H.—3l.

The year has been notable for a still further increase in the number of student dental nurses. The number in training at 31st March, 1938, is as follows :— " Second-year trainees — " Fourteenth draft .. .. 47 nurses. " First-year trainees — " Fifteenth draft (first group) .. 33 nurses (40 commenced, 1 resigned, and 6 were transferred to Second Group, Fifteenth draft). " Fifteenth draft (second group) .. 28 nurses (30 commenced, 6 transferred from first group of the fifteenth draft, 5 resigned, and 3 were transferred to sixteenth draft). " In order to deal with the larger number in the limited accommodation available the policy has been adopted of entering the annual drafts in two groups at six-monthly intervals. The graph of the Syllabus of Training which accompanies this report will serve to indicate the manner in which the rearranged course of training is being proceeded with. It is with much regret that I have to record the death of Nurse M. Hawkins, from pneumonia, in August, 1937. Nurse Hawkins was a member of the fourteenth draft, and was a particularly promising student. " Accommodation.—Pending the completion of the new dental clinic and training-school now in course of erection, additional accommodation for the increased numbers of students had to be made by establishing an annexe to the present premises. For this purpose the Ministerial residence at Tinakori Road was adapted, and is serving the purpose very well. " Certain portions of the training of both first- and second-year student dental nurses are being concentrated upon at the annexe. The Senior Instructor, Dr. R. M. S. Taylor, has been in charge, and associated with him has been Miss Haines as Senior Dental Nurse. It has been necessary for both staff and students to spend time at both the main building and the annexe, and the time occupied in transit between the two, although reduced to the minimum, has been a handicap. " At the date of this report (31st March, 1938) building operations in connection with the new Wellington Dental Clinic have been in progress for several months. Arrangements are in hand for the laying of the foundation stone by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. J. Savage, on the 30th April, 1938. " Examinations. —lt was necessary to hold two final examinations during the year. The first one, in September, 1937, was for the thirteenth draft, consisting of twenty-nine students, who, by virtue of being delayed three months in commencing training and then losing a further three months as a result of the poliomyelitis epidemic, were six months late in completing the course. " Twenty-three candidates were successful, 3 gained provisional passes, and 3 who failed were successful in completing the course in December. " The second final examination was held in March, 1938, for the 47 members of the fourteenth draft. Of this group, 41 were successful, the remaining 6 being required to present for a special final examination in September next. The group was also delayed by the poliomyelitis epidemic, and did not enter into their second year of training until June, instead of (as was intended) in April. ' Pressure of numbers in succeeding drafts made it necessary to hold their final examination at the normal time. It will be several months, however, before their transfer to the field is completed. " The external examiners on these two occasions were respectively Dr. H. K. Allison D.D.S. of Christchurch, and Dr. J. Y. Warren, D.D.S., of Auckland. " To both of these gentlemen the Department is greatly indebted for much invaluable criticism and advice of a constructive and helpful nature. Two primary examinations were also held for the first and second groups of the fifteenth draft (1937-38), the first being in September, 1937, and the second in March, 1938. The details are as shown below :—

" The examiners were : First group : Dr. Wyn Irwin and Dr. Platts Mills ; second eroun • Dr Champtaloup and Dr. Platts Mills. " The Course of Training.—This has been augmented by the inclusion of a short series of lectures by Miss F. M. Tattersfield on ' The Principles of Orthodontics,' the subject being dealt with solely from the preventive aspect. " Two further short courses are being delivered by the Matron, Miss C. Hooper, whose experience in the world of general nursing and child-welfare is proving of great value. Her subjects are ' The History and Ethics of Nursing ' and ' Child Welfare.' The latter embraces a short study of the various systems in vogue in connection with social services for mothers and children, and should be a decided asset in assisting to broaden the outlook of the students.

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Sidatef. PassetL Pailed ' Remarks. First group . . 34 31 3 Two candidates failed one paper each. One candidate failed both. Second group 30 29 2 Two candidates failed one paper each. (The three candidates from first group passed in second group examination.)