HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S REPORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3829, 9 August 1928, Page 4

HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S REPORT.

MR, LINKLATER’S VIEWS. ■When speaking on the report of the Health Department Mr. Linklater (Manawatu), said: I wish to say that I also had the privilege of listening to the lecture given this morning by Dr. Blackmore and I desire to join with other members in thanking the doctor for his very flue lecture. We all recognise the very great manacc that tuberculosis is in this country to-day, hut we also realise the great and important work “that the doctors of New Zealand are doing in their endeavours to combat the disease. The question of the establishment of dental clinics has been strongly urged this afternoon, and it does not seem necessary for me to enlarge upon what has already been said; but I do want to point out that as far as Manawatu is concerned, very little attention has been paid by the Government to the necessity of something in that direction being done in the electorate. Although we have had the advantage of several visits to the schools by Dr. Gunn, and we appreciate the good work done in that connection, we unfortunately have no clinic at all. I think it will be agreed by lion, members that it is absolutely necessary for the Government to provide for the establishment of dental clinics in the country districts to a greater extent tlian has been the case in the past. In Levin there is a school of 800 children and the people of the town and surrounding country districts have done a great deal of work in providing the necessary service on their own account. They have paid for the services of a well qualified dentist and ho has done remarkably good work during the last few years; but surely it is only fair to expect that a dental clinic should be established for the bcne- ' fit of the children which could supply the necessary service for those in the district extending as far north as Shannon and as far south as Paekakariki. I am sure after what has been said this afternoon the Minister will realise the very great need that exists of extending to the country the same privileges that the town enjoys. Of course I realise that in the towns the teeth of the children are in a worse state than those in the country, but at the same time it is just as necessary that the teeth of the children in the country should receive proper attention. It is recognised that a great deal of the illness in the homes is due to the state of the teeth and therefore I hope the Minister will extend to the people in the country districts those privileges which the people in the towns enjoy. Lagree with those who contend that the feeling is growing throughout the country

districts that we are being overburdened with increased hospital taxation, and the responsibility so far as providing the necessary finance is concerned is not equitable; but at the same time the money has to be found. The County Councils have found that the hospital rate has been growing at an alarming extent year after year, and in the case of the Manawatu County Council the hospital rate has doubled during the last couple of years. The result is that the roads of the county have to be starved to a great extent in order to provide the necessary finance in other directions. I therefore think the time has arrived when some other provision should be made for supplying the necessary finance for the hospitals of this Dominion.