SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 77, 26 February 1930, Page 8

SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC

EXTENSION OF FACILITIES. ' MONEY TO BE RAISED. A unanimous decision to co operate in raising monoy for tho erection of a large and up-to-dato dental clinic in Palmerston North for the use of town and country school children, was arrived at by a meeting of school committeo representatives from Palmerston North and district last evening. It will bo necessary to secure between £IOOO and £I2OO to gain tho Government subsidy of £IOOO, tho cost of a site being estimated at £SOO, and of e c ing a building £ISOO. There were thirty - six present at tho meeting, the schools being represented: ’ Ashhurst, Pohangina, Linton Newbury, Tearakura, Bainosso, Kelvin Grove, Allison, Hiwini, Opiki, Whakarongo, Bunnythorpo, Convent, Torraco End, Hflkowhitu, Central, Russell Street, West End, Aokautcrc and College Street. Mr L. Whitehead presided. . , . Tho chairman said that a promise had been given by tho Minister of Health that a central clinic would bo granted provided that it could be established on lines that would cater for all eligible chiklron in the district.' It had also been stated that the Goverrimcnt would allow a £2 for £1 subsidy 0(i money raised lor tho purposo of securing or erecting a suitable building. The school committees concerned would bo required to raise about £IOOO, and ways and means of s c cur '"& this sum would have to be considered, present clinic, at Central School, had proved a great benefit to children in town sc 6°°‘ 3 > but there was a groat need to extend the service to children attending country schools. Hr Whitehead urged immediate action by tho school committees. It a clinic could bo established on the lines suggested, four trained nurses would bo available, who could attend to about 3000 children. It was estimated that tho central clinic would bo able to cope with tho childr nrmfy ewontto etaoinshrdluetaom children from twenty-six schools. Mr W. B. Cameron said that consideration had boon given to what would happen to tho present clinic, which had been serving tho town schools so well. It was realised, however, that a central clinic would bo of greater service to tho majority, and tho action of tho Central School Committee in joining up witn the main movement had been praiseworthy. It would bo necessary to purchase a site, tho freehold of which would bo handed over to tho Education Department. An estimate of the cost of a suitable property was £SOO. The approximate cost of a building, with conveniences and facilities for four nursos, was £ISOO, of which the Government would find £IOOO. Thus the school committees would have to raiso between £IOOO and £I2OO which was not a heavy burden, considering the number ot schools that would benefit. In all, about 3500 city children and 1500 country children could be catered for. As a suitablo moans of raising the required sum, Mr Cameron suggested a queen carnival among the schools, to be followed by a big function at tho Showgrounds. With the requisite enthusiasm, this should result in the raising of between £6OO and £BOO. Other schools had raised from £2OO to £250 by this and there was. no reason why it should not prove a success. The balance of tho money required could bo secured by a series of concerts, arranged on the competitive principle. The town schools wero unanimous in their desire for a largo clinic, and intended approaching the Minister to have tho present clinic abolished and a central one created, which would serve all the needs of tho wholo district. It was essential for tho country schools to co-operato, and thus give country children benefits equal to thoso received by town children. MINISTER’S PROMISE. Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., said that ho was pleased to bo associated with tho movement. When in Palmerston North tho Minister of Health had expressed himsolf as being sympathetic with tho proposals put bofore him, and subsequont to that tho speaker had * boon in communication with him to havo a dofinito promise placed on record in tho Minister's department. In reply to a letter setting out the proposals inado and the promises given, the Minister had replied stating tho position as follows :-r“That tho site bo secured and handod over to tho Education Board; that funds bo raised for tho erection of the building and that tho amount bo subsidised £2 for £1 by the departmentthat providing the local committeo carries out its part, arrangements will be made for the opening of the clinic in March or April, 1931.” Tho Minister had added that, subsequent to tho meeting, arrangements would bo mado for tho director of dental hygiene (Colonel Hunter) to visit Palmor3ton North and discuss tho matter with the committee. Referring to tho site, Mr Nash explained that it would bo necessary to purchaso tho land and hand it over to tho department, otherwise no subsidy could be allowed for building purposes. He added that ho had always advocated that country children should receive the samo treatment as town children, and if tho. suggestions wero carried out country children would be able to receive free dontal treatment before tho middlo of next year. The A. and P. Association had granted tho free use of the Showgrounds . for tho concluding function of the carnival suggested by Mr Cameron. Mr Allwright (Opiki) pointed out that Palmerston North was on tho border lino between the Wellington and Wanganui education districts, and if tho scheme was to bo drawn up on the linos suggested there were at least two schools that would not be able to participate in tho benefits, though they were within a dozen miles of the town.

