I—7.

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11. Do you not propose to permit that- could not that be done under the present law?— No. Such a matter would be referred to one of the Examining Boards —there are two of them —and they might examine or not as they thought fit. The Wellington Board has never refused examination. A Danish lady came here, and we offered to permit her to sit for examination, but she did not. 12. How about those coming from other colonies —do you think they should be placed on the same footing? —I think it is altogether a matter of reciprocity. If we can put our dental laws on such a footing as to obtain reciprocal treatment from another State, then I think that dentists who have qualified in that State should be admitted; but, as I say, I think it is a matter of reciprocal treatment. 13. Where you found that another State admitted our dentists you would grant reciprocity, and in other cases would give them examination? —Yes, or block them altogether. It would depend upon their qualification. 14. Have you any objection to the performing of extractions only being excluded- —would you allow such people as chemists to perform simple extractions without being registered as dentists? — I think it need not be mentioned in the Act at all. These people would do extractions just the same as they do now. We see no objection to it. In fact, in many country places it is absolutely necessary. There may be a chemist there, and no one other than him who could possibly give relief. I think it would be wise to continue that. 15. It has been suggested that medical practitioners should be excluded. What is your opinion about that? —I do not think they should. They are not excluded in the Home-country. They have a right to practise there, and I think they should have it here. The day will come when they will not have that right. They cannot call themselves dentists in England, though they can practise. 16. You see no objection to their being allowed to register? —No. 17. Hon. Sir J. G. Ward.] Do you suggest, Mr. Hoby, that in this legislation those who are entitled to extract teeth only should be regarded as dentists, without there being any distinction between them and the dentists who practise every branch of the profession ? —I think they should be left just as they are. Ido not think they should have the right to call themselves dentists. 18. There is a number of people quite well known throughout the colony who are now extracting teeth. They put a signboard up and call themselves dentists, though they are not dentists at all? —They are acting in defiance of the law. I think that if this were the first Dental Act these people should be permitted to enter; but they have been practising in defiance of the law which has been in existence twenty-three years, and it seems hard that they should be allowed to enter now —in fact, so strong was the feeling at the meeting last Tuesday night that the dentists said that if these unregistered men were to be allowed to enter they would sooner the whole Act was dropped, because they thought it would be an act of unfairness to those who had gone through the curriculum. 19. You are a member of the Dental Board of the colony?— Yes. 20. 1 would like you to give the Committee your opinion upon the general question of the admission of all dentists in the colony under this legislation, if it be passed, without their undergoing some further examination for the protection of the public. Is it within your knowledge 'that there are very inferior practitioners carrying on in the colony under the name of dentists? —Yes, there are a good many who have just scraped through, but those who have passed the examination of late years you could not possibly ask for anything else in my view. You might even now say that those who are now registering as students, or those registering within three months back'from the passing of the Act, should be compelled to take the new course. I do not think that would be a hardship, and it would certainly be a benefit. What I mean is this: many now, knowing this Act is coming into force, will apprentice themselves straight away so as to get under cover of the old Act and not come under the more stringent regulations. 21. The public would be justified in assuming that, when this Act was put on the statute-book, those who conformed to the requirements of the law should be superior dentists to those now practising who have not undergone any examination?- Yes, if the Senate has charge of the examination and makes it a good one, and if there is a proper school for teaching, then they certainly will be very much superior. 22. At all events, there is no way that you can suggest by which both the profession and the public may be protected -other than a retrospective examination of those who have qualifiedalthough some have got through very easily in the past?—l think that would be a hardship on those who have qualified under the law as it is. I have never heard of an Act of that kind. 23. With regard to the question of the admission of people from other countries, particularly from the Commonwealth. What about New-Zealanders who have gone to Australia and been students in the different States—there are some I understand who have gone there and got their certificates. W T ould it not be a hardship on New-Zealanders who have got certificates in Australia if we were to exclude them here? 1 mention the matter because it has been brought very prominently before me by a number of New-Zealanders over there, who declare that the Australian examinations are very stringent, compared with the New Zealand ones?— That is so. I think there would be no hardship inflicted if those who had passed the examinations in those places were permitted to come in. I would not advocate the admission of those who are simply registered over there, but I take it you did not mean that ? 24. No? For instance, there is the Victorian examination, which is almost on a par with the English examination ; it is now recognised by England. I think it would be quite right to accept a person who had passed that examination, as a thoroughly qualified man. 25 What about Queensland ?—They have not had an examination there yet, nor have they m New South Wales. South Australia Ido not know about. The Victorian examination is the only one about which I am really informed.