THE DENTAL SCHOOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16964, 28 March 1917, Page 8

THE DENTAL SCHOOL

MINISTER'S STATEMENT CJHAUxENGED. EEPLY BY ACTING DIRECTOR. Mr 0. Y. Daviea, acting director of tho Otago University Dental School, has* forwarded to the Hon, G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health, the following letter in reply to tho statements made by tho Ministur at Wellington;—

In tho daily presa on March 24, 1917, whon speak, ng of the dentistry profession, N y°u are credited with making tho following statement: "It is with great surprise that I have learned that the number presented for examination under tho Dentists Act during tho last six years i 3 only one." 1 "would fain believe that you havo boen misrepdrtod, as tho following will show how tar the facts oro other than those published:— The Dentists Amendment Acts, 1910, 1911, allowed certain men to register utter passing an examination by a special board. During the last six years 32 men presented themselves for cocamtnation under ttheso Acts, and were registered, threo of whom obtained their tram.ug in America. The Dent is t3 Act was opened to admit theso men, who otherwise would havo had to pass through tho collego. .this, I submit, deprived tho oolioge of a large number of students. Tho following liavo obtained the degree of B.D.S. in the last six years:— Messrs Hercus, Hansen, Turner, I'otter, Saunders, Seed, Sucking, Bull, Rattray, . Green, Don, Rose, Small, Burtenaliaw, and Dodds —a total of 15. Two men obtained registration by reason of British qualifications. This will explain to you where tho 4flj;new dont.sts starting in New Zeauuid m the last six years have como from, hot, as ycru ore reported as saying, lrom the Ainereah colleges. /

You are also reported as stating that "it is clear that trie method of training dontists in New Zealand, as shown by tho experience of tho last sx years, has proved a colossal failure, and cannot be allowed to continue." That such is not tho case tho following facts will prove: —Mr Saunders, 8.D.5., now Major Saunders, was appointed soon aftor ho was through to the position of: dental surgeon in charge of tho Christchurch Dental Hospital. He lelt on the outbreak of tho war, and joined tho fighting forcos; and immediately Mr Rattray, 8.D.5., was appointed to fill tho position. Messrs Green and Don were completing their studies when tho war broke out, and immediately on passing their examination ■were given dental commissions with the Expeditionary Forces. Lieutenant 801 lis also with tho Dental Corps in camp. That men so soon after graduation can tako up such positions proves that the training has not been a "colossal failure."

So that we must look elsewhere for the cause of the shortage of students, and find the remedy. The remedy is clear. Make available to dental students bursaries such as are proposed to bo given to medical students, .or such as aTe given to I home scionco students and teacher students attending tho Training College, There would then be a sufficient number of students to maintain the high sbaiLthtrd and efficiency now being demanded by, and necessary to, the public; and the profession would not be handicapped by an imperfect training. As your reported statement has been publ'shod throughout the dominion, in fairness to tho Dental School I Jropose ti> hand v a copy of-.this ■ letter to the press, so thai it may receive ithe same publicity.