PRIORITIES FOR SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS CRITICISED BY BOARD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23314, 25 July 1950, Page 6

PRIORITIES FOR SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS CRITICISED BY BOARD

(Special) NAPIER. July 22. Priorities laid down bv the Department of Health for school dental clinics were not favoured yesterday by the Hawke’s Bav Education Board, which decided to tell the department that, from members’ knowledge of the district, it did not approve of the order of priority. “just because someone squeals in Woodville. Woodville is placed at the head of the list.” declared the chairman, Mr. A. H. Sivcwright. “I predict that in 12 months this prioritv list will be altered because someone else squeals.' The department listed schools needin'* dental clinics in the following order Woodville. Tuai, Mahora (Hastings). Otane. Whatatutu. Havelock North. Te Hapara. Raureka (Hastings), Takapau. Porangahau. Norsewood. “I can only sav it is a most unsatisfactory priority list,” said the chairman.

Some of the schools of lower priority. he said, were in greater need of dental services than those higher in the list, which were years behind on dental treatment. Mr. J. T. Hill: Even if we had all these clinics there would be no operatives to staff them. Mr. T. B Macdonald: We do not build new schools where old ones will do. Why should we build dental clinics ? Mr. T. A. Coleman said the time was opportune to press for control by education boards of the dental clinics they erected and maintained on agreement between the Department of Heallh and the Education Department. IJn i fi' , d control of Maori schools, too, should be aimed at.