shone some interesting light on the philosophies of at least some of the Progressive Labour Party's members.

Some people, particularly non-Bermudians, may be alarmed that Mr. Hodgson appears to blame them for at least some of the Island's social problems.

Indeed, Opposition MP John Barritt has labelled some his views as Hitler-like.

But the essential thrust of the interview centres on the question of whether Bermuda's development has reached a peak and whether continued economic growth -- and additional population growth -- can be sustained without doing damage to the Island's social fabric.

Mr. Hodgson argues that the Island's very economic growth, and with it the need to import non-Bermudians, has caused alienation among Bermudians who feel they have no stake in the community or believe they will inevitably be overlooked for jobs.

Mr. Hodgson is right when he says that the views of former Premier Sir John Swan on the need for growth were rejected by the electorate at the last Election in the sense that the general public felt social issues were being neglected by the then-Government.

And Mr. Hodgson makes the point that if parents have to work all hours of the day and night to make ends meet or to keep up with the Joneses, the social damage to children and families could be huge.

But if Mr. Hodgson has diagnosed some of the symptoms of the problems facing the Island, determining the cure is much harder.

When Bermuda was enjoying the sustained economic boom of the 1980s, there was a good deal of talk about "sustainable development'' which was seen as a way of capping the excesses of the building boom and the loss of open spaces.

The onslaught of the recession ended much of that talk, because the damage of job losses, business closures and a shrinking economy made it clear that economic growth was essential to the Island's social well being.

Now things have come full circle. Mr. Hodgson, and possibly other members of the Cabinet, would like to see slower growth and an exploration of ways of upgrading Bermudians' skills and helping those who are underemployed.

He is right on the latter points. Training (and retraining), improved education, ensuring that qualified Bermudians have a fair chance at securing jobs are all areas that any Government should be concerned with.

But it does not follow that slower growth must be a part of the solution. Slow growth, or no growth, has a way of becoming negative growth very quickly.

Greater efficiencies, automation (either with machines or through computers) and an emphasis on industries which need capital and knowledge rather than brawn can all reduce job demand while giving the Island the economic success it needs and "the piece of the pie'' people desire.

That is the direction that Mr. Hodgson and his colleagues need to focus on, not the simplistic approach of blaming growth, and as a result non-Bermudians, for the Island's problems.