Mr Nash said that the agreement that would be drawn up would embrace all schools in the district.

Replying to a question, tho chairman said that tho treatment started with infants and continued up to the fourth standard.

A country school representative, in thanking the town schools for the impetus they had givon the movement, asked whether tho site would be handed over to tho department free of cost. The chairman roplied in the affirmative as only on these conditions would a subsidy bo allowed. Mr Nash said that it was unnecessary to go in for an elaborate building for a start and additions mado nccossary by increased attendance at a later stage would bo carried out by the Government. SUPPORT FROM COUNTRY.

Mr T. Lynch (Linton) said that lie felt assured that tho hnancial support of tho ruuntry districts would be readily forthcoming. Ho considered tho suggestions put forward for tho raising of the money to bo very sound in all respects, and he gave his committee’s assurance 0f... assistance. Mr Brewer (Ashhurst) said that it took tho wholo time of two nurses to cope with the needs of the town children at present. How were four nurses going to handle twenty-six schools? Mr Cameron said that there were over 3000 town children and it was anticipated that a central scheme would embrace between 1200 and 1500 country children. On these figures four nurses should be adequate for a start. Mr Blaxall said that tho Bunnythorpo children were receiving attention at the Fcilding clinic, and as they wore receiving excellent treatment ho considered it unlikely that a change would bo made. This was not to say, however, that assistance would not be given to the Palmerston North movement.

Mr Mayes considered it was unfair for treatment to ceaso at Standard IV. By this system tho bright child was penalised. A child should, in his opinion, receive treatment while ho attended the school. Mr Cameron said that tho Director of Dental Hygiene had stated that this was duo to a dearth of nurses. It waa his hope to make dental treatment available for all schools. Another anomaly that existed was where a railway employeo was transferred from a district to whero thcro was no clinic to a town where thoro was one. His children might bo in Standard I. and would thus bo deprived of dental atton‘T country member said this anomaly had a wider application. At his school only two children would bo eligible to receive tr jh? e chairm»n said the clinic scheme was

in its infancy, and to start it was essentia to take tho younger children and follow them through school to Standard IV. As moro nursos becamo available tho service would no doubt bo oxtended. Mr Nash said that tho first essential was to get tho clinic established. Palmerston North was fortunate in securing a promiso of two moro nurses, as there wore only 30 trained each year. Tho Minister was continually being "badgered for nurses, and it was found impossible to copo with tho requirements of all tho children of tho Dominion. Tho first move should bo to get the clinic established and then any anomalies could be remedied.

Mr W. K. Wood (Whakarongo) mived that tho country schools as a wholo join up with tho town schools in tho schemo put forward, and express their thanks to tho town committees for tho •pioneering work done.

Tho motion was. seconded by Mr Thomas (Tearakura) and carried.

It was also agreed, on tho motion of Mr Nash, that Colonel Hunter be invited to a subsequent meeting of all school committees, and that £ committee, comprising tho chairmen of the town committees, bo set up to formulato a concrete schemo for consideration. Mr Whitehead said that no action would be taken until tho scheme was discussed a jm approved at tho next meeting. Ho added that there wero several schools in tho district that wore not represented at the mooting, and stressed the point that it was not necessary to belong to the association to participate in tho schemo. All school committees wero invited to bo present.

The meeting concluded with supper and votes of thanks to tho chairman and Mr JNasn.