"Through a Back Door"

NZ Truth, Issue 979, 30 August 1924, Page 1

"Through a Back Door"

The Dental Bill now before Parliament has been the subject of some representations to "Truth" by. a member of the New Zealand Dental Association; who supports the Association's stand against the Bill's proposal to provide a fresh examination (under he direction of the Minister for Health) m addition to the examination (under the University Senate) that was provided by the 1921-22 legislatioh .as a means of giving dental mechanics an opportunity to qualify as dentists. The argument on the Association's side is that those dental mechanics— said to be less than forty m number^— who failed to qualify m the examination provided by the Act of 1921-22 are not now entitled — having regard' to the public interest — to another and easier examination (with a partial pass system). Our Informant adds that, m drafting the legislation of 1921-22, Mi*. Parr, the then Minister for Health, promised, that such.- 'a qualifying opportunity would be provided for the last time; yet ln 1924 another Minister for" Health, Dr. Pomare, , disregards that Ministerial promise and opens the door m a manner that is deemed to be still more prejudicial to a high standard of dentistry (and therefore to the public interest). In support of the above representations Is forwarded to "Truth" a statement by Dr. Plckerill (head of the Dental School m Dunedin) denying the allegation of dental mechanics (those -behind the Bill) that the examination held under the legislation of 1921-22 was unfair as to range of subjects and character of questions. Prom Dr. Pickerill's statement we condense the following sentences: • f We (the examiners) realise we were placed m the position of guarding the public health m that It was our duty to see that no one was allowed to practise on the public whose practical knowledge of operative and mechanical dentistry did not warrant it, and candidates stood or fell by the lack or Otherwise of this knowledge. Not one single candidate was failed because of his lack of theoretical

knowledge only. As a matter of fact, tho Board of Examiners was, for the most part, agreeably surprised at the character of the theoretical knowledge displayed^, It is, however, of course necessary that a -man should have a thorough Knowledge of the theory underlying the practical application of his work. ... Some of the candidates were very bbvlously lacking m general education, even of certificate of proficiency standard, whilst others quite as obviously, and contrary to their statements, had had no experience m operative dentistry. There are 120 students at the Dental School undergoing the four yeara' training demanded by law, and, naturally, they are feeling extremely bitter that others who have riot complied with the law are . now having a further chance of

becoming registered dentists by a short gut through a back door. Gentlemen, I think it Is the duty of Parliament to keep faith with those 120 students.