MOBILE DENTAL CLINIC

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 85, 11 April 1935, Page 8

MOBILE DENTAL CLINIC

OPERATIONS OF COMMITTEE SATISFACTION EXPRESSED ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING “What members cl’ my •committee are asking themselves now is: Why didn’t we start years ago?” This was the manner in which, last night, satisfaction was expressed by a delegate to the annual meeting of householders for the purpose of receiving the | yearly report of the Wanganui Mobile j Dental Clinic Committee. The retiring president, Mr. G. IS. Whillans, was in the chair, and there was a large attendance of interested householders. , In presenting the annual report and balance-sheet, covering the period l from September J, 1933, to March 31, . 1935, the executive committee dis- • closed a healthy state of affairs, the - revenue during that period totalling ‘ £561 14s 2d, while after payment of 1 all expenses and other outgoings there ' remained a credit balance of £43 18s lUd. This, the committee considered, indicated that something worth while had been accomplished in the effort to cope with the jerious problem of arresting dental decay. The report cov- , erect the history of the project from the first public meeting to* the end of the financial year. “Amid cheers from enthusiastic people the clinic was officially opened at St- John's Hill on September 8. 1934,” states the report. “The clinic was towed to Maxwell to commence operations there under the supervision of Nurse S. M. Cousins, with the assistance of Nurse Lawson for a period of six weeks, and the whole district has been covered and the second round of revision work and the enrolling ol the pre-school children is well under way. Great credit is due to the nurse? for lhe efficient work done and for the able manner in which they handled the children.'’ Indebtedness was expressed in the report to all those who had assisted i" the venture. “Especially do we wish [ to thank the ‘Wanganui Chronicle’ . for the continued interest sustained by reports and also for receiving donalions for tne committee,” continued j the report. Thanks were also ex- i tended to the W.D.F.U. for use of zooms and financial assistance; to Mr. , K. Hounsell for use of shop for first ' meetings and for the typiste s ser- . vices; to the Education Board per Mr. ; Hodges for interest taken and for as- ' sistance to district committees; t-o Mr, H. Christie, honorary solicitor to the ( committee; io Mr. G. N. Boulton, secretary of the Education Board, for auditing accounts; to district commit- j tees for arrangements for nurses’ com- 1 forts while iu their districts. ( The report also stressed the fact 1 that the service, to be an efficient ‘ one, must be supported by the par- 1 ents who must realise their responsibility in this matter. Concluding, ihe .report said: “Your committee has t much pleasure in handing over a wellorganised system of dental treatment, I a freehold clinic and a substantial t credit balance,” 1 The report was adopted amid loud .< applause, £ In a tribute to th.- work of the r honorary secretary, Mr. F. Pritchard, the suggestion was made that he be [ voted an honorarium for his services, f but this Mr. Pritchard declined, saying that it was with him a labour of lose. He was accorded a very hearty c vote of thanks. j The constitution of lhe committee s permits of fifteen members being ( elected, or appointed as follows:—(a) Al least one member to be appointed by each school committee or district dental clinic committee of the schools served by the Denial Clinic, save that any school committees of small schools may by arrangement jointly appoint ■ one member on the Dental Clinic Gommittee; (b) the Dental Clinic Cora- 1 mittee shall have power to co-opt representatives of local bodies or other i organisations or other persons, male or a female whose presence is desired on I the committee provided always that : the total membership of the committee does not exceed fifteen. The general committee was set up as t follows: Messrs. F. Johnston (Turakina), J. M. Gohns (Wangaehu), H. t R. Morgan (Fordelh, W. Roache (Kai- f toke) W. S. Dennis (Durie Hill), W. a Ford J (Makirikiri), M. Laird est- \ mere), W. J. Cooper (Rapanui), J. H. i Goody (Kai Iwi), J. Brownlie wick), N. Hughes (Maxwell), W • J- t McKnio-ht (Nukumaru); representa- [ lives Ji' the W.D.F.U. and Women’s t Institute, Mi's. Wickham and Messrs. | G. Whillans, F. Pritchard and Rule, v the last four being co-opted. t A hearty vote of thanks was ac- i I corded the outgoing executive on lhe r motion ul Mr. K. H. Hounsell, who t said that, on many occasions they had worked twenty-four hours a day. the f motion was carried with acclamation. t The work of the nurse, Miss fa. VV. j. Cousins, was eulogised by various { speakers, who referred in terms of , high praise to the manner nt which sd had ensured the efficient operation of the service. z-.- -.-o In returning thanks, Miss ousl . I stated that it. had been a delight U i work with the iincst and most enthusiastic committee in New’ Zealand, while ihe hospitality of the people with whom she had come tn contact t was a revelation. v Supper was provided by the ladies c who were accorded a hearty vote o t thanks, with musical honours. h At a meeting of the committee held later the executive elected consisted e nf Messis. Whillans (chairman), v Hughes, Johnston, Laird and Pritchard 1 ihon. secretary). *