OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1939, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

DENTAL CLINIC FEES (To the Editor). Sir—ln reply to the protest by the headmasters on remarks passed at the Trust meeting in reference to the affairs of the Masterton Dental Clinic, Mr Coddington states that my remarks: “That if a child took five shillings to the school for dental fees it would be refused” is without foundation. I can assure Mi- Coddington that the remark was a statement of fact that actually happened to my own children, and following that incident, I have for the past three years paid the fees at the office of the secretary of the Dental Clinic. However, I am pleased to know that fees can still be paid at the schools. Referring to my remarks about cooperation, the headmasters know full well the true meaning of the word; which implies, in this case jointly with the Dental Clinic Committee to put the clinic on a sound financial basis. Let us examine the case of our district with others. The deputation to the Trustees on Thursday last, in reply to a question by one of the trustees as to how other districts managed to finance their clinic, informed the Trustees that in other districts each school was allotted an amount to be paid by them for dental service, and the responsibility was on the school to collect or raise that amount. What is the position in Masterton? Each school knows that its quota is 5s per head for each child attending the clinic, and how far do they meet it? St. Patrick’s School is the only school that meets its quota in full. The rest of the town schools do reach as high as 50 per cent of their quota. Surely there is room for closer co-operation not only between the Dental Clinic Committee and the headmasters, but also the parents, whose responsibility it really is to meet these charges? The clinic is rendering a wonderful service, and parents should realise and shoulder their small share of the responsibility by paying their fees promptly. Finally I desire to thank Mr Coddington for clearing up this misnomer of “Free School Books.” Some years ago the Trust made a grant sufficient to supply the stationery for all pupils attending the primary schools. Today the amount is sufficient only to meet necessitous cases. Thanking you for the opportunity of reply to the protest of the headmasters —I am, etc., A. OWEN JONES. Masterton, November 13. AN IMPRESSION REGRETTED (To the Editor.) Sir, —I regret that a limited report of the Trust Lands Trust meeting should cause misunderstanding among the administrators of our local schools. What I actually said was that all the local schools were co-operating with the clinic, and Central and West were doing reasonably well. By that I meant to convey that the amounts paid in by the headmasters of those two schools were considerably more than paid in by other individual schools. I also said that it was my opinion the headmasters had sufficient to do in the administration of their respective schools without being expected to collect money for the clinic, as in my opinion it should be a committee responsibility, under quota, on roll number of school. I also pointed out that I thought it undesirable to send money to school by children, as the children sometimes lost the receipts and parents have been concerned, until being assured by some responsible person that it had been received, and a receipt issued. I wish it known that I have received assistance and co-op-eration from all town schools when I have required it. It may be of general interest to 'know that in the case of St Patrick’s School 100 per cent of the dental clinic fees have been collected. —I am, etc., W. A. CLARKE. Masterton, November 13.