H.—31

Whether the additional centres represented by the above figures can be established and put into operation dnring 1941 will depend upon two factors : (1) The willingness of the local people concerned to undertake the financial obligations connected with the establishment and maintenance of school dental clinics, and (2) the ability of the Department to provide the necessary staff to make good the higher rate of loss through marriage since the outbreak of war, and at the same time build up additional staff for new centres. The latter difficulty can be gradually overcome by means of the increased number of dental nurses that are now being trained. The first factor, however, is beyond the control of the Department. Officers of the Department have been active in bringing to the notice of communities concerned the advantages of having a school dental clinic, and many centres have been established as a result. On the other hand, a number of the Committees who have been approached are, for various reasons, not prepared to co-operate. They must therefore accept the responsibility for the children of their districts not having the benefits of the School Dental Service. It is proving especially difficult to interest the Committees of Native schools in this matter. In very few cases are they willing to undertake the financial obligations that are involved. Although the School Dental Service is within measurable distance of being available to all schools, it is not necessarily available in the best or most convenient way in every case. Regrouping of schools and the building of additional clinics will continue for some time yet, especially in view of the policy of extending the Service to include Standard VI. This in itself will involve much regrouping. The following table summarizes the expansion that had been carried out up to November, 1940 :— November, 1935. November, 1940. Treatment centres . . . . 252 351 Schools under treatment .. 1,590 1,881 Children under treatment .. 84,738 112,090 Staff .. . . . . 233 (including 53 in 446 (including 139 in training) training) Extension of treatment to Standard V was recently authorized. This is not being carried out simultaneously at ail centres, but is being applied wherever, in the opinion of the Department, local conditions render it possible. This represents a further step forward in the development of the Service. An outstanding event in the year under review was the opening of the new Dominion Trainingschool for Dental Nurses and Wellington Dental Clinic. The new building is built and equipped on the most modern lines, and provides up-to-date facilities for the training of school dental nurses. It was officially opened on the 14th May, 1940, by Her Excellency Viscountess Gal way, and it commenced to function on the following day. Until the expansion programme is further advanced, the Tinakori Road Clinic will continue to be used as an annexe to the training-school. Summary of Expansion Activities for the Past Year. Reference to the statistical section of this report shows a further increase in the number of schools served and in the number of children treated. The growth of the Service activities is indicated by the fact that for the first time in its history the number of operations for the year has passed the million mark. There has been a further marked increase in the number of schools under treatment and also in the number of children. New school dental clinics have been established at twenty-eight centres — namely, Boulcott (Lower Hutt), Clevedon, Dominion Road (Auckland), Elmwood (Christchurch), Foxton, Frankton, Hinds, Hikurangi, Kaeo, Kaikohe, Katikati, Maungaturoto, Mangawai, Mayfield, Orakei, Otira, Owairaka, Paraparaumu, Point Chevalier, Riccarton, St. Andrews, Te Haroto, Te Papapa, Timaru South, Waipu, Waiuku, Whakatane, and Wilson Home (Auckland). The following six centres have been reinforced during the year by the appointment of additional staff in order to enable further schools to be included : Matamata, Otahuhu, Otorohanga, Pukekohe, Rangiora, and Tauranga. Buildings are ready and arrangements are well in hand for clinics to be opened at the following three centres : Akaroa, Tokomaru Bay, and Waterloo (Lower Hutt). In addition to the centres listed in the last annual report as having been approved as treatment centres, negotiations are proceeding for the establishment of clinics at the following twelve centres : Dunsandel, Hatters Terrace, Manutuke, Napier Street (Auckland), Patutahi, Ravensbourne, Seddon, St. Joseph's (Christchurch), Tapawera, Upper Takaka, Waiau, and Wakari (Dunedin). Statistics. Operations performed in the field and in the training - school from Ist January to 31st December, 1940 :— Fillings — In permanent teeth .. .. .. .. .. 317,602 In deciduous teeth . . . . . . .. . . 381,320 — 698,922 Extractions — Permanent teeth . . . . .. . . 3,269 Deciduous teeth .. .. .. .. .. 78,030 ■ 81,299

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