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months under review, seven courses were conducted in various districts and 112 successful candidates received the departmental Certificate of Leadership proficiency. These totals represent more than a 100-per-cent. increase in trained leaders for Church programmes over the past twelve months. In addition, leadership training courses were conducted for specific groups in accordance with the policy of continually widening the scope of leadership training. Leaders were trained and examined for the following organizations : Boys' Brigade,. Legion of Frontiersmen, Catholic Youth Clubs, Sunshine League, Air Training Corps,. Junior Labour League, and Toe H. Leadership training for specific sporting activity was carried a step further with organized courses for indoor basketball referees and coaches, athletic, table tennis,, soccer, and swimming coaches. Grants There was an increased number of requests for financial assistance under the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act, 1937. This made it necessary to alter the subsidy basis,, which was previously £1 for £2, to £1 for £3. The vote was also increased from £35,000 to £50,000. The table below shows the amount approved for grants and the number of applications since funds were first made available in January, 1946: — £ Expenditure on grants, year ended 31st March, 1946 .. 3,295 Expenditure on grants, year ended 31st March, 1947 .. 37,250 Expenditure on grants, year ended 31st March, 1948 .. 44,660 Total .. .. .. .. .. £85,205 These totals do not include certain grants made where conditions have been imposed and not yet complied with. Applications for grants considered, year ended 31st March, 1946 14 Applications for grants considered, year ended 31st March, 1947 320 Applications for grants considered, year ended 31st March, 1948 513 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 847 The increase in applications during last year, indicates greatly increased national expenditure on recreational facilities, a conservative estimate for the year being £lBO,OOO. This sum constitutes expenditure on recreational facilities or equipment the provision of which would have been greatly retarded or altogether prevented were grant moneys not available. A checking system is maintained on every grant made to prevent misuse of public moneys and to ascertain the effect of physical welfare grants on the community. After a lapse of approximately three months from the expenditure of an individual grant, district Physical Welfare Officers report on the efficiency of the grant in providing recreation for the community, the criteria for assessing such efficiency being based mainly on figures of increased membership of assisted organizations and the provision of permanent facilities. A study of the 141 reports received to date shows that, with a few exceptions, grants have been instrumental in increasing membership of practically every recreational organization. In general, such increase in membership involves the provision of more recreational facilities which are permanently available to the community.

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