should think again.

It is probably sensible of us to remind them of the Richard Hector Case when the then Senior Magistrate sued the Mid-Ocean News and, to a lesser degree, this newspaper and the Attorney General, over an alleged libel. The case involved a gaggle of lawyers, some QCs from London, and stayed in the courtrooms for 54 working days. It cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and caused considerable damage to all of those involved, including some of the lawyers.

It ended in a hung jury and was never taken to court a second time. The participants were so exhausted by the fight that not one of them wanted to go through the whole thing a second time.

If any politician wants that kind of purgatory in an election year then so be it, but it will not be pretty. Libel cases are not subject to the same rules as criminal cases and in libel actions lawyers are allowed to ask very wide ranging questions. Many of those questions most politicians can do without.

During the Hector Case, the Editor of this newspaper was even asked questions about his private divorce proceedings.

Given the confrontation in the House of Assembly in recent years, it will be no surprise to anyone that political leaders are threatening law suits. It is an indication of just how much too far things have gone.

It has seemed to us for some time now that members of the House were forgetting that while they enjoyed privilege on the floor of the House, that same privilege does not extend outside the House.

House privilege is designed to foster open debate and was never intended to cover personal attacks and the acrimony which it is now too often used to protect. The Westminster System was intended to be operated by people who would never think of stooping to personal attacks; by ladies and gentlemen exercising good behaviour.

Bermuda must return to that good behaviour because the bad examples set by parliamentarians are taken by the younger public as an acceptable standard.

Many of the older population are able to dismiss the talk with, "It's just that lot again.'' But that is not true of everyone and too often people copy the behaviour they witness. We have said before that there is little wonder school children fight and argue and condemn one another when that is what they see done by the people their parents elect to office.

The ruling party must take the lead and refuse to participate in this acrimony and must also refuse to be angered. The rest of the members will follow and if they do not they will be or look foolish.

It seems to us that is one good way Bermuda can begin 1998.