DR. ADA G. PATERSON

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 189, 27 August 1937, Page 6

DR. ADA G. PATERSON

. — Fresg 'Association.)

(By Telegraph

WELLINGTON, This Day. The death occurred at Wellington last evening of Dr Ada G. ' Paterson, Director of the School Hygieng Division of thes Scbool .Department. . She was born at Otago in 1880, and was the youngest daiighter of the late Mr James Paterson, who . was for: inany years librarian of the Dunedin Athepaeum . . • After "a" distinguishcd school* and liniversity ..career she graduated- - M.B., Cli.B., at the University of Otago -in 1906. - Subsequently she went to Great Britain for post-gracluate study, taking additional qualifications . at - Dublin University^ On hef retum to tlie. Dominion - she practiced her professioh for some years at Picton. In 1912 she accepted appointment as ftledicai lnspector of Schools at Dun.edin, being, oue of the origina] medical inspectors appointed that year. It was really the .welt'are of children that Dr Paterson made lier life work. in 1916 she was traii^ferred to Wellington, and in 1923, on .tjie rqtirement of Dr E. .H. Wilkins,- she wbs appointed Director oi the School Hygifine Division.of tlie Department of Health, a %pdsi*tion - which she filled with distibctioii ' up to the time of -:her death, , Dr Paterson was one of .. the ' bestknown woni'cn .in tlie. medical profession of New Zealand, and she leaves a wide circle of friends and acquaHifances. Many welfare organisatioup will deepjy regret her rioss. Siie was closely identified with health catbp and kiudergarten movements. - - « ' After ehtering tlie • service of the Governnient, . Dr Paterson travelled abroad on two oeCasions. Her last trip was in 1935, when she lepresented-New Zealand at an ■ important r conference connected' with . the League of Na'tions at Geneva. Her- uriusual intellectual capacity, wise and sympathetic knowledge of humanity, and her ciarity oi judgment all eombined to make her an outstanding personaJity. Her position in the Health Department and the coniinunity will be liard to fiil. ■ Dr Patefson is survived by her sister, Miss J. Pafterson, Wellington.