DENTAL WORK.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 764, 22 July 1916, Page 13

DENTAL WORK.

NON ASSOCIATION MEN. ALLEGED EXCLUSION. [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 21. In the House of Representatives to-day Mr J. C. Thomson asked the Minister of Defence whether the Defence Department had appointed the New Zealand Dental Association to do the dental work for the troops, and whether dentists who did not belong to the association were debarred from giving their services. He had a letter from a leading dentist in Southland complaining that he was debarred from doing work for the soldiers. He had lost his appointment at the gaol, and was not recognised by the Defence Department as a person qualified to render dental service to the soldiers. He had brought this matter under the notice of the Prime Minister some months ago, and he then stated that he had arranged to see that all dentists, being properly qualified, would be able to obtain a portion of the work. The Hon. Jas. Allen said the arrangement had been made with the New Zealand Dental Association. There was no bar, as far as he knew, to the employment of any dentist. The soldier himself could go to him, although he did not suppose the dental oflicer who was examining the recruits wotdd send the soldier to a man who was not a member of the association.