Dentist replies A Vancouver dentist writes: After reading Mike O’Neill’s letter in Open Forum, I felt it necessary to make a few comments as a dentist practicing in the Lower Mainland. Firstly, I state that I feel that not only do we need to socialize den- tistry in Canada, but we must also have socialism to overcome the very many injustices that are done to the Canadian people in all aspects of our life. It is fine to get angry at one aspect of our society and blast one group or other, but I feel this will not solve anything. We must change our entire economy to socialism, and only then will all the people who exploit others for huge profits find that they can no longer do this. As far as dentistry is concerned I would like to bring a few things to light. The College of. Dental Surgeons of B.C. set the fees each year for both the general prac- titioner and the specialist. For the G.P. the fees are based on. about $48 per hour. The specialists charge somewhat higher as they require three years more of college than the seven years that the G.P. requires. It is estimated that the office overhead uses up about 55% of the $48. After that there are, of course, income tax deductions which may leave the dentist a spending income of about $17 per hour clear. I agree that this is a very high income, and who'can say what this income should be. I am aware that many dentists charge much higher fees than the fee guide suggests. Most dentists I have spoken to ‘believe that they deserve more. Some work I have seen is so poor that they don’t deserve even half of what they charge. The College strongly suggests that the dentist give a clear estimate of what the necessary Beaver Transfer * Moving * Packing << Storage 790 Powell St. Phone 254-3711. work will cost before treatment is begun, and that we should discuss these fees with the patient. If the patient feels that the fees are too high, the College of Dental Surgeons encourages patients. to phone and report the dentist, and although it may be hard to believe, many dentists are called before the board to explain numerous com- plaints, and I know of many cases where severe action has been carried out against dentists who receive many complaints. With many hundreds of unions getting dental plans, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people seeking dental care. For this reason Dental Hygienists have been trained to carry out many duties such duties as cleaning teeth, X-rays, taking of impressions, ete. Also there are certified Dental Assistants who are trained for many of the easier jobs. These two groups of people receive very substantial wages for their duties, but I agree that the dentist does make some profit from their work. This type of exploitation is common in every-walk of life in our society, and that is why socialism is the only answer to our problems. Socialism or socialized dentistry will not come from the dentists, but must be fought for by the people. This can only be done by putting pressure on MP’s, MLA’s and electing candidates in elections that will fight for socialism. The fees charged Mr. O’Neill, if true, are truly far out of line. I honestly feel that most G.P.’s do charge fees of $48 per hour, which I know are high, but not $150 to $175 an hour as suggested by Mr. O'Neill. As far as dentists. owning apartment buildings, etc., I’m sure that they represent a small per- centage of apartment owners of Vancouver. With a spending in- come of $17 or even $22 per hour, not many buildings or apartments can be bought out of this income in _our inflated economy. So I agree: palates of the country unite, you have nothing to lose but your cavities. But please, look at our system as a whole and let’s eliminate by the ballot the capitalist system as a whole and replace it by a Socialist Canada. P.S. My name has been withheld due to possible repercussions from my very reactionary dental - association. & Maui HAWAII Honolulu/Waikiki From $349 Double occupancy ' includes Hotel accommodation Toreserve space or for further information, please contact The experts in travel to the USSR GLOBE TOURS 2679 Hastings Street East/Vancouver B.C./253-1221 Seen here taking a ride with pioneer astronaut Yuri Gagarin, renowned Soviet novelist and Nobel laure Mikhail Sholokov celebrates his 70th birthday May 24. His works, including “‘Quiet Flows the Don’ ‘2 “Nirgin Soil Upturned,” have been reprinted more than 800 times with 50 million copies in circulation in languages. Screen