USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1949 > Part 29
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The Board has purchased new pamphlets, outlining the important provisions of the Retirement Law, as amended, in order that present and prospective members may have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the bene- fits available to them as members of the system. Copies of this pamphlet may be secured at the Town House.
I. MEMBERSHIP
1. Active Membership Dec. 31, 1949 162 Enrolled during 1950 38
200
Deaths
1
Withdrawals
12
Retirements
2
15
Total Active Membership, Dec. 31, 1950 185
2. Inactive Membership Dec. 31, 1949 27 Retirements 2
29
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Deaths 1
Withdrawals 2
3
Total Inactive Membership, Dec. 31, 1950 ** 26 ** This total includes all retired members
3. Beneficiaries from Accidental Deaths 3
II. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
Balance, Dec. 31, 1949 $146,167.98
1. Receipts:
Appropriation March 1950 $26,199.00
Deductions from members' salaries and wages 18,074.82
Income from interest
4,261.50
Increase by adjustment in securities 12.64
48,547.96
$194,715.94
2. Expenditures:
Annuities
$1,350.90
Pensions
23,086.50
Accidental death benefits
3,518.28
Refunds to former members
3,200.71
Clerical services
672.00
Other administrative expenses
135.37
Decrease by adjustment in
securities 902.60
32,866.36
$161,849.58
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III. BALANCE SHEET
1. Assets:
Plymouth National Bank $873.81
Plymouth Savings Bank 2,460.75
Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank 4,229.68
Beverly Savings Bank
5,062.50
Danvers Savings Bank
5,041.67
Plymouth Federal Savings and Loan Ass'n 5,020.83
Brockton National Bank stock
3,600.00
First National Bank of Boston stock
2,350.00
National Shawmut Bank stock
2,600.00
Rockland-Atlas National Bank stock 2,700.00
U. S. Treasury bonds, 27/8's of 55/60 1,027.43
U. S. Treasury bonds, Series G 34,000.00
City of Boston bonds of '71 2,456.38
Chesapeake & Ohio Rwy.
bonds of '96 1,046.95
Great Northern Rwy. bonds of '82 3,031.31
Louisville & Nashville Rwy.
bonds of '03 2,190.76
Louisville & Nashville Rwy. bonds of '03 2,000.00
N. Y. Central & Hudson River
Rwy. bonds of '97 3,194.36
N. Y., Chicago & St. Louis Rwy. bonds of '86 5,109.77
Northern Pacific Rwy. bonds of '97
5,992.83
Reading Co. Rwy. bonds of '95 5,090.81
Seaboard Air Line Rwy.
bonds of '80 2,982.56
Virginian Rwy. bonds of '95
2,181.92
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Wheeling & Lake Erie Rwy. bonds of '74 1,982.80
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds of '86
2,016.22
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds of '82
2,012.57
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds of '80
2,024.36
Amer. Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds of '73
2,030.43
Illinois Bell Tel. Co. bonds of '78
2,052.88
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
bonds of '82 2,058.14
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
bonds of '74 2,013.31
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds of '87
2,024.12
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds of '78
2,069.72
Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds of '85
1,913.15
Southern Bell Tel. Co. bonds of '85
1,896.98
Arkansas Power & Light Co.
bonds of '74 2,043.63
Central Vt. Public Service Co.
bonds of '75 1,911.61
Cons. Edison Co. of New York bonds of '79 2,049.83
Maine Public Service Co. bonds of '75 1,863.14
Milwaukee Gas Light Co. bonds of '75
3,038.90
Montana Power Co. bonds of '75
2,073.88
New England Power Co. bonds of '79 2,007.92
New Hampshire Elec. Co.
bonds of '75 3,052.53
No. Indiana Public Service Co. bonds of '73 3,203.67
Pacific Gas & Elec. Co. bonds of '70
2,024.03
Pacific Gas & Elec. Co. bonds of '71 2,090.50
Public Service Co. of N. H.
bonds of '73 2,147.09
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Rockland Light & Power Co. bonds of '78
2,043.71
Seattle Gas Co. bonds of '76
1,931.63
So. California Edison Co. bonds of '65
2,028.51
$161,849.58
2. Liabilities:
Annuity Savings Fund
$116,024.02
Annuity Reserve Fund
13,472.93
Military Service Fund
1,642.84
Pension Fund
30,057.84
Expense Fund
651.95
$161,849.58
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL P. DEARBORN, Chairman
CORA B. GRADY, Secretary
ANDREW J. CARR
Contributory Retirement System Board of Retirement, Plymouth
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REPORT OF THE TOWN ENGINEER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
During 1950 surveys and layout plans were made for Charlemont Road and Farmhurst Road. These layouts were accepted by the Town at the annual meeting in March.
