DR. ADA PATERSON

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 50, 27 August 1937, Page 7

DR. ADA PATERSON

NOTABLE SERVICE TO CHILDREN

General regret will be felt at the death last evening: of Dr. Ada Paterson, Director of the School Hygiene Division of the Health Department. The late Dr. Paterson was born in Otago in 1880, and was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. James Paterson, for many years, librarian of the Dunedin Athenaeum. After a distinguished school and university career she graduated M.8., Ch.B., at the University of Otago in 1906. Subsequently she .went to Great Britain for postgraduate study, taking additional qualifications at Dublin University. On her return to the Dominion she practised her profession for some years at Picton. In 1912 she accepted appointment as Medical Inspector of Schools at Dunedin, being one of the original medical inspectors appointed that year. It was really the welfare of children that Dr. Paterson made her life work. In 1918 she was transferred to Wellington, and in 1923, on the retirement of Dr. E. H. Wilkins, she was appointed Director of the School Hygiene Division of the Department of Health, a position which she filled with. distinction up to th« time of her death. Dr. Paterson was one of the bestknown women in the medical profession of New Zealand, arid she leaves a wide* circle of friends and acquaintances. Many welfare organisations will deeply regret her loss. She was closely identified . with health camp and kindergarten movements. She was a member of the committee of the New Zealand University Women's Federation, and - an official visitor to the Women's Borstal Institution. Her wise and sympathetic handling of many problems of childhood earned her the esteem and affection of many generations of school children and their parents, as well as the confidence of the: educational authorities. . *■ After entering the: service of th« Government Dr. Paterson travelled abroad on two occasions. Her last trip was in 1935, when she represented New Zealand at an - important conference connected with the .League of. Nations at Geneva. Her unusual intellectual capacity,, wise; and sympathetic knowledge of humanity, and her clarity of judgment all combined to make her an outstanding personality. Her position in the Health Department and the community will be hard to .fill. ' Dr. Paterson is survived, by her sister, Miss J. Paterson, Wellington. ■ The funeral, which will"be,private■ will take place tomorrow morning. '.