N.Z. DENTAL CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3066, 30 April 1917, Page 3

N.Z. DENTAL CONFERENCE

.STATE DENTISTS. There -was an interesting discission during the annual conference of the New Zealand Dental Association upon the standard of education required as a preliminary to entering upon the dental course, and it was resolved to recommend .the maintenance of the matriculation examination in this connection. . . .

Eight members of the association were elected to constitute a committee, which will 6eek to co-operate with the Senato and other authorities in the arrangement and conduct of the course for tho certificate of proficiency in dentistry. A considerable timo was spent in discussing an important paper by Dr. Norman Cox upon "State Dentists. Ho considered it only a matter of time when it would he realised that it was the concern of the Stafe to eneure that children were provided with efficient teeth, and that if. tho parents could not undertake the expense_ tho 'State would take the responsibility. Tho principle would he carried further, and dental sorrico be mado available to all. ■ ■ ' .■.".'

The paper met with criticism, mainly on the lines that State employment would remove the great incentive to the individual to do his best work. Dr. Cox, in reply, stated that his ideas had met with a more favourable reception than when they were put hefore the conference in 1913, when every speaker got up to criticise. He put down the change to the war, which had made us all realise the necessity for national organisation and compulsion, for the sake of efficiency.

A small committee was set up to confer with . the Minister of Public Health in regard to the dental treatment of school children.

The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. F. I. Washbonrne (Timaru); \rice-president and presidentelect, Mr. G. W. Wright (Dannevirke); ohairman of executive, Liout.-Colonel J. N. Rishirorth; hon. secretary, Mr. Claude H. Moses (Auckland); hon. treasurer, Lieut. W. R. Raebiirn. ,