Surveys and plans were made for a new retaining wall at Town Brook on Market Street made necessary by the collapse of the old wall. This new wall was subsequently built with Chapter 90 funds, with the State paying one- half, the County one-quarter, and the Town one-quarter of the cost.
Maps and descriptions were made of the three new voting precincts into which the Town was divided during 1950.
A large number of new house numbers were assigned on various streets throughout the Town.
Certain revisions were made in lots at the Town Wharf.
A total of 142 permanent concrete bounds were set under the supervision of the Town Engineer in the street lines of the following streets: Charlemont Road, 8 bounds; Farmhurst Road, 12 bounds; High Street, 3 bounds; Stephens Lane, 5 bounds; Priscilla Road, 17 bounds; Manomet Avenue, 24 bounds; Vinal Avenue, 8 bounds; Samoset Avenue, 10 bounds; Old Beach Road, 23 bounds; Holmes Road, 3 bounds; Simes Road, 3 bounds; Strand Avenue, 10 bounds; Cherry Street, 4 bounds; Hall Street, 12 bounds.
Miscellaneous engineering work was done for the Board of Assessors, the Park Department, the School Depart- ment, the Board of Health, and the Sewer Department.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD CHASE, Town Engineer.
1
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
The Board of Public Welfare presents its Annual Re- port for the year 1950.
The members of the Board of Public Welfare on Janu- ary 1, 1950 were: Harold G. Roberts, Chairman; Gordon S. McCosh; and Andrew Rae, Jr.
At the Annual Town Election held on March 4, 1950 Gordon S. McCosh was re-elected a member of the Board of Public Welfare for three years.
At the organization meeting of the Board, following the Town Election, and held on March 7, 1950, Harold G. Rob- erts was elected Chairman of the Board, Albert A. Saund- ers was appointed the Secretary of the Board, and ap- pointed Supervisor of the Department of Public Welfare. Mr. Edmund J. Priestley was appointed Supervisor of Old Age Assistance, and Aid to Dependent Children.
The Board of Public Welfare, as the Directors of the Plymouth Town Infirmary, appointed for the 44th con- secutive year Russell L. Dickson, the Superintendent, and Sarah A. Dickson, the Matron of the Plymouth Town In- firmary.
The year 1950 presented a steadily increasing demand for Public Service and Public Assistance. 280 cases were granted "outside" assistance during the year, represent- ing 704 persons. 121 new applications were approved for assistance, and an additional 146 cases were interviewed and referred to other private or public agencies, or were denied Public Assistance for various reasons. 196 cases were closed during the year and 44 cases re-applied for as- sistance again during the year. The high point in the num- ber of cases assisted came in the latter part of April with
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196 cases or 494 persons being given aid, and the low point came in October with 116 cases or 253 persons receiving assistance. The average for the year was 157 cases or 377 persons.
Many serious social and health problems confronted the Department during the past year. "Loss of employment because of layoff or discharge"; "illness or disablement of the Recipient or Parent in the home"; and the "loss of the wage earner because of death or absence from the home"; were in the most part responsible for the increas- ing demand for public assistance.
48% of the applications for assistance was made neces- sary by "loss of employment because of layoff or dis- charge"; 18% for "illness or disablement of the Recipient or Parent in the home"; 10% for the "loss of the wage earner because of death or absence from the home"; 7% for "illness or disablement of other person in the home"; 6% for "depletion of savings or other resources"; 4% for "decrease of contributions from outside of the home"; 4% for "discontinuance of Unemployment Benefits"; and 3% for other and various reasons.
The year 1950 closed with 128 open cases receiving "out- side" assistance, 101 of which were with a financial set- tlement in Plymouth, 15 cases with settlements in other cities and towns, and 18 cases which were without a set- tlement and a responsibility of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
At the Annual Town Meeting held on March 25, 1950, the Finance Committee recommended, and the Town voted $100,900 for Welfare Assistance, which was not suf- ficient to meet the demands made upon the Department, and it was necessary to request a Special Town Meeting which was held on October 26th. There being no quorum present, the meeting was postponed to November 2nd
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when the Meeting voted $28,000 of additional funds for Welfare purposes. $6,826.46 not being used was returned to the Excess and Deficiency Account on December 31, 1950. The Board also returned to the Excess and Defi- ciency Account on December 31, 1950 $1,821.73 of the Wel- fare Department's Salary Appropriation.
