Medico and Friend

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14041, 17 December 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

Medico and Friend

W.KLL-M KR]TEI; POPULARITY GOOD HEALTH TO DR. HUGH PATERSON. It is sufficient indication of his popularity that Doctor Hugh Paterson, doyen of the medical profession in Pahiatua, is known almost universally as “Pat.” And it is a popularity well deserved, for besides taking a kind and sincere attitude to all his professional duties, Dr. Paterson lias interested himself in many outside activities, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that he is the best liked man in the town. He bears a good Scotch name, corroborated by the broadness of his tongue, and his characteristic, kindly Scotch humour does much to endear him to all those with whom he is brought into contact. Dr. Paterson received his medical education at the Glasgow Medical School, and early in 1912. on the recommendation of a New Zealander, lie journeyed in company with Mrs Paterson to this country to practise his profession. During his first year in New Zealand he was stationed at Otaki, where his patients included both Pakeha and Maori. Just before the end of the year, he set up ill practice in Pahiatua where, apart from an interruption by the war period, he has played an ever-increasing part in the affairs of the community. When the war came, he joined up and after a short time m camp at Trentham he proceeded overseas with the 30th reinforcements, and did medical duty in England and France, being attached to the No. 3 N.Z. Field Ambulance and tlie Rifle Brigade

J ust before the cessation of hostilities in 1918, Dr. Paterson was on leave in London, where the armistice found him He was therefore posted for duty in England, instead of being sent back to his unit, and the transfer gave him the opportunity of doing post-graduate work in tlie Glasgow and Edinburgh Hospitals, and it was not until well on in 1919 that, with this valuable extra training behind him, he returned to resume his career in Pahiatua.

Although practising a profession in which such things as forty-hour weeks are unknown, and where duty is likely to call any hour of the twenty-four, Dr. Paterson lias managed to take a full and active part in the life of the district where his iife work has lain. A natural interest iu sport found its expression in liis becoming an enthusiastic bowler, and hi* lias been on several occasions president of the Pahiatua Bowling Club. He has earned the gratitude of Rugby players throughout the district by his valuable assistance in the role of Union doctor, and has also carried out the duties of medical examiner to the Boxing Association .

It is as a patron of the sports that Dr. Paterson excels, and the Bush Basketball Association will long remember his kindness and generosity to them. His presence at the supper which he recently gave in their honour, and the reception he received, gave ample evidence of the popularity he commands, and it is on occasions such as these that one of his most attractive qualities is

shown to perfection—his ability as an after-dinner speaker, where his fund of subtle humour combines with his broad Scotch accent to produce an effect that invariably “brings the house down.” As a family man. Dr. Paterson takes a keen interest in educational affairs, and was a member of the School Committee for some years. On liis return from the War. he was made president, on the formation of the local branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and still retains a position on the executive of that body, which to-day has become a flourishing organisation with over 100 members. As president of the War Relief Association, he is the official head of another body operating lor the benefit of returned men. while his devotion to the church led to his accepting a seat on the management committee of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. He is in addition a P.M. of the local Masonic Lodge, and on the death of the late Dr. Dawson was honoured by being

appointed medical superintendent of tlie Pahiatua Public Hospital. In all these varied activities Dr Paterson has been well supported by Mrs Paterson, who has always shown herself to be a wonderful social worker. She was until she retired in 1936 President of the Dominion Federation of Women's Institutes, and is still a member of the Dominion Executive. She gave up a great deal of her time in her official capacity of Local Welfare Officer, and is a Dominion vice-pre-sident of the W.C.T.U.; she is president of the Pahiatua branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society, a member of the Presbyterian Church and president of Manawatu Branch of the National Council of Women. It is never surprising to learn that Mrs Paterson is absent from Pahiatua engaged in the altruistic work which is at once her hobby and her mission. In Dr. and Mrs Paterson, the Bush district. and Pahiatua have two people who are good citizens in every sense of the word, true practising Christians, who have the welfare of their fellow men and women very much at heart.