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Dental Research It was noted in the last annual report that arrangements had been put in hand "for the resumption of research work under the Dental Research Committee of the Medical Research Council. Dr. R. E. T. Hewat, whose appointment as Field Research "Officer attached to the Division of Dental Hygiene was referred to in the last annual report, commenced duty in June, 1947. He has been engaged in a study of regional variations in the incidence of dental caries in New Zealand, and an interim report on his studies up to the 31st March, 1948, has been submitted to the Medical Research "Council. Dental Bursaries At the beginning of 1948, 20 new bursaries were awarded to dental students. Of "the bursaries granted in previous years, 66 were renewed, 4 were suspended temporarily, •and 5 were terminated. The total number of bursaries held as at the 31st March, 1948 (including those temporarily suspended), was 90. Eight holders of bursaries graduated in 1947, and, of these, 3 are now on the staff of the Dental Division, 1 is on the staff of a hospital, and 1 was granted permission to accept a Demonstratorship at the Otago University Dental School for one year. Three failed to undertake the service prescribed in the bursary agreement, and the penalties provided for in the agreement were imposed in each case. New Dental District Constituted The continued expansion of the School Dental Service, the rapid development of the private-practitioner service,, and the inauguration of the salaried service for adolescents have made it necessary to create a new dental district in order to facilitate the administration and control of these services. It has therefore been arranged to divide the existing Wellington Dental District into two. The northern portion, which comprises the Taranaki and the WellingtonHawke's Bay Health Districts, will continue to be administered from Palmerston North, while the southern portion will have its headquarters at Wellington and will include the Central Wellington and Nelson-Marlborough Health Districts. Mr. G-. H. Leslie, 8.D.5., formerly on the staff of the Department, and at present on the staff of the Otago University Dental School, has been appointed Principal Dental Officer of the new district, and the reorganization of the districts will take effect as soon as Mr. Leslie is able to take up his new appointment. Director's Tour Overseas During the year, the Director, Mr. J. LI. Saunders, was appointed to represent the Dominion at the Tenth International Dental Congress, which was held at Boston, Massachusetts, in August, 1947. Following the Congress, Mr. Saunders, at the request •of the Government, undertook a study tour which embraced the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany, in all of which countries study was made of the most recent developments in dental science and practice, more especially in the fields of preventive and public health dentistry, but also in regard to dental education and research. These studies, together with appropriate recommendations, have been the subject of a special report.

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