INFIRMARY
The services and facilities of the Town Infirmary were extended during the year to 16 persons. We lost two per- sons by death, five to hospitals and three were discharged for other reasons.
On Christmas Eve the Lion's Club gave the residents of the Infirmary a Christmas Party which was very much appreciated by all of those making their home at the Infir- mary.
In June of the past year the Plymouth Gas Company extended Gas Service to the Town Infirmary. The instal- lation of a Gas Stove in the kitchen made it possible to eliminate the very old and inefficient wood-burning cook stove and a fire hazard.
The increase in food costs at the Infirmary has been somewhat off-set by use of a limited amount of surplus commodities made available to us at a small cost by the State Department of Public Welfare.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD G. ROBERTS, Chairman GORDON S. McCOSH ANDREW RAE, Jr.
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REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
To the Citizens of the Town of Plymouth:
The Department of Public Welfare Bureau of Old Age Assistance presents herewith their annual report for the year 1950.
The Old Age Assistance program is administered by a local Bureau made up of three members of the Welfare Board and is handled through the Massachusetts "State Plan" in accordance with the law, rules and regulations of the State Department of Public Welfare. The budgets made out in all cases are figured with the State budget as a basis and the recipient's budget is figured individually in regard to food, fuel, rent, clothing, etc., and the budgets vary considerably according to the individual's living conditions, whether living alone, boarding, rooming or living in a family group.
All the aged citizens of Massachusetts who are sixty- five years of age or over have to meet certain require- ments as established by the State Law. The new State District Office for Plymouth is now located in New Bed- ford, Mass., as Plymouth was transferred from the Brock- ton District May 1, 1950 when the State Department of Public Welfare revised their districts throughout the State.
A total amount of $439,782.80 was spent for Old Age Assistance in 1950 of which $171,480.58 was received from the Federal Government and the State's payments were approximately $196,200.00, leaving an approximate cost of $72,102.22 to be met by the Town of Plymouth. The State's share of the cost for this assistance must be ap- propriated each year by the Town because the money re-
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imbursed by the State goes into the Excess and Deficiency Fund of the Town and is not used directly for Old Age Assistance.
In September many of the recipients sixty-five years of age and over received increased Social Security Benefits or received Social Security Benefits for the first time and this resulted in a saving of $1,359.00 beginning with the month of October.
The year 1950 brought many changes within the De- partment. The Department was greatly saddened by the sudden death of the Supervisor, Edmund J. Priestley, who passed away July 16, 1950 after a serious illness. He had served the Department as Supervisor of Old Age As- sistance and Aid to Dependent Children since October 28, 1944.
The Board has changed-administrative plans in view which require careful consideration and at present a mem- ber of the regular staff is Acting Supervisor and the De- partment is functioning with a personnel of five workers. A new clerk was added to the staff in August.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD G. ROBERTS, Chairman GORDON S. McCOSH ANDREW RAE, Jr.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
To the Citizens of the Town of Plymouth:
The Board of Public Welfare presents herewith its an- nual report for the year 1950.
The Aid to Dependent Children program is administered
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under the Social Security Act of the Federal Government, and is handled in accordance with the State Plan for Massachusetts. The State issues a regular mandatory bud- get which is followed in all cases. Aid under this program is granted to all children under sixteen years of age or up to eighteen if still attending school, who have been de- prived of parental care and support due to the death of either parent, divorce, separation, desertion, mental or physical incapacity of either parent, or commitment of the parent to an institution. This aid is given to the par- ent or relative who is caring for the child to enable the child to be brought up in a suitable home and to receive proper care.
One-third of the entire cost of this aid is met by the State of Massachusetts, and the Federal Government con- tributes in accordance with the number in the family. Prior to October 1950, the contribution from the Federal Government was for the children only, but as of that date the parent comes under the participation from the Fed - eral Government, and we now receive increased grants. The method of paying these grants was also changed, and during 1950 grants for fourteen months were received in- stead of twelve. However in 1951 twelve grants will be received.
The total cost for the Aid to Dependent Children pro- gram in 1950 was $123,195.03, and an amount of $38,373.60 was paid by the Federal Government. The State's share of this aid was $41,065.01, leaving the Town's share $43,756.42.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD G. ROBERTS, Chairman GORDON S. McCOSH ANDREW RAE, Jr.
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REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS For The Year 1950
The Board of Cemetery Commissioners herewith pre- sent their report for the year 1950:
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries
The hard-surfaced roads in these cemeteries were sealed with emulsion and sand in 1950 and 1334 square yards of hard surface were laid on the dirt roads in Vine Hills Cemetery.
