THE BURSAR SYSTEM.

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 87, 9 October 1920, Page 5

THE BURSAR SYSTEM.

An explanation of the State bursary system for the training of dentists and some ways iii whioh it might be improved was made in the House of Representatives by the. Minister of Health (Hon. C. J. Piixr) on Thursday, in reply to a question by Mr. V. H. Reed (Bay of Islands). Mr. Parr said that as the only -dental school was at Dunedin, the Government established the bursaries, bo that boys from other parts of the Dominion might have the opportunity of training for the dental profession. There were twenty bursaries of £50 eaoh, and in 1919 twelve were granted to boys from the South Island and eight to boys from the North. The University of Otago actually made the selection of bursars. He did not know if the publio was fully aware of the opportunities afforded for training for the dental profession. He thought steps should be taken to give greater publicity to the system through the secondary schools and the newspapers. The final selection of the holder should be in the hands of the Health Department, which paid the cost, though the University might continue to make recommendations. There should be some territorial basis of seleotion. At present there was only one bursar from Wellington and none from Auckland. The Health Department was recommending that the number of bursaries should be very largely increased. This would have to be done if they were to meet the needs of the future and overcome the shortage of dentists. The holder of a buTsary was required to give one year's service to the State- on completion of his training at a salary of £300 a year.