DENTAL CLINICS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 100, 22 January 1926, Page 11

DENTAL CLINICS

COUNTRY SCHOOLS COMPLAIN ARE THEY OVERLOOKED? "Dominion” Special. Auckland, January 21. While the value of dental work in the schools is becoming increasingly apparent, there is a feeling in the country districts that the needs of the children there are being overlooked, while the pupils of the city schools are being provided with facilities that could be readily obtained in the ordinary way. This viewpoint was advanced by the chairman (Mr. 'A. Burns) at the meeting of the Auckland Education Board, when several applications for dental clinics were received, together with a letter from the Department announcing that one was to be established in the Curran Street School next March.

The country people are feeling aggrieved,” said Mr. Burns, "because they have so few clinics, while the city children who easily visit the dentist are given free dental service. The Department’s reply is that it must consider the greatest good of the greatest number, and locate its very limited staff of dental nurses where they are most needed.” Mr. H. S. W. King said the Department should adhere to the policy adopted at the close of the war, under which it was proposed that clinics in motorvans should travel from one district to another. The idea now seemed to be to centralise the work in, the towns, although many country children were sorelv in need of attention. It was decided that the matter should be brought before the Director of Den. tai Hygiene, and that the whole question of dental clinics should be discussed with the latter or with his deputy at an early date.