AFTER THREE YEARS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 85, 7 October 1929, Page 11

AFTER THREE YEARS

PETONE DENTAL CLINIC

OFFICIAL OPENING

It is now about three years since the Petone Civic Association and the Petone Central School Committee combined in an agitation to have, a school dental clinic established in the borough. At first nothing definite was forthcoming from the Government, but as the result of further agitation by the school committee, the Health Department stated that it would provide a clinic if Petone could raise £120, one-third of the estimated cost. Forthwith, a public meeting of Petone citizens was called, and a committee consisting of Messrs. D. M'Kenzie (chairman), J. C. Burns, C. Kaye, G. Fairburn, O. Silbery, Smyrk and Hanna was set up to raise the money. This was successfully accomplished and the clinic was erected. Situated in the Petone Central School grounds, at the southern end, the clinic is a wooden structure comprising three rooms—waiting room, nurses' room, and operating room. The operating room occupies about three quarters of the building and is airy and well lit. Provision is made for two nurses to work at the clinic, but at present Nurse M'Cormaek is in sole charge. ■:-. Work at the clinic commenced last week and the official opening ceremony was performed by the Mayor of Petone (Mr. D.'M'Kenzie) on Saturday afternoon. . There were present the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy), Mr. T. A. Hunter (Director of Dental Hygiene), Mr. Hatchings, of the- Wellington Education Board, Mr.' A. J. Gearing (secretary of the Lower Hutt Dental Clinic Committee) and many other prominent citizens. Apologies for absence were received from the member for the district (the Hon. T. M. Wilford), the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. Atmore), Dr. Young, Mr. G. T. London, and'Mr. Burgess, chairman of the Lower Hutt Dental Clinic Committee. ,

The Mayor said that they were grateful to the Health Department for establishing a dental clinic in Petone to improve the health of tho children. To his mind, the Health Department was the most important in the State, and with good health and good education any country should prosper. There were 90 State dental clinics in the Dominion, and the fact that 17 new ones were opened last year showed that the Department was alert in its endeavour to push on with its humanitarian work. There were 218,794 children attending the State - Primary ;and! Junior High Schools in New Zealand, 53,500 of which were recoiving treatment from the clinics. What an improved standard of health would be attained if all could be treated. The good health of the people^ was the country's greatest asset, and the best way to achieve this was to take "■ proper" caro of the children. The Minister of Health complimented the town on its advancement, saying that the establishment of the clinic was a milestone in. it which he was sure would--contribute towards further progress, particularly among the children. Ho was sorry that he could . not do everything that.was asked of him as a Minister, owing tolackof money. That was the only; reason why Petone did not have that day a double clinic and every other social service it required.. Mr. Stallworthy wished tho clinic every! success in the future, and hoped that he would be privileged this time next year to allocate to it another nurse, and so make it a double clinic.

Mr. D. Hunter spoke of the tremendous problem of curing the dental disease that existed in probably 99 per cont. of the children attending the primary schools. Having studied the problem m other countries he could say that an New Zealand they wero dealing, with it more efficiently, nioro rapidly, and more ccononiicallv than in any other place. Mr.. Hunter mentioned various kinds of'food as causing dental disease, and said that it was not fair for people to oxpoct tho Governniont to provide treatment for their children when the pai-onts, by not in; sisting on a correct, diet, did nothing to help cheek dental disease. lie applied to parents to assist in.this matte?, and concluded by saying that in his opinion the ideal futuro of dentistry lay in its extinction.. < ■ • j *"■* iv Mr; Hutchings spoke briefly on the history of cental clinics in tho Strict .mC at >10n t0 the Education Board The Mayor then declared tho clinic S'?'« which many of those ™ sent wore entertained at afternoon tea.