H.—22.

X. PHYSICAL WELFARE AND RECREATION. Last year's report concerned the organization necessary to implement the programme approved by the National Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation and the Government. During the year under review considerable progress has been made in practical achievement. District Committees. Approximately 221 district committees are now formed. Many of these have shown considerable vigour and have, in consequence, advanced the work rapidly, as well as efficiently, within their areas. Head Office Activities. Two courses of training in recreative physical training for women have been conducted, one in Wellington and one in Christchurch. These courses catered for forty-two instructors. To advance interest in tramping and camping in the back-country, tracks in the Harper Pass in the South Island and in the Tararuas in the North Island have been opened up and extended. In the Harper Pass area five tramping huts, ten miles apart, are in course of construction. The University of Southern California offers annually two scholarships in physical education for award to New Zealand students, and the initial appointees took up their scholarships during the year under review. Upon the appointment of Area Recreation Officers, a ten-day course of instruction was run at Head Office, followed six months later by a conference at which the practical problems of the work were discussed and a programme for the ensuing season mapped out as a guide for work in the areas. The Branch assisted the Government's contribution to the Centennial Exhibition by showing an exhibit of photographs kindly lent by the Royal Institute of British Architects. This exhibit demonstrated the latest developments in community planning for health, sport, and fitness. The branch has given assistance to the Public Service Sports Association in its provision of recreative facilities for its members. Establishment of District Offices. During last September Area Recreation Officers were appointed to Wellington, Southland, and Waikato Areas, and as a result of their outstanding success, it was decided to make further appointments for the Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago areas. Activities. The Branch's activities in the field may be summarized as follows : Training of recreation leaders ; physical training classes; group travel ; recreation camps ; sports coaching, especially for beginners ; displays and demonstrations; promotion of new recreative bodies ; advice' and assistance to private recreative organizations ; experimental work —e.g., community centres and supervised playgrounds ; general education for health and leisure-time activity. XI. CINEMATOGRAPH THEATRES. A. Film Censorship. During the year 2,110 films of all classes, totalling 5,163,980 ft., were examined. Of this number, 6 were rejected outright, 127 were passed subject to excisions, 229 were passed with recommendations that they were more suitable for adult audiences, and 13 were passed with the caution that they were not suitable for children. Appeals were lodged against 3 rejections, but were unsuccessful. • An analysis of the work shows—

Quota Films : The countries of origin of the quota films examined were as follows : Great Britain, 70 ; Australia, 2 ; New Zealand, 2 ; United States of America, 420 ; France, 2 ; Russia, 4 ; Italy, 2 ; Austria, 1 (made before the Anschluss). Rejections : Of the 6 films rejected, 5 were " quota " or long films, 1 originating in Great Britain, 2 in United States of America, and 2 in France. General Remarks : During the year under review, as compared with the previous year, the number of rejections was 6, as against 5 ; the number of films requiring amendment increased from 112 to 127, the number of films recommended as more suitable for adult audiences increased from 183 to 229, while the number considered to be definitely unsuitable for exhibition to young people was 13, as compared with 3 in the previous year. There was a notable increase in British films sent to New Zealand, both quota and non-quota — 70, as against 56 in the previous year, and 576, as against 495. Several of these films, made since the outbreak of war, extolled patriotism and emphasized the advantage and privileges enjoyed by peoples living under democratic forms of government. In this connection it is interesting to note that quite a proportion of pictures of this type are also being produced in the United States,

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Quota or Long Films. Non-quota or Short Films. Origin. • Number. Length. Number. Length. Ft. Ft. British .. .. .. .. 74 538,650 576 517,790 Foreign .. .. .. .. 429 3,118,370 1,031 989,170 503 3,657,020 1,607 1,506,960