DENTAL CLINICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18030, 27 May 1930, Page 6

DENTAL CLINICS.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER. THE MATAMATA CONTROVERSY. AUCKLAND, Tuesday. The recent controversy over matters in connection with the Matamata School dental clinic was referred to yesterday by the Minister of Health, Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, who said there was no foundation for some of the statements that had recently appeared. '■Mr Stallworthy said it was for instance quite incorrect to say that the dental inspector had instructed the clinic nurse to treat children from a private school- No such instruction had been given. As a matter of fact, it was quite inconsistent with the policy of developing the system that any such instruction should be given. The inclusion of any school in a clinic group was a matter for agreement among the local school committees, in collaboration with the Health Department, the Minister of Health allocating the nurses available. Each school in a clinic group contributed a pro rata amount toward capital and incidental working costs of the clinic, such as lighting, laundry and cleaning. The agreement of existing clinic committees was a condition precedent to the inclusion of additional schools in any existing group. Geographical and economic factors had both to be considered in the development of the scheme and sound business practices had to be followed to ensure the widest possible services from the limited number 6f nurses available.