DENTAL PROBLEM

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1935, Page 6

DENTAL PROBLEM

FIT OF PLATE IN QUESTION. PRACTITIONER SEEKS PAYMENT. A lower plate of false teeth displayed at the Stratford Court yesterday was the feature of a case in which Ernest P. Pridham, dentist, sought to recover £6 12s from Joseph Sharrock, a relief worker. Sharrock claimed the set had never fitted and was entirely unsatisfactory, while Pridham attributed the looseness of the plate to shrinkage of the gum and the use of a pocket knife on the inside of the plate. Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., found that Sharrock must pay the £6 12s claimed, plus £3 8s costs. Mr. S. Macalister conducted Pridham’s case. Pridham said that when Sharrock first approached him on June 16 he had no teeth in the top gum but eight in the lower. Sharrock was quoted £l2 12s for the extractions and making of top and bottom sets of teeth in first grade material. The price was accepted and Pridham extracted the bottom teeth. Sharrock returned at the beginning of September to have the impression taken. Pridham told him that though his gums had healed well, the usual time had not elapsed by about two weeks, so that shrinkage might easily interfere with the fitting of the set and make remodelling necessary. Sharrock said he was troubled with indigestion and would take the risk of having the lower set in before the usual three months had expired. The teeth were fitted on September 5, when Sharrock paid £5. He had already paid a deposit of £l, leaving the balance of £6 12s, which he promised to pay at the rate of £1 a month. Sharrock came back after two to three weeks, complaining that the lower plate was hurting him. Witness made an adjustment and refitted the plate, which Sharrock then said was all right. In November Sharrock’s daughter called and said her father would pay when he was satisfied with the set. Sharrock called later and Pridham found he had been wearing the plate, though Sharrock denied having been able to wear it. Shrinkage of the gum had occurred, but in addition the inside of the plate had been scraped with a pocket knife. No dentist ever touched the inside of a plate; all adjustments were made on the outside. Pridham explained that he could not be held responsible for the shrinkage or the knife work and said the only thing to do was to remodel the plate. . The usual charge was £3 10s, but Pridham offered, as Sharrock had had hard luck, to do the work for £2. Sharrock agreed and said Pridham had better remodel the top plate too. As Sharrock had never complained about the top Pridham examined it and found it was fitting perfectly—so well that he told Sharrock he could not improve on its fit. Sharrock became annoyed and said if Pridham would not give satisfaction he would not pay. Pridham told Sharrock that he would not do any more to the set till he was paid. The magistrate suggested to Sharrock that his best policy would. be to the remodelling done. Sharrock: What, and pay another £2? I could have got a cheaper and better set from another dentist. I’m on the unemployed and I cannot afford to waste my money. I scraped up enough to pay for the set but I am not going to pay when the teeth are not satisfactory. •‘I fear I shall have to give judgment against you,” the magistrate replied. GENERAL ITEMS Prohibition Order. On the grounds of excessive drinking and waste of estate, a prohibition order was made at the Stratford Court yesterday against Alfred J. Emeny on the application of his wife. Inter-Club Croquet.

In a challenge match for the Tait Stars on Tuesday the Stratford Croquet Club retained the trophies by nine points from Hawera Park. Mesdames Exley and Murray (Park) 26 defeated Mesdames Moon and Weston (Stratford) 24 and Miss Tait and partner (Park) 15 lost to Mesdames Short and Butchart (Stratford) 26. The lawns were in good condition and the games were evenly contested.

Decrease in Unemployed. A decrease in the number of unemployed at Eltham has been recorded within the past fortnight.- On February 5 the total was 62, but yesterday the number was only 48. Next week six more will be on the list making a total of 54. Eltham Scout Returns.

Scout Rob. Ward has returned from the Melbourne centenary Scout jamboree after being delayed several weeks owing to illness. He is now fully recovered Ordered to Maintain Wife.

William G. Gooch, farm hand at Toko, was sentenced by the Stratford Court yesterday to one month’s imprisonment for, failing to maintan his wife and two children, the warrant to be suspended as long as he paid current maintenance at the rate of £3 a month and 4s a month off the arrears, the first payment to be made on March 20.

Fire Brigade and Band. The members of the Stratford Fire Brigade who are to compete at the demonstration of the New Zealand Fire Brigades’ Association at Blenheim at the end of the month are fast developing into well knit teams that should have every chance of bringing trophies back to Stratford. The men have been training assiduously and have been returning times that promise to keep the Stratford competitors up with the best. At the same time the Municipal Band is concentrating on the scores to be played at the Taranaki bands’ contest at Stratford next month. Civil Judgments.

Judgment was given plaintiffs by default in the following undefended civil cases heard at the Stratford Court yesterday by Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M.: Masters Ltd. v. C. E. James, £2B 12 4d (costs £4 Is 6d); C Lamplough v. A. Olson, £4 10s 2d (£1 5s 6d); executors of Hannah Gorrie v. K. G. Mackay, £37 16s 6d (£4 Is 6d).