Because of the need of lots for future use we are asking for an appropriation of $2,000.00 to be used for the pur- chase of fill for the Vine Hills Cemetery Addition.
Another dry well has been constructed on Oak Avenue to care for the surface water and approximately seventy- five trees and shrubs were planted this year.
We are asking for an appropriation of $11,000.00 for 1951.
Burial Hill
The brick powder house was pointed and repaired this year. Additional European Beeches were planted and 516 square yards of hard surface were applied to the walks. Considerable progress has been made in the program of repairing, capping and recutting the letters on the his- torical monuments.
We are asking for an appropriation of $3,200.00 for 1951.
The Outlying Cemeteries
In the Outlying Cemeteries forty trees were planted this year and the road leading to the Old White Horse
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Cemetery was repaired and put in good condition. We are asking for an appropriation of $2,500.00 for these cemeteries for 1951.
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR E. BLACKMER, Chairman.
RICHARD T. ELDRIDGE JOHN B. FINNEY Board of Cemetery Commissioners
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit a report for the year 1950 as Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Total number of weighing and measuring devices:
Tested
1045
Adjusted
44
Sealed
1023
Not Sealed
14
Condemned
8
Sealing fees collected
$539.95
Adjusting fees collected
15.75
Total
$555.70
Inspections which permit no fee; weighing of articles put up for sale:
Total number tested
399
Correct 276
Underweight
41
Overweight
82
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD E. GILES,
Sealer.
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REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Town of Plymouth:
The Planning Board held its organization meeting on March 11, 1950, and on March 22 approved and adopted its official regulations pertaining to subdivisions.
The Board held twenty-five meetings during the year, gave preliminary hearings on fourteen proposed subdivi- sions, and formally approved ten subdivisions comprising nearly two thousand building lots.
The Board has served as part of the Zoning Committee, as directed by the Town, and concurs unanimously with the recommended Zoning By-law.
As required by law, the Board has joined with the Board of Selectmen in approving certain public ways; and has held meetings with members of the Board of Water Commissioners and the Board of Health, and with other Town officials. This cooperation and help of other Town . departments is greatly appreciated.
Town Engineer Chase, by invitation of the Board, acts as an ex-officio member, and his advice is especially valuable.
The Planning Board expresses its particular apprecia- tion to Town Accountant Cora Grady, who, without com- pensation, has attended meetings, prepared all records, and conscientiously looked after the numerous details associated with the Board's affairs. Solely because of her help, the Board has been able to turn back $912.95 of its original appropriation of $1,000.
As directed by the Town in Article twenty-three of the 1950 Warrant, the Board has discussed with the Assessors
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the preparation of Assessors' Plans and has concurred with the program proposed by the Assessors and the consequent and necessary expense. The Board recom- mends continuation of the program.
JAMES A. WHITE, Chairman ELLIS W. BREWSTER A. LINWOOD ELLIS, JR. WALTER H. NEAVES AMEDEO V. SGARZI Plymouth Planning Board
HOUSING AUTHORITY
The year 1950 saw the completion of the first public housing project in Plymouth, the forty-apartment village located off Olmstead Terrace. As the year began, con- struction was well under way, and the apartments were fully occupied in the middle of August by forty Plymouth veterans and their families.
The apartments include twenty three - bedroom and twenty two-bedroom homes, and are designed entirely for families with children. Veterans having honorable discharges, and earning no more than $3,250 per year if they have less than three children or $3,500 a year if they have three children or more, are eligible as tenants. In choosing the first forty tenants, the Housing Authority placed the greatest emphasis upon the urgency of the need for housing in each particular case.
Rents vary with the income of the tenants, tenants with less than three children paying 18% of their income and tenants with three or more children paying 14% of their income. The reason for this is that under the State
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law responsible for the building of the project-Chapter 200, Acts of 1948-it is provided that the Commonwealth will subsidize the rents to bring them more in line with what the veterans could have expected to pay for housing had they not gone to war and come back in an inflated real estate market. Since no subsidy whatever would be available to a man whose income was just too high to be eligible for occupancy, it was thought unfair to give fully as much subsidy to the veteran earning almost the maximum as would be given to a veteran earning perhaps $2,000 a year.
The project will be administered by the Housing Authority for a period of forty years, during which 5% of the rental income will be paid to the Town in lieu of taxes. No Town money was spent in the development of the project, but instead the money was borrowed by the Authority from private sources, and will be paid back out of the rents and subsidy. The present balance sheet of the Authority follows this report.
