	FUNCTION NBLANK( IBD, MAX )
C
C	THIS ROUTINE RETURNS THE NUMBER OF LEADING BLANKS IN IBD
C
	CHARACTER IBD(1)*1

	DO I=1, MAX
    	   IF( IBD(I).NE.' ' ) GO TO 1
    	ENDDO
1	NBLANK = I-1

    	RETURN
	END
