DENTAL CONFERENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 August 1934, Page 5

DENTAL CONFERENCE

OPENED AT AUCKLAND PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND,'TiIIs Day. Over eighty dentists from all parts of New Zealand are attending the 26th annual conference of the Dental As* sociation, which after executive business yesterday was formally opened today by the Mayor. In the course of his presidential address, Dr K. 0. Morepth, of Wellington , said a problem that must be grappled with in the near future was that of the care of the teeth of children whose parents were unable to pay the usual fees. Most dentists unostentatiously did a fair amount of such work, but the problem called for some concerted auction. The State dental service did not solve the problem. It was a fact that the children of many indigent people were placed oh a waiting list from six or twelve months before they received treatment. One reason for the delay was that children attending secondary schools and the children of well-to-do people attended the State, service. That was not the fault of the officers of the service, but unfortunately they were not able to refuse to attend children of such people. .

“I contend”, added Mr Morepth, “that the Government should legislate to prevent this injustice to the necessitous classes, and I cannot understand why some of the so-called humanitarians in Parliamet do not take steps to remedy this improper state of affairs.”