DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HEALTH

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1930, Page 2

DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HEALTH

Dll VALENTINE'S SUCCESSOR

WELLINGTON, July 39. A successor to the Director-General of Health, Dr T. H. A. Valintine, whose retirement from the Health Department has been announced, has not yet been appointed, l but it is considered certain that he will be succeeded by the present Deputy-Direc-tor-General, Dr M. H. Watt, The appointment, it is believed, will involve a change in the control of the Department, and it is understood that no steps will be taken to fill the post of Deputy-Director-General of Health when Dr Watt vacates it to become head of the service. Most of Dr Watt’s medical career has been spent in the service of the Health Department. He ie the son of a Presbyterian clergyman, and was horn at Green Island. He graduated at the Otago Medical School and has the honour of being the first New Zealand graduate to be appointed to the Department. He graduated in 1910 and was awarded a travelling scholarship. He proceeded to the Old Country for post-graduate study, and on his return to New Zealahd, lie set up in private practice at Ngaruawnhia. In 1917 he joined the Department as district medical officer of health, and in same year he was appointed by the New Zealand University as examiner in physiology. Dr Watt lias also acted for the University as examiner in public health.