DENTISTS & ENLISTMENT

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 46, 22 February 1917, Page 2

DENTISTS & ENLISTMENT

f TO THE EDITOR. . Sir,—To reply to . the letter of Mr. F. E. Wobb is to treat it more worthily than it merits. However, it is due to {he public to. have made clear a few points con. cerning the profession and practice of dentistry. Mr. Denniston having ably d^alt with enlistment Of dentists, I. care only to add that in my opinion enlistment is a matter for the individual to decide and not for the profession to which he happens to belong. Regarding-the'reference to Dr. Maitland's phrase ■ "profession or trade . . ." I affirm that dentistry can be either the one or the; other, it being entirely in the hands of the individual practitioner to make it whichever he naturally leans towards. Mr. Webb states that the New Zealand Dental Association is a "close corporation." I would point out that it is open to any registered dentist willing to practise in art ethical manner. Throughout New Zealand the associated members have done an immense amount of voluntary civilian dental work for recruite, which work has been publicly recogr; ' o'i more than one occasion by the ''. ,wr for Defence. Now, Sir, since Dr. Maitland and Mr. Webb have taken upon themselves the roles of critics, may I ask what they as dentists have done in this time of stress to assist their country, for unless they— themselves being exempt—have made some practical sacrifices it would seem to *ie unseemly for them to speak at all. — I am, etc., A. NORMAN" JONES. Dental Surgeon. 21st February.