DENTAL PROFESSION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 255, 27 September 1932, Page 3

DENTAL PROFESSION.

NO LEGISLATION THIS YEAR. WELLINGTON, Sept. 27. No attempt will be made by the Government this session to pass the Dentists Amendment Bill which was introduced in the House of Representatives in 1930, but which has not been heard of in Parliament since, although considerable attention to its provisions has been given by members of the profession for some time. The original draft of the Bill was introduced toward the end of the 1930 session, but there was no intention of going ahead with it at that time, the object of introducing the Bill being mainly to liavo it printed and circulated. One of the Bill’s main provisions is for the establishment of a council xvliich would exercise controlling poxvers over the profession in much the same way as the council controlling tire medical profession. It lias been argued that the control vested in the Minister of Health is far too sweeping. At present he is able to order the removal from the register of any dentist guilty of actions considered to xvarrant this step. From this decision a dentist has no appeal, and it is felt that some system of internal disciplinary power should be given to the profession. Some controversy lias arisen within the profession concerning the merits of the present Bill, and it lias been criticised in certain quarters. It has not been decided whether the Bill will be gone on with next session, hut in the meantime it lias been definitely shelved.