DR. VALINTINE RETIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 286, 3 December 1930, Page 9

DR. VALINTINE RETIRES.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S WORK FAREWELL IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. After seeing the Department of Health grow from a dream to an extensive organisation, Br. T. H. A. Valintine, who is retiring from the position of DirectorGeneral of Health, was farewellecl by a large gathering of the etaff of the Department to-day. In presenting a wallet and a cheque to Dr. .Valintine and a purse and cheque to Mrs. Valintine, the Assistant DirectorGeneral, Dr. M. H. Watt, referred to the great work Dr. Valintine had done for the public health of the Dominion. He said Dr. Valintine came to New Zealand in 1890 as the holder- of the diploma in public health as well as medical and surgical degrees, a rare distinction in those days. Dr. Watt reviewed Dr. Valintine's career and said it was a. matter for gratification that they were not losing him altogether, as he was taking up the position of consultant in hospital administration, ancl his advice would be valuable to future officers. On behalf of the field staff the senior inspector, Mr. F. B. Gardiner, also paid a tribute to Dr. Valiritiuc's work. In reply Dr. Valintine gave instances of the fight the Department had had for recognition. He said it had met with hostility from local bodies and individuals all over the country. He called to mind the founding of the St. Helens Homes, which had done such a great service to the country, and said the Health Department now stood highly in the estimation of other countries. "I always made up my'mind," said Dr. Valintine, "that on my retirement at 65 years of age I would hand over the burden to my great friend Dr. Watt. He will be a better head than I have been. He has greater professional ability than lever I had and he is a man of high I ideals." ,