DENTISTS AT SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1920, Page 5

DENTISTS AT SCHOOL.

PARTIALLY TRAINED WOMEN. IS IT LEGAL? Sy Telagrapu.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. Considerable interest lias been taken in the latest proposals of the Government in connection with the development of. the State dental scheme for the treatment of the teeth of children. The proposal to employ partially trained women has aroused considerable interest, and has created a widespread impression that the Government is acting along unsafe lines, and some of those keenly interested in the subject have obtained a legal opinion from Mr. S. Solomon, K.C. In the course of his opinion, Mr. Solomon says: "I am asked advice whether the appointment of women with only eighteen months' tuition in dentistry in public schools is legal without special legislation. I must assume, for the purpose of my opinion, that schools are institutions receiving financial aid from the Government, and that it is proposed that these ladies should be attached to schools as other officers are. If that is so, although 'I cannot say that the matter is entirely free from doubt, I have yet to come to the conclusion that the employing of them in that capacity will be a breach of section 20 of the' Dentists' Act, 1908. That sec tion provides, inter alia, that no person other than a dentist shall hold any appointment as dental surgeon in any institution receiving financial aid from the Government. I am assured that the duties which it is proposed'to cast upon these ladies arc described as dental care and treatment of school children, and that, these come within the regular duties of a dental surgeon. / Under these circumstances I am forced to the conclusion that if they are attached to schools, that will be an equivalent to holding an appointment, and that therefore it is a breach of the section."