Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1926. DENTAL CLINIC.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 January 1926, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1926. DENTAL CLINIC.

The announcement that' the lady who has been in charge of the Grey Main School Dental Clinic for some months, will not return to Grey, and that the Department has appointed another officer to take charge of the clinic from February 1, directs attention to a somewhat unsatisfactory state of affairs. During the short time the school has had the benefit of the Dental Clinic, there have been three different officers in charge, and in at least two instances, the officials’ resignation,' or whatever the cause, was of a sudden nature. The Clinic has done good work, and parents are alive to the boon thus conferred. The juvenile patients seem to be well-treated, and have little fear of keeping these dentistry appointments. This prompt attention to their teeth now, must result in great good to their general health in their adidt lives, and those responsible for the dental clinic system, have reason for gratification on its undoubted success. We are glad to take this opportunity to acknowledge the benefits of the scheme, partly to prove that a criticism necessary regarding Greymouth developments, is not founded on prejudice. It cannot be beneficial to Greymouth children to have the Clinic’s officers come and go in the manner that has hitherto marked district experience. Transfers and changes in the public service are part of the general system, but it is very doubtful if any other town in the Dominion has had experiences such as Greymouth has, regarding the unexpected departures of Clinic officers. No official statement has been given in explanation, and we do not profess to know the reason, but these incidents give strength to the demands for a change in the regulations. We understand that the Health Department appoints the officer, leaving the School Committee to find the funds for the necessary equipment etc. Neither the Committee nor the Head Master, has any control over the Clinic Officer, who takes instructions from the Health Department. This, in practice, means that the Clinic Officer is his or her own boss, subject only to the visits of an Inspector, which are few and far between. That cannot be regarded as an ideal arrangement, and, apparently, has not proved to be so in Greymouth. Better results would be probable, if the Dental Clinic officer were treated as one of the school staff, underthe control of the Headmaster. The School Committee, too, which “pays the piper,” ought to have more say in the matter of 1 ‘ selecting the tune.” An officer answerable to none but distant headquarters, has to be very conscientious and enthusiastic to give such good service as would one under the eyes of a superior. State De-

partments are jealous’ about ‘‘ interference ’ ’ from other branches of the public service, but these niceties of etiquette must not be permitted undue sway. The children’s welfare is the real deciding factor, and sudden and numerous changes in the Dental Clinic staff, cannot be good for* the youngsters. The Greymouth School Committee would be justified in bringing the matter before the Health and Education Department, so that any defect in the present system can be remedied. Full public support will be with the Committee on this .question.