H.—3l

" The external examiners on these two occasions were respectively Dr. J. Y. Warren, D.D.S., of Auckland, and Mr. J. H. Don, 8.D.5., of Timaru. " (b) Primary examinations were also held for the first and second groups of the sixteenth draft. The first being in September, 1938, and the second in March, 1939. The details are as shown below :—

" The examiners were—lst Group : Dr. A. Platts Mills and Dr. M. Rippin ; 2nd Group : Dr. B. Wyn Irwin and Dr. S. L. Mullholland. " (5) The Course of Training—The readjusted syllabus, consequent on the introduction of two drafts per year, has been followed with minor variations. This has proved satisfactory, but calls for sustained effort on the part of the staff and sacrifice of their own time to maintain class-work. " A most pleasing feature of the year's work as regards the training-school has been the manner in which the individual members of the training staff, so many of them comparatively new, have combined to work in a spirit of unity for the furtherance of the best interests of the service. "(6) Hostels for Student Dental Nurses.—The Department's Hostel, 'The Mansions,' Ghuznee Street has continued to function very satisfactorily under the control of Miss E Pengelly. Ihe ' Friends ' Hostel, under the control of Miss B. Searell, is also giving good service, and the Department is again indebted to the Society of Friends for the continuance of the arrangement whereby student dental nurses are so well catered for. " To meet the increase in the number of student nurses the Department acquired the former Girls' High School Hostel in Hobson Street as a further Dental Nurses' Hostel. With renovation and some alteration this has been made into an attractive and comfortable home for some forty students. Much credit is due to Miss Hooper for supervising the whole of the renovation and the furnishing of the building, and also to Miss Stanton who has so capably controlled the home lite ot the institution. " (7) Statistical: — " (a) Attendances and Operations : Attendances recorded and operations performed in the Wellington Dental Clinic for the years from 1936-37 to 1938-39 are shown below: Attendances. Fillings. Extractions. Other Operations. " 1936-37 .. 23,588 15,748 1,444 17,569 " 1937-38 .. 47,238 31,014 3,141 31,931 " 1938-39 •• 52,997 42,419 3,894 33,894 "Increase since last 5,759 11,405 753 1,963 '' Total increase since 24,409 26,671 2,450 16,325 1936-37 " Total attendances recorded and operations performed to 31st March, 1939 :— Attendances. Fillings. Extractions. Other Operations. 552,893 375,483 76,408 314,654 " (b) The number of patients under treatment as at 31st March, 1939, 6,702. " The number of admissions for the year is as follows :— " New patients commenced .. .. •• •• •• " Transferred from other centres "Total .. .. •• •• •• •• •• 2 > 404 " The total loss of patients during the year— " Patients reaching maximum age for treatment .. . • • • " Patients transferred to other centres.. .. . • • • • • " Patients whose treatment has lapsed through failure to attend .. .. 681 " The net increase of patients under treatment is therefore 1,723, compared with 2,078 for the previous year. " (c) Waiting Bist: The number of names on the waiting list as at the 31st March for the last three years is as follows : 1937, 3,398 ; 1938, 1,095 ; 1939, 229.

13— H. 31.

97

— I b J er i ° f Passed. Failed. Remarks. Candidates. First group .. 38 38 Nil Three other members of this group did not qualify to sit the examination. Second group 40 37 2 One failed both papers; one failed one paper; one absent.