SUPPLY OF DENTISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16903, 16 July 1918, Page 4

SUPPLY OF DENTISTS.

ENCOURAGING STUDENTS. BURSARIES SUGGESTED. [BT telegraph—press ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Monday. The shortage of dental students was brought before the notice of Ministers by a deputation to-day. Mr. T. K. Sidey, M.P., said that while the authorities should have regard for the future there should bo no lowering of the standard to meet the deficiency. He thought that.to adopt the suggestion that there should be dental institutions in all four centres would be a retrograde step, and to his mind the best solution of the shortage would be to offer bursaries.

Mr. N. Mitchell, president of the New Zealand Dental Association, said that it was estimated that the dental profession should be recruited by 20 students a year. It was recommended, therefore, that there should be 20 bursaries of £20 each, allotted each year for the Dental School at Dunedin, with the addition of fees and an extra £30 for any student who had to live away from home. In return for this State assistance it was suggested that, on the completion of the fourth year's training, students should enter into an agreement to do dental service for the State on terms to be arranged. After other speakers had given their views, Sir James Allen said that the bursary scheme must be considered by Cabinet before an announcement could be made. If the Otago school was full there might be something to be said for the institution of schools in other centres, but p.t present there was no need for this step to bo taken.

The Hon. G. W. Russell said he could not support a policy which would concentrate all dental training in Dunedin. He remarked that a good dental clinic had been established at the . Auckland Hospital, and suggested that it was possible to have the earlier part of the training done away from Dunedin. He hoped the sequel to the State bursaries would be a system of State dentists for the benefit of all children.

The Hon. A. M. Myers and Hon. J. A. Hanan adopted a sympathetic attitude towards the deputation's suggestion.