SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20924, 14 July 1931, Page 10

SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS.

CHARGE ON COMMITTEES. MINISTER DEFENDS POLICY. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] WELLINGTON, Monday. Exception to the additional charge of £3O a nurse that dental clinic committees have been called upon to find to cover the cost of drugs and material was taken by a combined deputation representing three clinics in the Ilutt Valley which waited upon the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, to-day. The Minister stated that the question was one of finance. He would, however, place the representations before the Government. He asked the deputation to appreciate the difficulties of those in rural districts who were not so fortunately placed and had no clinics at all. The country people argued that it- was unfair to establish clinics in and adjacent to cities and towns where professional dentists were available, while the children in the country were without clinics or even the advantage of the professional practitioner. It, would cost £200.000 to make the service available to all children of the age of those treated under the present scheme That, no doubt, would be a splendid investment, but the extension of social services could only be made in the terms of taxation. Those fortunate enough to possess the services should bear a little more of the cost of material so that the department would lie better able to extend the services to those who at present had none. The whole of last year's extensions had to be borne out of the savings and economies in his own department, there being no appropriation at all for that purpose.