CARE OF THE TEETH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2758, 29 April 1916, Page 6

CARE OF THE TEETH

THE NEED OF THE SCHOOLS

FOR DENTAL INSPECTORS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER

The need for some better provision for the dental treatment of the children attending the schools in Wellington was urged by a deputation which waited on the Hon. G. W. Russell yesterday. , The following were the members of the deputation:—Wellington Education Board: Hon. J. G. TV. Aitken (chairman), Messrs. TV. H. Field M.P., Allan, C. M.. Luke, T. R. lleming (Chief Inspector), and J. Stewart (secretary); 'Wellington Hospital Board; Mr.H.Baldwin (chairman), Rev. H. Van Stavercn, Messrs. P. Castle, D. Campbell, Mrs. M'Vicar, Dr. Morice (Medical Superintendent Wellington Hospital), Dr. J. K. Elliott, and Mr. E. G. Bender. Dr. Valintino (Inspector-General of Hospitals) and Colonel Dr. Hunter, New Zealand Dental Association and Director of Military Dental Service, were also present. The report recently .published on the state of the teeth of the children of Newtown School was brought under the Minister's notice, and it was suggested that the care of the teeth of the 14,000 children in tho Wellington district would.occupy fully the time of a dentist and a nurse. It was urged that this work should be undertaken by the Government, the Hospital Board perhaps assisting in Wellington Cityj and that the central places for treatment should be Levin, Otoki, Jolvnsonville,Wellington, Lower Hutt, and Upper Hutt. : Mr.. Aitken spoke of the need for some oxtensipn of the present scheme for the medical inspection of school children by the making of some provision for remedial treatment. It bad- been reported, for instanco, that many children wero boing improperly fed. Mr. Aitken stated also that Wellington was now without' a medical injspector of schools.. '

The Hon. G. W. Russell, in reply, | said tho doputation had como to a very sympathetic Minister. He' was sorry to- hear that Wellington was now without a medical school inspector, and he would ropresent the matter to his colleague, the Minister of Education, at once. Mr. Russell then outlined the intention of the Government in 1912 in connection with tho question of' medical inspection of schools. He was sorry that, beyond inspection, there had been nothing done. Teachers had complained to him of, the ■ great additional work that was thrown upon them in connection with the medical inspection of schools, from which there had been very little result. The important matter of the proper feeding of : the children had received the attention of the Public Health Department. He was satisfied that the bread we were getting nowadays was not the best bread that could be obtained for our children. Many of the best ingredients of tho wheat were lost. If they could set up a "whole-meal" crusade in New Zealand it would be a good thing; and he proposed, as Minister of Public Health, to set up such a crusade. , . : The figures presented as to the condition of the teeth of the children of a- large Wellington city public school wero absolutely unanswerable. He thought they had to make up their minds to two things'. First, that there should be a written report /'to parents, notifying them of tho .necessity so far as dental treatment was concerned. Many parents would at once send the children to their own dentists for treatment. In cases where parents wero unable to do so, the State, in his opinion, must provide the necessary treatment. The people of the. Dominion would have to furnish the funds. . The . question as to whether funds should bo furnished partly by the hospital boards or ; partly by the Government was a matter they need not split strawsj'over. He would treat the question not as a Wellington, but as a national question, and whatever was done, after consultation with his colleagues, would be in respect of the whole country. He thought the services of local dentists must be employed. The public officer should be sent through districts for two purposes. First, as inspector and to report; and second, he should visit districts where thero was no resident dentist to do necessary dental work in the schools there. In conclusion, tho Minister said he would, go into the question most carefully with his expert advisers, and after consulting his colleagues would take steps as far as possible to bring a scheme for the dental treatment of the school children of New Zealand into operation at tho earliest possible moment. '