University Commission

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XV, Issue 193, 20 July 1925, Page 5

University Commission

DENTAL TRAINING. 1)1 RECTORS’ RECOMMENDATIONS. Dunedin, July 18. The University Commission resumed this morning. Dr. Pickerill, director of the Dental School, stated that he estimated New Zealand’s requirements at present from 20 to 25 dental graduates annually, but within 20 years we would require to deal with double that number. Instead of a duplicating special schools, he recommended the Education Department to establish bursaries sufficient to cover the travel cost and the incidental expenses of students, non-resident in Dunedin, the bursaries being directly proportionate to distance. Thus North Auckland students might get £5O, and South Canterbury students only £lO. The numerical proportion of staff to students should be one to eight for clinical work, and one to twelve for mechanical work. These requirements might be met partly by the appointment of visiting dentists, which would probably mean the appointment of six lecturers at a salary of £2OO each. When the now dental school building was occupied there would be additional maintenance cost. Last year the school earned over £2OOO in clinical fees, whilst students’ fees were over £3OOO, but even so there was a considerable adverse balance. It was. , therefore, clear that the school needed a generous increase on the £5OO present grant from the Education Department. Dr. Pickerill also stated that it was necessary* to considerably extend research post-graduate work. Also provision was necessary in the new school for training, annually of a small number of girl mechanics. Dr. Pickerill mentioned that it was hoped to institute a public dental service for Dunedin. Groups of students under supervision, and with tho con-1 sent of their employers, to periodically | inspect, chart, and report on the conditions of employees in all large firms. I Tn answer to question. Dr. Pickerill j said that in Britain the proportion of i dental schools to population was ap- I proximately one school to three million people. Tn Australia it was one to two milions, and in New Zealand one to millions, and in Now Zealand one to 1} point nor public finance viewpoint was a second school necessary.