DENTAL SERVICE

Northern Advocate, 18 May 1934, Page 4

DENTAL SERVICE

THE COUNTRY SCHOOLS. (iuoi) work hfixc done. P ROM 1T FA. v:\l EXT ESSENTIAL. Tin 1 ;i Ti nil;i I meeting of I 1m- fflillugurei I'minliy Sehools Dental Commil T t -< • was 1 1 «* 1 (.1 yesterday afternoon, the i-hairmaa, Mr .1. A. Finlayson, presiding, “Nurse .1 ••iikins lias done splendid work. She is popular with the chil-iln-ii, and lias gone mil of her way to make thing's run smoothly and efficiently,’ 1 the report stated. During the year TASS eases, or an average of per month, were treated. Subject to outstanding contributions being paid by school eomniittees, the balanec* sheet showed a eredit of approximately £-U. This matter was stressed in the annua! report, which staled that, owing to the delay in collection of levies, the prompt payment of accounts and general financing of the work was made difficult. Mr Finlayson said the service given, was a valuable one to the community, and as the number of children treated increased, as had been the case this year, the cost per capita fell. Had all levies been paid in at the beginning of the year, it, would have been possible to reduce future calls by an appreciable extent. The secretary said the department had made it clear that in the event of parents not paying the fee of ">/ yearly, the individual school committees were hold responsible for the money. Considering that school committees were not subsidised for dental work, Mrs Markwick considered this unfair. In Kamo, some parents, while refusing to contribute, continued to send their children to the clinic, noi were entertainments to raise funds supported. Finally it was decided that unless 'payment was forthcoming treatment would not be extended. Mr Mellvide said that similar action had been taken at Onerahi. Mr Linnell said that the Poroti .School not only paid the fees of the children for treatment, but also the cost of transportation in respect to Native scholars.

The secretary was instructed to arrange for casual cliiltlron in. isolated areas to be associated with the nearest school.

Eulogistic reference was made to the services given by Miss .1 enkins, who conducts the dental work for the country schools.

The new committee was constituted as follows: —Messrs C. I'. Smith (chairman), A. 0. Russell, W. C. Roll and E. A. Farmer (lion, secretary).