SCHOOL DENTISTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18285, 22 December 1919, Page 6

SCHOOL DENTISTRY.

CHIEF OFFICER APPOINTED. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, December 20. It is understood that tho important position of chief dental officer of the Education Department, in connection with tho now system of school dental inspection and treatment, has been given to Colonel T. A. Hunter, who has been at the head of tho New Zealand Dental Corps, and showed good organising ability in that capacity. The salary is £650 per annum, and there aro several other dental officers to bo appointed at £450 per annum to carry out the scheme. There has been some comment in the dental profession over tho way in which tho dato for closing applications was extended. This enabled Colonel Hunter to put in his application nbout a day after his return to Now Zealand, though there are other dental officers who did not return in time to bo considered. Another ground of criticism is that in spite of tho announcement of tho Public Service Commissioner that the retiring limit of sixty years was to ho strictly enforced in the public service, an officer has now been appointed to an entirely new department whoso ago in February will bo fifty-nine, consequently ho will not have an opportunity of fully completing tho operation of the dental scheme beforo ho is due to retire under the ago limit. When applications were called, it was mentioned as one of tho terms that applicants Vho wore not more than middle-aged would be preferred. Thus tho selection, though not open to objection on tho ground of capability, is criticised because younger mon with military service have been overlooked.