ASSETS
Development Fund-
Plymouth National $8,701.93
Development Fund-
National Shawmut
11,531.81
$20,233.74
Administration Fund
7,743.87
Tenants Accounts Receivable
206.95
Sundry Accounts Receivable
54.80
Prepaid Insurance
3,175.43
Development Costs
445,012.11
Incompleted Contracts
700.00
TOTAL ASSETS
$477,126.90
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LIABILITIES
Contract Retentions
Withholding Taxes
$7,957.06 40.80
Notes Authorized
460,000.00
Interest Accrued
1,213.01
Contract Awards
700.00
Dwelling Rent Income
$9,043.19
Less Expenses-
Management
$375.06
Utilities
1,349.88
R M & R
102.22
1,827.16
7,216.03
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$477,126.90
THOMAS F. QUINN, Chairman
LOUIS G. GIOVANETTI
M. HERBERT CRAIG
H. GORDON McNEIL
LAWRENCE H. STILES
LESTER W. THURBER, Executive Director
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33rd ANNUAL NURSING SERVICE REPORT OF THE PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY NURSE ASSOCIATION
1949 - 1950
Another year has gone by and again it is time for the Annual Report of the Nursing Service. How can we best give you an account of our work and accomplishments, our needs and goals we still have been unable to meet? That is the question. We appreciate the ever-growing interest in our organization and service so will try to give you, who have been responsible for our growth and progress, as true a picture as possible of what has been happening since we last met.
During the year October 1, 1949, through September 30, 1950, there were 5,197 visits made to patients in Plym- outh and Kingston - an increase of 752 visits over those made the previous year. 4,906 of these visits were to patients needing nursing care, general bedside care, treat- ments, post-operative dressings and hypodermic medica- tions. The remaining 291 visits included 57 for infant health care and teaching; 26 for pre-school, school and adult health supervision; 108 for communicable diseases; 3 to crippled children to arrange for hospital or clinic care; 3 to patients with tuberculosis; 37 for maternity care, and 57 to persons not in need of nursing care or not at home. Assistance was given at 3 home deliveries. 603 of all the visits were to patients in Kingston.
Of the 5,197 visits, 3,116 were free - an increase of 1,076 free visits over the number made last year, 654 part fee, 1,072 full fee, and 355 John Hancock and Metropolitan Insurance paid. There was an increase of more than 500 visits over those made in 1948-1949 to patients who are receiving Welfare Aid or Old Age Assistance. These
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patients received 1,583 nursing visits of the total 3,116 free visits made by the nurses. This seems like a good time to remind you that our services are available to all, regardless of financial status, who need part-time nursing service. Whether you can pay for the service or not makes no difference, but the more you who can pay for services rendered call upon us, the more free visits we can afford to make.
There were 22 Well Child Conferences held with Dr. Dorothea M. Moore, pediatrician, making 322 examina- tions of infant and pre-school children attending the con- ferences. This is one of the services with a growing de- mand in the community, where mothers may bring their babies and pre-school children for physical examinations by a specialist, may discuss feeding and behavior problems and receive guidance. Whenever physicial defects are de- tected or need for medical treatment is found, the mother is always referred back to her family physician for diag- nosis and treatment. Also in conjunction with the Well Child Conference, we have added two new services this past year. One is the follow-up care of premature infants who are referred to us at the time of their discharge from the hospital to their homes. The other is with the School Department. When the pre-school children become of school age, their records are transferred to the school nurse so that she has the physical records for the children who have been followed through the Well Child Confer- ences previous to the time of their attending school.
Assistance was given the Board of Health at the Diphtheria Immunization Clinics held in the spring. The number of children attending these clinics greatly de- creased this year. The reason is not clear - is it that more parents are taking their children to private physi- cians and we have a well-immunized community or do we need more publicity and more teaching about the importance of this immunization for the protection of the child against this disease?
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Mrs. P. Cabot Rushton, R.N., worked full time during July and August to provide vacation relief for the nurses and Mrs. Joseph Darsch, practical nurse, continued as previously to help with the nursing care as needed throughout the year.
A year ago we stated that too large a proportion of the nurses' time was spent in giving nursing care to sick patients and too little time spent in health education activities for a well-rounded public health program. At that time we wondered if this might be remedied by an increase in the staff. Starting the first of the year 1950, we were fortunate in having Mrs. P. Cabot Rushton, R.N., added to our staff on a part-time basis. At the close of the year, we find the same condition existing. With the number of visits increasing to over the 5,000 mark, we find the largest increase again in the calls requiring actual nursing care and, once more, not enough time or a large enough staff to meet the demands of giving the necessary nursing care to the sick and, at the same time, carrying on a good health education program. We still feel that there is a great need for more health teaching services in the community and a more active tuberculosis program.
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