CHILDREN'S TEETH

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 129, 3 June 1920, Page 2

CHILDREN'S TEETH

STATE DENTAL TREATMENT .

IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY MINISTER.

An important statement with regard to the inauguration by the Edu.cation Departmnet of dental treatment for school children was made by the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister for Education, to a Times representative ( on Saturday. "Hitherto," said the Minister, "our operations have been confined , to the inspection of the children's1 tf eth by medical officers. . In some schools it was found that the teeth of the children were so bad that not one child in thirty could show a sound: set of teeth. Recently I had the opportunity of watching an inspection in a primary , school by one of the departmental doctors, and some( of the cases of dental neglect re- j vealed were very bad indeed, and indicated only too clearly the necessity for early attention by the State to this fundamenal matter in respect' of "the health of the community. "The Eduction Department has io-day received an intimation that the Public Service Commissioner has appointed Colonel Hunter to be its. chief dental officer. Colonel Hunter will now organise the dental deoart-, ment, and probably about- a dozen dentists will be engaged at once. In- ' deed, I believe the appointments may bo made this week. lam meeting, the chief dental officer to go into the question. . . "I am' keen," stated the Minister , in conclusion^ "to have the children , of the backblock districts get dental J attention as soon m possible, for' dentists are few and far between in j some of these '-'areas. The Govern^ j K:ent is iiow beginning in a modestf way a service- which,, in my judg- i lrvc-nt, will be^of : tlie great-est value"; to'the he/ilth of. the''rising' genera-i tion, and of -'futuro generations i» i ' this country. v The day has gone by ! when the Staite could sifFord to treat j the health and physical well-being' of its young 'people as a negligible ] quantity." ;