DR. ADA PATERSON

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13643, 30 August 1937, Page 3

DR. ADA PATERSON

NOTABLE SERVICE TO CHILDREN. General regret will be felt at the death of Dr. Ada Paterson, Director u/ the School Hygiene Division of the Health Department. The late Dr. Paterson was born iii Otago in 1880, and was the youngest daughter of the late Mr Janies Paterson, for many years librarian of The Dunedin Athenaeum. After a distmguished school and university career she graduated M. 8., Ch.B., at the University of Otago in 1906. Subsequently she went to Great Brih'* n for post-graduate study, taking additional qualifications at Dublin University. On her return to the Dominion she practised her profession tor some years at Picton. hi 1912 she .accepted appointment ns Medical Inspector of Schools at Dunedin, being one of the original medical inspectors appointed that year- Tt was really the welfare of children that Dr. Paterson made her hie work. In 1916 she was transferred toWellington, and in 1923. on the retirement of Dr. E. H. Wilkins, she was appointed Director of the School Hygiene Division of the Department oi rlea 1 tli, a position which she fill—ecl with distinction up to the time ot her death. Dr. Paterson was one of the bestknown women m the medical profession oi New Zealand, and she leaves a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Many welfare organisations will deeply regret her loss. She was elosely identified with health camp fnd kindergarten movements. She ?V as » 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 aftection oi many generations of school children and their parents, as well as the confidence of the educational authorities . Alter entering the service of the Government Dr. Paterson travelled abroad on two occasions. Her last trip was iu 1935. when she represent<?ci ISew Zealand _at an important con ter ence connected with the League -T Natic.ns at Geneva. Her unusual 111 1 (■ I lec 1 u;i I capacity, wise, and sympathetic- knowledge of humanity, and her clarity of judgment all conibined tii make her an outstanding personality. Her position in the Health Department and the community will be bard to fill.

■ L )r Paterson i s survived bv her sister, Miss J. Paterson, Wellington.