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1.—7.

18

W. E. LOWK.

58. Supposing that a College of Dentistry was established at, say, Dunedin in connection with the University. Do you not think it would be a hardship to Auckland students to have to go to and live in Dunedin, as opposed to the present system, under which the students can learn in their native town ? I hardly think so, since you find such large numbers going very much further than to Dunedin—namely, to America and England. They feel that their education here is so scant that they must go to considerable expense to get it completed. 59. You do not think it would tend to diminish the number of students? —I hardly think it would. Perhaps it would be more central if the school were in Wellington, but the Medical School is already at Dunedin and the Dental School ought to be there, because in many ways it would be advantageous to do work in conjunction with the Medical School. We are getting enough medical practitioners, and medical students do not let a few or even a few hundred miles or more stand in the way if they are keen enough. There are scholarships, and, of course, if the dental profession were under the University, scholarships could be provided : and thus the very poorest, if they were students of ability, would have opportunities provided for them. 60. Have the dentists generally made any proposal or urged that a college of dentistry should be established? —It is generally felt that it will take a long while. They cannot believe that the good time is as near as many of us hope. It would be very much appreciated. 61. Have any practical steps been taken in that direction, to your knowledge?—l have had during the last year or two a good number of pupils who think nothing of coming a good way and staying in Wellington for the sake of getting education. At present I have eight pupils, one of whom comes from Feilding, another from New Plymouth, another from Christchurch, and I have had many from the West Coast and Napier. They do not think much of coming to Wellington and boarding here in order to get the tuition. 62. That is private tuition ? Yes : and, of course, how much more would it be so if the tuition were given by the University. 63. They are not apprentices I—No.1 —No. They are those who have served their three years. I give to those who require it theoretical work mainly, in order to prepare them for their examination; but the majority ask for practical work as well As you can see, it becomes a greater task on one man and the outlay is considerable, consequently I have to charge a fee which is double what it could be done for if it were a State concern, where there would be greater numbeis. 64. With regard to the unregistered people, have you any knowledge of the number who are really practising on their own account?— No. 1 have knowledge of a good number in Wellington who would seek registration if they could register. 65. Do you know how man}- would come in in Wellington if some such clause as Mr. Jennings proposes were put in—do you think there would be twenty or thirty? I should not think as many as that. I should think you would have students who had not been successful at examinations and are going on. I suppose there would be half a dozen of those. I should not like to say who else would like to be admitted. 66. The registered dentists are totally opposed to it, are they not ?—Certainly. Since Magistrates have entered convictions, how can we very well admit that legislation should allow of these men coming in .' 67. Mr. Sidey.] I would like to ask the doctor, with regard to clause 22, whether he does not think that some dentists are simply running their business with apprentices, and whether he thinks it fair that they should be allowed to do so? —That is said to be the case, but I could not give you an instance to my own knowledge. That sort of thing gets about among the students to a certain degree. They know to a certain extent which man is doing most business, and consequently if a man who is not doing much business tries to take too many pupils they object and grumble, and it gets about in that way. The pupils have a certain amount of protection. 68. Do you think it fair to the public that there should be too many apprentices in an establishment ? Ido not think there ought to be any. I do not think that work which the public are going to pay for ought to be done by a pupil. The public pay to have proper work done, and it ought to be done by a skilled man. 69. Is it fair to the dentists who have passed that work should be done by the apprentices in the establishments? —They like it —they get the fees. 70. But is it fair to a dentist who wants employment?— Certainly, it hits him very hard. Once the young men get through they have greater difficulty in getting work. 71. Would you like to see taken away the right of dentists to have even two apprentices—is that your chief objection to clause 22? —I would wish the Bill framed in such a wav that apprenticeship could not be recognised by the Senate as part of the professional course. Many dentists would like to have a boy as an apprentice, and it may be a great advantage to a boy to go as an apprentice for a while so that he can see if Ije likes dentistry or is likely to get on at it. They have that in America, where no apprenticeship is recognised. Many go to a practitioner and get an idea of the routine, but it must not count as part of the course. In some cases the system is good ; in others it is worthless. 72. Mr. Ell.] The Chairman put a question to you as to whether the dentists as a body had made any definite proposal —had definitely urged on the Government the advisability of establishing a dental college. I did not understand your answer clearly?—l think that about a year ago there was a petition went round asking for such a thing, and we all signed it.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given : printing (1,425 copies), £10 lis.

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