GREYMOUTH DENTAL CLINIC

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 May 1933, Page 5

GREYMOUTH DENTAL CLINIC

FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. The first annual meeting of the Greymouth Dental Clinic Committee, was held at the Grey Main School last evening, Mi- R. A. Barrowman presided, Messrs A. M. Carroll, J. Gallagher, Rev. Father Long (Marist and Convent Schools), Air U. J. Mettrick (Cobden School), and Mr J. C. FI. McDonald (Grey Main School), being also present. Mr J. Reeves (Blaketown School), apologised for absence.

The Chairman and Secretary, submitted the following report for the year ended March 31, 1932: —

The matter of extending the dental service to all the main schools in the Greymouth area was discussed by the Greymouth Main School Committee, and it was finally agreed that a special Committee composed of representatives from each school should be appointed for the purpose of controlling the work of the clinic. A special meeting was held on April 6, 1932, representatives from all the schools in the area being present, when it was decided to form a Dental Clinic Corm-nit-tee. The first regular meeting of the new committee was held on April 15, 1932, Mr. A. D. Brice, Distinct Dental Superintendent being present. Mr. Brice gave an outline of the procedure necessary in extending the present dental service. He advised that the existing Clinic would have to be enlarged and in this connection he had plans prepared by the Canterbury Education Board’s Architect, the cost of the work being £95. It was estimated that the number of children to ultimately receive treatment would be 1077, made up as follows: —Greymouth Main and Blaketown Schools 552, Marist Brothers, and Convent Schools 352, Cobden School 193. This number of children would require two nurses as the number of children treated by one nurse must not usually exceed GOO. In order to reduce the cost of enlarging the Clinic it was decided to try and modify the proposal, and fresh plans were approved by the Department of Dental Hygiene and the Education Board. Tenders were called for the work and the tender of Mr. O. H. Brailsford (£6B/10/-) was accepted and the work was carried out. In order to provide some of the necessary finance, a combined schools concert was held in the Town Hall on May sth, 1932. This concert was repeated on May 26th. As a result of the finding of the Economy Commission, the Committee is obliged to pay the Government £3O per annum foi* each nurse employed in addition to the usual upkeep charges. In order to assist in meeting these charges the Committee decided at a meeting on June 16, 1932, to exercise its power to strike a levy on parents. This was fixed at 2/6 per child per annum, with a maximum of 5/- for any one family. The Committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the manner in which parents responded and although we are still rather heavily in debt the payment of the levy by parents has been decidedly helpful. The generosity of the Hokitika Amateur Operatic Society in staging a performance of the Opera “Merrie England” in the Greymouth Town Hall for the benefit of the Committee’s funds was greatly appreciated and resulted in a nett profit to the Committee of £lO/7/-. The extension of the service was commenced immediately the Committee was formed, and an additional nurse took up duty early in May of last year. Until such time as the Director of Dental Hygiene could provide a perto the position Nurse P. M. Samways of the Runanga Clinic filled the position. Nurse F. E. Janies being appointed in August. Prior to the appointment of a second nurse, the whole of the Clinic work was carried out by Nurse K. M. Thompson. The Committee desires at this stage to place on record its keen appreciation of the excellent work being carried out by the Nurses, and their neverfailing courtesy and devotion to duty. A brief summary of the work carried out by the Nurses is given in order that the public may have some idea of the enormous saving to parents. For the twelve months ended 31/3/33 the total number of children attending and number of operations is as follows:—Nurse K. M. Thompson, attendances 1429, operations 5100. Nurse P. M. Sdmways, attendances 243, operations 987. Nurse F. E. James, attendances 1351, operations 3454. Total attendances 3023. Total operations 9541. Taking the operations at the modest sum. of 2/6 each it will be seen that this represents a saving to the parents of Greymouth of approximately £1,192. It is not suggested that this amount would actually have been spent by parents,, but it shows that such expenditure was necessary and the children have benefited to that extent. In presenting our first balance sheet we regret that we have been unable to balance the budget. This is largely due to the heavy expense involved in remodelling the Clinic and owing to the heavy drain on the public during the year which prevented the Committee from holding money-raising functions. It is confidently expected that finances will be adjusted during the coming year which will be one of hard work for the Committee. In conclusion we desire to sincerely thank the public of Greymouth for their generous support, the members who gave freely of their time, the press for courtesy and assistance, the dental Nurses for their excellent work, Mr. A. D. Brice for his valuable assistance, and the band of lady helpers who have always come to our assistance at every function held by the Committee. We trust that the coming year will bring a return to prosperity and that the splendid service will be further extended. The balance sheet was as follows: — Receipts: Combined Schools’ Concert, 5/5/1932, £46/13/2; repeat concert, 2G/5/32. £ll/9/5; proceeds opera, “Merrie England,” £lO/7/-; levy on parents, 2/6 per child per annum £3l/ 12/-; total £lOO/1/7. Expenditure:— Printing, advertising and stationery, £9/19/6; cleaning clinic, £4/10/-; laundry, £3/6/4; gas, £5/0/10; contract, re-modelling Clinic, £4B/10/1; cartage (nurse’s equipment'), £1; insurance. on Clinic, 10/3; postage on correspondence, 1/-; bank charges—fees £l, cheque book 4/-, exchange on cheques 1/-; Health Department contribution towards cost of nurses, £23/ 8/4; telephone calls 2/10; cash at Bank March 31, 1933, £2/7/5; total £lOO/1/7. Liabilities at 31/3/33: Dejpartment of Health, quarterly contribution, two nurses at £3O per year each, two quarters at £l5, £3O; balance owing on contract, £l9/19/11; Grey “Star,” stationery, etc., £6/16/-; Walter Scott, paint, etc., £l/0/6; Greenhill, cartage and freight, 16/10; Canterbury Education Board,. £9/7/-; total £6B/0/3. Less cash at Bank of N. 31/3/33, £2/7/5; grand total

