DENTAL CLINIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1939, Page 4

DENTAL CLINIC

STILL IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES APPLICATION TO TRUST FOR ASSISTANCE. CRITICfSM OF PARENTS. Parents of children receiving treatment at the Masterton Dental Clinic were criticised severely for their apathy in financially supporting the clinic, by members at a meeting of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust, last night. After hearing Messrs W. R. Nicol and W. A. Clarke explain the clinic's serious financial position, the Trust agreed unanimously to make a grant amounting to the arrears in rent. On behalf of the Dental Clinic Committee, Mr Clarke said the difficulty in collecting funds was not peculiar to Masterton. Some difficulty was experienced in other towns, where the onus was on the school committees to find funds. The present voluntary system in Masterton did not work satisfactorily.

The Dental Clinic in Masterton was founded on a wrong basis, said Mr Nicol, the other member of the deputation. “The Trust Lands Trust is the milking cow pf the Wairarapa so far as education is concerned," he said. "We always have to depend on you to pay our rent." Ml’ Nicol said 1000 to 1100 children, were treated by the Masterton Clinic every year. "My children have been through the clinic and it is only now, when they have to go to private dentists, that I realise what a valuable service they have received. But what happens when parents are asked to contribute a little towards the service’s upkeep? In the Masterton West district we collected 15 per cent of the money asked from the parents, who said, in most cases: ‘This should be the Government’s obligation.’ We have never deprived any child of dental care no matter what response its parents make. We want to get at the parent, not the child.” Mr A. Owen Jones: "Would it be possible to get the headmasters to cooperate in collecting the money? It is in their interest to have healthy children attending the schools.”

Mr E. G. Eton: “Is it the system of collection that is the weak point?” Mr Nicol: “If the headmasters help, it is done voluntarily.” Mr R. Krahagen: "We could appoint a collector.”

In answer to a question, Mr Nicol said country schools contributed comparatively freely.

Mr Jones: “The headmasters are not co-operating. If a child took its five shillings to school they would not take it.” Mr Clarke: “I must correct that. The West and Central headmasters are doing reasonably well. The secretary of the school committee should be responsible.”

Mr Jones: “I don’t agree. A committee secretary’s position is voluntary.”

Mr H. H. Daniell: “On an average. Central has collected 2s, West Is 9d and Lansdowne Is 3d of the 5s asked for each child.” Mr Clarke said the clinic would be about .Cl4o in debt for the year.

Mr H. P. Hugo: “Each school should be given a quota.” Mr Eton: “We should tell this deputation that we will support the clinic until they get on their feet again.” Mr J. McFarlane Laing: “It is an' amazing position. The more you help these parents the more they rely upon it.”

Mr C. E. Grey and Mr H. H. Daniell suggested the abolishing of the £lOO grant for free school books. “Parents,” said Mr Grey, “would have to buy their own. That would make them realise their responsibilities.” Mr Jones: “I should like to know where these free books are. I think this free book grant is a bit of a farce.”