PUBLIC HEALTH

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 132, 2 December 1930, Page 12

PUBLIC HEALTH

DR. VALINTINE'S WORK

TRIBUTE BY COLLEAGUE

After seeing the .^Department ofPublic Health grow from a legislator's dream to an organisation of extensive and successful ramifications, Dr. T. H. A. Valintine is retiring from the direc-tor-generalship, and a big gathering of the staff of the. Department yesterday tendered to him and Mrs. Valintine their good wishes for the future. Mr. B. E. Myers, who presided, read apologies from the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy), Hon. "W. Downie Stewart, the Public Service Commissioner (Mr. P. D. N. Verschaffelt), arid officers of the Department stationed in other parts of the Dominion. In making a presentation of a wallet and a cheque to Dr. Valintine and a purse and cheque to Mrs. Valintine, the Assistant Director-General, Dr. M. H. Watt, referred to the great work Dr. Valintine had done- for the public health of the Dominion. He came to New Zealand in 1890 as the holder of the Diploma in. Public Health as well as medical and surgical degrees, a'raTe distinction in those days, and commenced practice in Taranaki. In 1901, on the inception of the Department, he was appointed public health officer, and entered upon his new duties with a sound knowledge, energy, and enthusiasm. One of Dr. Valintine's first investigations was the "Wellington milk supply, and he forecasted the municipalisation scheme. He also took a leading part in. the campaign to reduce tuberculosis in the country, and was successful in organising the sanatorium system. In 1907 Dr. Valintine was appointed Inspector-General of Hospitals, and at a. conference in the following year propounded a system which was adopted and which has survived with little alteration to the present day When the Hospital and Health Departments were amalgamated in 1909, he was given charge of the hospitals, and subsequently became Chief Health Officer, and later Director-General of Health. To him was due a great deal of the credit for the development which had taken place. He had been a true pioneer, who had the vision to recognise the problems of the future, the knowledge to grapple with them, and the will and determination to carry him through. It was a matter for gratification that they were not losing him altogether, as ho was taking up the position of consultant in hospital administration, and his advice would be valuable to future officers. During the whole of his labours, Dr. Valintine had shown co'irage, loyalty to his. subordinates, the capacity of inspiring others with his own enthusiasm, and perhaps above all, a kindness of heart for his officers, who one and all hoped that the autumn of his life would be long, peaceful, and happy. On behalf of the field staff, the Senior Inspector, Mr. F. B. Gardiner, also paid a tribute to Dr. Valintine 'a work. In reply, Dr. Valintine said that he appreciated deeply the references that had been> made to his career. He had always endeavoured to do his duty to his Department and lie gave instances of the fight the Department had had for recognition. 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 that the Health Department now stood highly in the estimation of other countries. In thanking the members of the Department again for its good wishes aiid gifts to Mrs. Valintine and himself, he said, "I always made up my mind that on my retirement at 65 years,, 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 ever I had, and he is a man of high ideals."