WOMEN DENTISTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16335, 26 January 1921, Page 7

WOMEN DENTISTS.

WORK IN THE SCHOOLS. GOVERNMENT’S SCHEME CRITICISED. Members of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board today criticised the Government’s proposal to appoint women, after two ; years’ training, to do dental work in j schools. 'fhe question was brought, up by a letter from the.Otago Hospital and 1 Charitable Aid Board, which stated | that only fully qualified persons should be appointed to carry out the scheme i for dental work in schools. Mr G- Horrell said that it was unfair to allow women with only two years’ experience to deal with children’s teeth. Mr F. Burgoyne said that the board was being asked to take sides with the Dental Association. The association { wished to prevent women from enter- | ing the dentists’ profession. The sum**I attitude had been taken up by the legal i and medical professions. The chairman (Air H. J. Gilev) said that ho and the chairman of the Hospital Committee had written to the being employed in State dental work, as it would lower the standard of skill. Mrs Wilson said that a. woman had r.s much right as a man had to train for the work, hut women should go tlirough tlie same term of training as tho men went through. AVith that reservation she agreed with the Dental i Association. Air H. B. Sorensen said that It was j not, a sex question. Everybody admitted. that women were as capable as ! men. if they had the same training. The chairman said it was desirable i to have the highest possible skill in j dental work. The Government in taking up tho attitude that women could j be 'turned out as trained dentists in two years because. ihev were Govertidangerons precedent. The Hon R. Moore said that he did not agree with the chairman. The Government’s scheme was like giving first aid in a case if accident. It was proposed to have preliminary dental work datio by women and to leave major operations to fully qualified dentists. In the interests of th© children they should receive attention from women with two years* training, as there were not sufficient fully trained dentists to attend to the children. Mr F. G. Norton said that there was much difficulty in getting dentists to attend at schools. He supported the were quite able to do preliminary Air F. Storey said that he did not -ipnrov© of the Government’s scheme. Air A. Smith, said that ho approved of tho chairman’s letter to the Government. and Mr AY J. AA’alter said that he also endorsed the chairman’s action. Tho chairman said that- in his letter he protested against the general pm- ! ployment of women ns dentists in j schools, with onlv two years’ train- < ing. * i The letter from the. Otago Board was i received and the chairman’s action was i endorsed.