STATE DENTISTRY

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 May 1917, Page 3

STATE DENTISTRY

HOW DENTISTS v7eW IT. 'TiHSAa'MKNTOr SCHOOL . CHTLDKEN. (Special to "Stab.") WELLINGTON, This Buy. During- the course of the annual conference of the New Zealand Dental Association, the HonG. W. ltussell, Minister of Public Health, addressed the delegates in regard to his proposal tlni there should he established in the ciiies of Auckland, Wellington, and Christ church dental hospitals for Ihe treatment of school children, which would enable dental students to be efficiently trained by qualified leaching staff. The Conference promised the Minister to assist in framing a scheme to meet; the shortage of dental students in New Zealand, and there was a long discussion, with the result that upon a division the following motion was adopted:— "That with a view to facilitating a curriculum suitable to the leaching capabilities of the centres, that the dental course lie two years at Auckland, Christ church, "Wellington and Dunedin, plus two years at the Dunedin Dental College" The effect of (his proposal, if adopted by the authorities, will lie that the student will be able in secure two years' training in Ihe centre nearest his home, and finish at the Denial College at. .1 »t>'»eiliii. There was an interesting discussion upon the standard of education required as a preliminary to entering upon the dental course, and it was resolved to recommend the maintenance of the matriculation examination in this connectionMight members of iTie Association were elected to constitute a committee, which will seek to cooperate with the Senate and other authorities in tlie arrangement . und conduct of the course for the certificate of proficiency in dentistry.

Aii afternoon was spent in discussing nn important paper by T)r Xorinnn Cox upon "State Denlists." Ho considered it only a matter of time when it would bo realised that it was the concern of the State to ensure that children were provided with efficient teeth, and that if the parents could not undertake the expense, the State would take the responsibility. The principle would be carried further, and dental service made available to all- The paper met. with criticism, mainly 01 i the lines that Slate employment would remove the great incentive to the individual to do his best work- T)r Cox, in reply, stated that his ideas had met with a more favourable reception than when they were put before the Conference in 101'J; when every speaker got up to criticise- lie put down the change to the war, which had made us all realise the necessity for national organisation and compulsion for the sake of efficiencyA small committee was set up to confer with the .Minister ol Public Health in regard lo tin dental treatment of school drenThe following otliccrs wen elected: -President : Mr F- I AVashbourno (Timaru); vice-pre-sident and president-elect : .Mr fj. W. Wright ( Dannevirke) ; chairman of executive: Lieul-Col- .)• N. Pishworth • lion- seejetary: 111 Claude 11, Moses (Auckland) hon- treasurer: Lieut. \V- It Paeburn.