A YEAR OF PROGRESS

Hutt News, Volume 6, Issue 49, 16 May 1934, Page 8

A YEAR OF PROGRESS

FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT The fifth annual report of the Petono Dontal Clinic states that the past year had been a very successful ono and had seen a considerable increase in tlio number of children attending the clinic. It is most gratifying to sco that parents are realising more and more each year what benefits are to be obtained by having their children attending' the clinic. The present roll is now approximately 500, consisting of children from each of the live Petone schools i.e., Contra!, West, Wilford, Convent, and I Koro Koro, also large numbers of younger children who aro not yet attending school. In order to assist the committee financially and to maintain the roll number to ensure constant attendance of the nurse, the Director of Dental Hygiene has decided that in future no more children from Petone will be accepted for treatment at the Wellington clinic. As the financial period of those i at present receiving treatment at Wclj lington expires they will be transferred to Petone. Already a number of children have been transferred anl ihc coining- year should see a considorabJo increase in the roll in this rospecr. This is a step in tlio right direction and we have to tender our thanks to tho I.V rector for the taken up. During the year a sub-base of the Pi 1 ouo clinic was ope u d at Eastbourne and Nurse Grocott was absent tor/about eight weeks. The abscnco of the nurse for this period did not effect (he working of the Petone Clinic in any way and your committeo is pleased to see Eastbourne brought into lino with other centres. The establishment of (his clinic at Eastbourne does not affect the commit lee in any respect, the working of the clinic being carried out by a committee at Eastbourne. Nurse Grocott is still in charge of the clinic and we desire to extend to her our sincere thanks and appreciation for the splendid manner in which she has carried out her duties during the past year. Nurse Grocott has carried out her duties in a most faithful and conscientious manner and the committc is fortunate in having such a courteous and efficient nurse in charge of the clinic. Tin expenses incurred I in the upkeep of the clinic are slightly lower than the previous year. This was brought about by the absence of the nurse at Eastbourne during which time the clinic was closed. The most gratifying feature of the balance sheet is that your committee has row paid off the arrcar.i owrng to the Department of Health. These arrears were brought about by an unexpected change in the policy of the Department some two and a half years ago whereby a charge of £30 per annum for each nurse was levied on all committees. As your committee had not .sufficient funds at the time to meet this charge and as two nurses were then engaged at Petone, it will be realised the heavy expense the committee were faced with. However by much hard work and a splendid response from parents, the arrears have now been paid off and we are now in the happy position of having a substantial credit balance and no liabilities. The question of a reduction in

the foe paid by parents will require to

■ be dealt with by the incoming committee and if a reduction in the fee can be made it will afford considerable relief to parents. At the present time there are a number of children in arrears with {heir fees and it will be the duly ul' the incoming committee to sec , that these are paid if possible. The meetings of the committee were held monthly, and the attendance of members has been excellent. The personnel of the committee for the past past year was as follows: Messrs J. C. Bums (chairman), F. Fairbaim, (secretary), J. Ash, Or. Bevans, W. P. Coles, L. P. Double, A. Fruscr, V .A. Noble, -T. A. Swaysland, W. Taplin and S. G. Townsend. These gentlemen have rendered excellent service to the clinic It is realised that this report would not be complete without reference being made to the work carried out by the headmasters and members of the various school committees. At all times these gentlemen have assisted the committee in the welfare of the clinic, particularly the headmasters in the collection of fees, and it is desired to place on record our appreciation and {hanks for the very valuable assistance so readily given. We also desire to express our thanks and appreciation to tho head teacher and Sisters of the Pctono Convent School for their very helpful efforts 011 behalf of the children attending the clinic from the Convent School. In conclusion your committee desires to express its thanks to the Petone Borough Council for its customary donation to the clinic funds, also to the Petone Chronicle Co for tho publishing of matters of interest to the clinic. For and on behalf of tho committee, J, C. Burns, chairman; G. Fairbaim, Secretary.