£65/12/10. Excess of liabilities over income, £65/12/10.

PAYING OFF THE DEBT.

Mr Carroll state 1 that once the initial expense wa ; met, the Clinic would continue to improve financially. The levy would prove sufficient to meet the dues to the Education Department.

The Chairman mentioned that the levy on parents last year had brought in £3l, but that f ource of revenue would increase as the attendances at the schools increased. It would be interesting to the public to learn of the number of operations carried out, and the amount of work done during the year. The principal concern was the debt owing by the clinic, and he invited suggestions for its liquidation. The secretary (Mr McDonald), and the Chairman, had discussed ways and means, and had decided that a local art union might supply the best return. The secretary had made application to the Department of Internal Affairs and an a] plication form had been received by Mr McDonald. Mr Gallagher moved that the Chairman and secretary be given authority to proceed with the application for a local art union. T 1 e Committee would probably get a smtimental shilling from the public, ard the public would also have the chance of gaining from the prizes. Mr Carroll: There should be a substantial prize list. Mr Gallagher: We will not be making any secret of it, that we are out to make money. The Chairman seconded the motion, which was carried.

The secretary suggested that it might be possible to run a combined ball, the children to have the first two hours of dancing, and the adults to follow.

The Chairman stated that he would have no difficulty in arranging for a ladies’ committee, to conduct a ball Mr Gallagher’ did not like the idea. He said that a combined dance would prevent many dancers who go to enjoy a ball, from attending. The Secretary: At the school dance, I had many inquiries as to whether there would be a dance for adults, to follow. The adults do not generally roll up till about 10 o’clock. The Chairman stated that he woulld get in touch with the ladies’ committee, and suggested that the art union be proceeded with meantime. The election of officers resulted in the outgoing officers, Messrs R. A. Barrowman, Chairman; A. M. Carroll, Treasurer; and J. C. H. McDonald, Secretary, being re-elected. Mr Gallagher stated that he had hoped the outgoing officers would carry on for a further term. If they had been replaced by new officers the Clinic’s work would “slip a bit.” The Chairman, in thanking members for his re-election, said he took upon himself the responsibility for being instrumental in placing the Clinic on a working basis, and was quite prepared to shoulder the responsibility for a further term. Anything that he could do for the children, he would be pleased to do. Members realised that it would be a few years yet before benefits of the work would be showing up.

Rev. Father Long: The young ladies and gentlemen will then have a lot to thank you for.

Mr McDonald said his position, as secretary, was one that required considerable attention. He was handicapped to a certain degree, by the fact that he was a public servant, but in contentious matters the difficulty could he overcome by the Chairman placing his name to correspondence. He was pleased that the scheme was progressing, and hoped it would continue to progress still further.

Mr Mettrick asked that in view of the difficult times, was it not possible to have the service extended to children in the fourth to sixth standards. The Chairman replied that he had assurance from Mr A. D. Brice, District Dental Superintendent, that such provision would later be made.

Mr Mettrick mentioned that a child, aged eight, from the Cobden School, had been refused attention by the nurse at the clinic, as the child had previously been attended by a dentist in town.

The secretary stated that if the child was chartered, the nurses had to give treatment. »The position in the case of parents who could not afford to pay the levy, was that the committee could authorise the treatment to be carried out. Mr Gallagher: Have there been many applications for free treatment? The secretary: Not very many.