versions have also been produced as well as operas based on the novel. ~ —Tass photo by V.T UFAWU CHARGES: Profiteering behind fish crisis Recent federal government Subsidies, ostensibly aimed at rejuvenating a depressed groundfish industry,’’ are not going to resolve the crisis in. that industry” according to United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union business agent George Hewison. “The crisis is caused by the tremendous profits being squeezed from the gap between the low price paid to fishermen and the high prices being charged at the retail level for bottomfish,” Hewison declared. The union’s charges came in the wake of the fisheries department’s appointment of a second in- vestigator, Fernand Doucet, commissioned to examine the problems of the troubled ground- fish industry as well as reports from fishermen landing their first catch of the season, that dockside prices had suffered another drop. The federal government had earlier appointed Senator Ray Perrault to bring ina report on the substantial spread between the price paid to fishermen and that charged by retail stores. RANKIN Cont'd from pg. 2 keep down wages, and keep up profits. So while pressing for reforms such as a guaranteed annual in- come which our country can easily afford, we have to keep pressing for other much needed reforms too, some of which strike at the heart of the control which corporate giants exercise over our country today. EDUCATION IN USSR SLIDE SHOW WITH COMMENT BY JIM ORAN THURS., MAY 29, 8 P.M. Sunnyside Hall Surrey Go S. on Johnston Rd. (from King Geo. Hwy) to 18th Ave. Follow 18th Ave. to 154th St. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—MAY 23, 1975—Page 10 “Since that time,” the UFAWU declared, ‘‘prices to the fishermen have dropped further while retail prices have remained static or gone up. And Senator Perrault’s report has not yet been tabled. “There is no reason for price cuts to fishermen any more than exorbitant prices to consumers. “Canadians eat about four pounds of groundfish per year. If retail prices were lowered, Canadians could consume all of the Canadian production, thus ending the crisis.” The UFAWU advanced a similar position last December when problems first afflicted the in- dustry and 250 trawl fishermen as well as several hundred processing workers were laid off. ‘ UFAWU business agent George Hewison pointed out at that ie that while fishermen had bé@ rh receiving only 15 cents a pound! fo sole, the consumer was payileS ‘ $1.69 a pound for the same fish. B Fisheries minister Rou LeBlanc chalked the crisis in & af industry up to “a market in ‘ problem.”’ The union has demanded i Perrault’s report be released alofen with the amounts of money give? various fishing companies U? the subsidy plan. b3 “Any short term cesta th, the industry should go entire ly the fishermen who are bearing © a weight of the marketing” eri fi imposed by the food chains,” i union declared. ‘Further grant® i the big processors may fm exacerbate the situation.”’ | \) 1) 0 1 gt CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING _ COMING EVENTS: MAY 25 — Sunday May 25th AN- NUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST Horseshoe Tournament and Crib Tournament. Refreshments at the Gidora’s, 6714 - 148th St., Surrey. All welcome. Proceeds P:T. Drive. JUNE 7 — SOCIAL EVENING OF FUN! Whist, bridge, etc. Good food — refreshments, Saturday, June 7 at 4824 Dumphries St. 8 p.m. Everyone welcome. Adm. $2.00. South Van Club, C.P.C. Proceeds to Press Drive. BUSINESS PERSONALS RON SOSTAD, writer-research®) Ph. 922-6980. : se FOR SALE 2 Holly Trees and 1 Horse Chest! Tree. Reasonable. Phone ® 9371. Proceeds to P.T. Drive} WANTED “il WANTED: Articles for resale. * proceeds to Tribune Driv Phone 526-5226. PTDRIVE JUNE 7 — OUTDOOR SALMON BARBECUE — Fresh caught B.C. Springs, Saturday, June 7 at Sundown 8:30 p.m. at the Kit- silano Point Park (Western end of MeNicoll Ave.) Folk Singing and Sing Song Outdoor Films and Slide Showing Europe — Spring of 1974. Bar is open at Bruce Yorke and Helen O’Shaugh- nessy’s 1/2 block away at 1924 MeNicoll Ave. Proceeds -to Pacific Tribune Drive. Ausp.: Broadway club, CPC. N.B. Advance ticket holders will be served first! For tickets phone 737-4953 or Tribune office. Price $3.50 — $2.00 unemployed and Old Age Pensioners. (In case of rain all activities at 1924 Mc- Nicoll — salmon will still be available.) 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