Safeguarding the Children’s Teeth

Franklin Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 32, 22 March 1939, Page 4

Safeguarding the Children’s Teeth

SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS THE WORK AT PUKEKOHE YEAR’S ACTIVITIES REVIEWED “After paying our liabilities on the improvements to the clinic building, there will be sufficient funds left to carry on for the year,” said Mr John Patterson, the chairman, at the annual meeting of the Pukekohe Dental Clinic committee. There were also present: Messrs A. E. B. Richardson and H. Littlewood (Paerata), E. B. Jones, and J. A. Pollilt (Puni), F. McGrath, C. P. Creedon and J. Comrie (Pukekohe), Howard Smith, M. G. Brown and A. S. Cole (Waiau Pa), B. A. Keary, William Campbell, and R. A. Hull (Aka Aka) and the dental nurse, Aliss R. L. Woodford. "Now that the clinic is operating on a five-day week only it will he impossible for one nurse to cope with the service. It is therefore imperative that the alterations to the building be completed at once, so as to provide for a second nurse,” the chairman continued, in his. review of the year’s activities.

However, some difficulty was being experienced with the extensions to the clinic, lie said. The cost of this work was £3OO. Of this amount, the committee had to find £33 6s Bd. The local committee was taking no further action, and had left the matter to the two departments concerned to finalise. An invitation had been extended to the children from the Ramarama school and the Convent, Pukekohe, to join up with the scheme when the extensions were completed, and the second nurse employed. Roil Number of 554 “The roll now stands at 554 and the possible new entrants will bring it up to approximately 600,” lie continued. “With the appointment of a second nurse, the expenses of the clinic will rise to about £45 per annum, i.e., £3O will go to the Government towards the cost of materials used in the clinic, and about £ls for incidentals, such as laundering, etc. In consequence, the committee will have to consider very' carefully the charges to be made to parents for the service this year.”

The chairman congratulated the residents of Tuakau on securing the erection of a new clinic there; but staled that, while it was understood a grant had been approved for a building at Waiuku, that scheme was still being held up. “In conclusion, I desire to place on record our appreciation of the assistance rendered by the teachers of the various schools, and also of the work of the secretary, Air Comrie,” he added.

The question of providing better equipment, such as an electricallym~>erated

was raised, and it was le,t't to the executive committee to procure what it could after the cost of the building improvements was definitely known.

The following were elected an executive committee: Messrs John Patterson (chairman), .T. Comrie (secretary), F. McGrath, F. .T. Lownsborough and S. C. Schofield. Mr A. V. Fox was re-appointed auditor.