§ Sir W. BULLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an official intimation has reached Nottingham that the War Office has sanctioned a change regarding recruits and defective teeth; whether men will now be allowed to be attested if otherwise fit and subject to their consenting to undergo dental treatment; and, if so, whether it is proposed to extend such official orders to other recruiting centres?
§ Mr. TENNANTInstructions have been issued to all commands that recruits found physically fit in every respect except on account of insufficient teeth may in future be passed by a medical examiner of recruits as "fit, subject to dental treatment." Such men, if willing to undergo dental treatment, may be attested and dispatched to the depot, final approval being deferred until they are pronounced to be in all respects fit. The necessary dental treatment will be carried out as soon as possible after the men's arrival at the depot.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that dentists are attached to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force; and will he consider the possibility of attaching dentists to the different units of the New Army?
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§ Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir, I am aware that dentists are attached to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Dentists and dental mechanics, with full outfits of instruments, apparatus and materials, were some months ago supplied to the British Expeditionary Force. Dentists have already been appointed at the larger stations in the United Kingdom, and more appointments will be made if required, as soon as the instruments, etc., are available from the manufacturers.