DENTISTS AND THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 28, 1 February 1917, Page 8

DENTISTS AND THE WAR

'APPEALS AT MASTERTON.

Two members of the dental profession ■~Mr. Ivor Wilson, of Featherston, and Mr. HowartT Jackson, of Carterton—applied to the Military Service Board at ■Masterton yesterday for exemption.

Mr. T» Mauasoil, of Carterton, who appeared for appellants, said the matter was of considerable importance. The appeals had not been lodged at the instanco of appellants, but at the instance of the Director of Dental Services. They were quite willing to serve their country, but it had been dinned into them hy tho head men of their association that their services were of greater importance here than at the front. There had in retent years been a. falling-otff in dentists to cope with the public demands. The iirst point for the board to consider was whether dentists could be spared, and the second point was tho peculiar posi.tion in which appellants were placed in 'regard' to their practices. If appellants closed their businesses there would bo only one 'dentist (Mr. Balfour) to serve ihe whole of tho South Wairarapa. Mr. .Wilson.served a population of 4900, and was working 12 to 14 hours a day to cope with tho work. Mr. Jackson served a 'population of 4500. There were now only four dentists in Mastcrton, and the South Wairarapa work would be thrown upon their shoulders. It had been shown that a. fair quota for dentists, was one dentist to 1500 people, whereas there was now one dentist to 4500 people in New Zealand. The appellants also did a iHtahlity of work from the Featherston ■Camp which could not be handled in tho ramp. His clients did not come in any spirit of shirking, and if tho board said, the proper thing for them to do was to go, (hey would willingly do so. Ho maintained, however, that they would .serve their country best by remaining iv their practices. The board, of which Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M.. is chairman, reserved its decision until to-day.