises in town was senred for a term of two years, while to 11 sub-committee of the Board has been delegated the task of looking out for the most suitable site for the Board's permanent offices, and there is not much likelihood of anything being done in the matter of a dental clinic for at least the balance of the Board's term of lease of ii'i present offices, which is about" 38 months. In the meantime the. £20.000 loa-.i has been allocated as follows: Contract for Nurses' Homo, £lfi,2oo (including some contingencies), architects 1, fpes £BIO, purchase of land for home £lftft2, furnishing £IOOO, contingencies £3BB.