THE DENTAL SCHOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 22, 26 January 1924, Page 12

THE DENTAL SCHOOL.

DUNEDIN IN ARMS. COMMISSION'S REPORT ATTACKED. (By Telegraph—Special to ".tar.*") DL-vEDIN, this day. The University Council and Chamber of Commerce will hold conferences next week with members of Parliament and others to consider the Dental School question. The "Star," in an editorial on the Dental School, is very angry at the finding of the Commission, which it considers went outside its order of reference, which the newspaper considers was solely to inquire into the needs of the Dunedin School. ! "The Auckland evidence," says the 1 writer, "has induced a majority of the I Commission, which seems to have been very readily persuaded, to bring in a I report which is at once a marvel of I inconsequence and audacity in the way it exceeds the inquiry's scope. That the Dental School in Dunedin requires re--1 building or enlarging affords no reason whatever why the school should be shifted to Auckland. To have it there, however, has long been a darling wish of the Northern metropolis, jealous of all facilities that make pride for others. If there is anything else in Dunedin that Auckland would like when it has got the. Dental School, and after that the Medical School, it would be a kindness to declare it at once, so that this city majknow all that lies before it. This particular desire of the insatiable North, however, has contrived to find friends among the members of the Commission. It should appeal to every reasonable person, viewing all the factors with a minimum of prejudice, that one Dental School is enough for a small country' like New Zealand, and that the natural place for it is in Dunedin along with the Medical School. That has been the policy of the Department, and it is surprising that Dr. Ramsden. us a subordinate official, should have departed from it in an official report. The dental students themselves, we are told, approached the Otago University Council, asking for more clinical material than was to be obtained at the Dunedin Hospital. The students did not ask so much for more materal as for a wider choice of material, to the affording of which the same difficulties would obtain in any city of New Zealand wherever the Dental School and private practitioners were operating together, the most elaborate and expensive work not. being done natura'ly where free treatment is given. The alleged failure of students to pass examinations does not refer presumably to failure to pass in.strictly dental subjects. Out of nineteen candidates who sat last year there were only two failures. If the training of 25 dentists each year is considered to be sufficient a_ an olvect. it can easily be achieved in Dtmedin, that practically being the in.mber of new students who are received now annually."