THE DENTAL CLINIC

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 32, 10 March 1930, Page 5

THE DENTAL CLINIC

COUNTY COUNCIL CANNOT MAKE DONATION. AUD1T DEPARTMENT'S ItULING. County councils have no statutory authority to make donations toward the finances of dental clinics according to a ruling placed before the meeting of the Hawlie's Bay County Council today by the audit office. The council was recently approached to contribute to the funds of the Hastings dental clinic, as county children were treated there. The county was sympathetic but doubt was raised as to the legality of making any sucii donafion. The council decided to secure a rut mg on tliis point and the Audit Department to-day advised the county that any sucli donation would he illegal. Cr. C. Lassen said he was surprised at the ruling, since the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health, in a pamphlet issued to dental clinm committees, had urged them to approach local bodies for assisfcance to their finances. Tt seemed sti-ange that Cabinet Ministers sliould advocate a course for which there was not legal authority. The clerk, Mr A. R. Fergusou, said that there was power for borough councils, but not for countv councils, to mahe donations toward dental clinics. Cr. Lassen remarked that he thought the Education Board could he safelv left to tnke the matter un with a view fco amending the law and the mattei was dropiped.