WANTED DENTAL CLINIC TO SERVE ALL SCHOOLS

Manawatu Times, Issue 6848, 1 March 1929, Page 8

WANTED DENTAL CLINIC TO SERVE ALL SCHOOLS

Town and Country

SCHOOL COMMITTEES TO APPROACH DEPARTMENT

Members of tho Palmerston North Combined School Committees’ Association at a meeting held last evening were unanimous in their support of a scheme for the establishment in Palmerston North of a central dental clime which will serve both the town schools and those in the country adjacent to Palmerston North.

As the result of the report of a special committee set up to consider tho matter and a general discussion at tho meeting, it was decided to convene a special meeting of representatives from all interested committees when steps will be taken to bring the matter before tho Government by means of a btrong deputation. It was considered that the question of ways and means should be left in the background in the meantime, the first step being to affirm the principle of having a centrally situated clinic which would serve both town and country schools. It was made plain that the facilities and accommodation of tho present clinic at Central school, while sufficient to serve Terrace End, West End, Central, Hokowhitu arid College street could not hope to accommodate children from the country districts and from the new schools at Russell street and Milson.

Last evening’s discussion followed the reading of the report of the special committee set up at the last meeting of the Association, to consider the dental clinic question. The committee met on Wednesday, February 13, and fully considered the matter. There were present at the meeting: Messrs. J. Heatley (Hokowhitu), W. L. Macpherson (Terrace End), Alex. Clark (Central), C. H. Whitehead (West End) and W. B. Cameron (Terrace End).

After a free and full discussion embracing all aspects of the dental clinie requirements for this district, the committee carried the following resolu tion unanimously: ‘‘That in the opinion of this committee, the time is opportune for approaching the department for increased dental clinic facilities and more room. That the establishment of a central group dental clinie in Palmerston North to serve the country schools adjacent to tho town as well as the town schools is much to be desired.”

A further resolution passed by the committee ran: ‘‘That the Association bo recommended to ask the country schools adjacent to Palmerston North to send representatives to tho next meeting of the Association in order to discuss the proposal contained in the previous resolution for the setting, up of a central clinic.”

Finally, the committee recommended that a strong deputation from the As sociation take the first opportunity of bringing this important matter before the Minister of Education and that Messrs. J. A. Nash and J. Linklater, M’s.P., be asked to introduce such a deputation. For Town and District.

In introducing the report, Mr. S. W Oliver (chairman of the Association stated that the clinic was at the Centra] school where it was established rent free, tho only cost being somo £4 or £5 per school for lighting and cleaning. These facilities, however, were far from adequate, the accommodation for parents and the nurses being insufficient. Parents, at present were compelled to wait in a draughty corridor while the nurses had to change into their street clothes in the operating room. Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., at a recent meeting, had said that it was fully time a central clinie was established which could be attended not only by chidren of the five town schools but by children from the country schools adjacent to Palmerston North. Accordingly they were aiming at having a clinie established in a central position in the town with perhaps one or two additional nurses. He thought that all interested school committees would lend their support to the scheme—speaking for College street he could say that they would do so. At present only the five town schools were served and it should be their object to bring in the country as well.

Mr. Alex Clark (Central) stated that he was quite in accordance with the resolutions passed at the special meeting. There was no doubt that if the country schools were brought in, the facilities would not bo sufficient. Also there wore two new schools starting in Palmerston North—Milson and Russell street—and these also would need increased accommodation.

Mr. W. L. Macpherson (TerraccEnd) supported Mr. Clark and suggested that a freehold site be obtained on which the clinie building could be built.

Mr. W. B. Cameron (Terraco End) pointed out that the first step would be to affirm the principle laid down in the committee’s special report of setting up a central clinic which would serve both town and country. Once that was done they could take steps to approach tho Minister of Education and ascertain what support could b? expected.

Mr. Cameron then proceeded to trace the history of the movement for a central clinic. Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., had always been a strong supporter of the proposal and has felt that they could rely on Mr. Nash’s very valuable assistance. Personally, he felt that the Department would see the strengtth of the committee ’s case for a clinic, and if tho matter was laid before tho Minister by a strong deputation, the Government’s support would be ob*ained. General Meeting to be Called. Mr. C. H. Whitehead (West End) strongly supported the previous speakers and stated that the present was the time to set matters moving. The Minister of Education would? be in PalmerNorth at and the