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Objects and Reasons.
The object of this Ordinance is to endeavour to protect the public in some measure against the practice of dentistry by incompetent and unqualified persons.
The Bill contemplates the establishment of a Register of Dental Surgeons which shall be published annually in the Gazette and shall contain the names of all persons properly qualified to perform dental operations. The qualification for enrolment on the Register as a Deutal Surgeon will be prescribed by regulation.
In order to protect the rights of any persons who may by long practice have acquired suitable proficiency in the subject without definite academic degree, the Bill enables certificates of exemption to be granted to such persons which will enable them to continue to earn their living in the manner in which they have hitherto dóne,
It seems impossible to interfere with the practice of dentistry by Chinese persons in view of the very large population of the Colony; there exist many thousands of persons who would not be able to afford payment for the services of those qualified professional men whose names would appear on the Register, nor does it seem reasonably possible to suppose that there is at present or is likely to be in the immediate future a sufficient number of properly qualified dentists adequate to meet the wants of the masses of the inhabitants of the Colony. For this reason the Bill provides that it shall be lawful for persons of Chinese race to practise dentistry.
The Bill does not apply in any way to professional medical men.
Apart from the above limitations it is laid down in the Bill that no person other than a registered Dental Surgeon or exempted person shall in any way whatsoever hold himself out or offer his services as a Dental Surgeon, Doctor or under any other misleading appellation or title which would indicate that he is licensed or authorized or qualified in any way to perform dental operations; this restriction is of course applicable to all persons. (except professional medical men) who are not on the Register as Dental Surgeons or exempted persons. The penalty for contravention of this prohibition against the use of mis- leading titles by unqualified persons is a heavy fine and the possibility of imprisonment.
JOHN A. BUCKNILL,
Attorney General.