GREYMOUTH DENTAL CLINIC

Grey River Argus, 18 April 1940, Page 2

GREYMOUTH DENTAL CLINIC

ANNUAL MEETING. At the annual meting of th? Greymouth Dental Committee last evening there were present: Messrs J. C. H. McDonald (chairman). C. F. Shaocott (secretary). L. Patterson; N. K. B. Sheard, A. M. Carroll, Very Rev. Father Long, Mrs. M. Strong (officer in charge), and K- Larcombe (Dental Nurse). The chairman’s annual report stated; —i n presenting the eighth annual report we have pleasure in stating that the work of the Clinic has been carried on during the year in a very satisfactory manner, and that the balance sheet and annual accoum..-> show the finances of the Clinic to be in a satisfactory condition. It i? again pleasing to record an increase in the amount of the levy coEecled from parents for the current year m 197/17/6, compared with £B9/3/- lor the previous year. This is largely due to the very helplTJ co-operation or the teachers in the various schools and to the publicity given Io the committee’s, activities bv the local' Press. There was one change in the staff oi the Clinic during the year, Miss Lavcombe replacing Miss Wallace, wuo was transferred to Cheviot. The following figures indicate the extent, of the valuable work done' during Inc year; —l934, 7.558 operations; 193 b, 6,220 operations; 1936, 4,407 operatons; 1937, 5,882 operations; UoB, 10,745 operations; 1938, 10,745 operations; 1939 (nine months ended December 31), 7,287 operations; year ended December 31, 1939, 10.359 °P£F" ations (including 6,856 fillings, 625 extractions, and 2,878 miscellaneous operations). Treatment was given *-0 1,700 completions, made up from the following school's: Grey Main 696, Cobden 142, Kaiata 42, Barrytown 66, Punakaiki 2, Blaketown 179, Marist and Convent 442. Cobden Convent 99. Paroa 10, Camerons 17, pre-school 5, total 1,700. Splendid progress was made bv the staff during the year In overtaking the previous arrears or work and as a result it was found possible' to admit the Paroa and Camerons schools. Offers have aso been made to Marsden and Boddytown schools to extend the treatment their pupils. In October it was) found possible to make it public thar treatment was available at the Clinic for pre-school' age children. It D with regret that We record the resignation of Mr. R. B. Stevenson, the secretary of the committee. During the short period he occupied the position of secretary Mr. Stevenson gavr splendid service to the work of the dental clinic, and the thanks of members and of parents are due to ''him for his sterling services. At Mr. Stevenson’s request Mr. C. F. Shapcott was appointed secretary in his place. Mr. J. C. H. McDonald, for many years secretary of the committee, agreed to accept the office of president. vacated by Mr. Shapcott. Dur-

ing the year th c exterior of the Clinic building was painted by the Canterbury Education Board and the building now presents a -very pleasing appearance inside and outside. It is \ <lisfactory to record that the caid sys tern is working smoothly and considerably facilitates I’ie working of the committee’s financial records. It is desired to express the thanks of the committee to the teachers concerned in the various schools for their untiring efforts in the collection of the levies and, as well, to Mr. Hyde Herring for his services as honorary auditor. It is desired to again impress upon parents that the annual slim asked from them is entirely in the nature of a registration levy and should not in any sense be considered to be in any respect payment for the work done. The amount required

from parents by the committee to meet its obligations is trivial, but the additional work caused to the secretary and to the teachers by its nonpayment each vear is considerable. All parents are, therefore, urged ■to co-operate with the committee' in the very excellent work done at the Clinic and to show their appreciation of this by an early and prompt payment of the registration levy. In conclusion we wish to thank the members of the committee for their neip during the year. The report was adopted. The balance-sheet showed that levies collected amounted to £97/17/6Clinic expenses had been £27/7/3, payments to the Health Department £5O, committee expenses £B/13/4, and the balance in hand was £3/2/-. Liabilities included outstanding lev es £43/1/6, and assets amounted to £45/11/-, leaving a surplus of £2/9/6.

The secretary stated that the committee has improved their financial position by £lO/5/- during the year. The balance-sheet was adopted ox; the motion of Messrs Carroll and Patterson. The following officers were elected: Chairman, Mr. A M. Carroll; Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. C. F. Shapcott. Mrs. Strong reported that the number of children under treatment at December last was 949, made up ai I follows:—Blaketown 128, Cobden 111, Grey Main 362, Kaiata 22. Barrytown 12. Camerons 17. Cobden Convent So, Grey Convent 240, Paroa 12, Pui-.u-kaiki 2, pre-school age 8-

Mr. McDonald tendered his resignation as chairman, but was prevailed upon to retain his membership or the committee. He moved that a donation be forwarded to Mr. H. Herring, who had audited the comnvltee’s books without charge for many years. Mr. Patterson seconded the motion, and suggested giving a to Mr. Shapcott for his valuable work in Iho past, both suggestions being adoptedThe Secretary said he thought it fitting that Mr. Herring should “be given something tangible in recognition of his work. Mrs. Strong stated that treatment had not been offered to the Marsuer. School. t

Mr. Shapcott suggested that FatherLong should bring another repress!!tative of the Catholic schools to the committee. A suggestion by Father Long that the age limit for treatment, past the fourth standard, be raised, was answered by Mrs. Strong, who saidthat if a child passed into the fifth standard before it reached the age of 11 years and four months, it was still able to secure treatment during that vear. Votes of thanks were accorded Mr. McDonald for his work for the committee, and to the officer in charge and the Dental Nurse.