in light of the Progressive Labour Party's boycott call, Opposition Leader Mr.

Frederick Wade predicted yesterday.

"They recognise that there's no chance for a `yes' vote with our position as it stands,'' Mr. Wade told The Royal Gazette . "Perhaps they might consider no vote at all better than a `no' vote.'' The Progressive Labour Party leader was reacting to news yesterday that the Independence referendum planned for this summer could be delayed until around Christmas. Legally, it can be held no later than the end of the year.

Editorial: Page 4 Besides the fact many Bermudians travel in summer, the article cited slim prospects for a `yes' vote if the referendum is held this summer and the possibility that a delay would give more time for Independence support to grow. The story also said some United Bermuda Party members felt a delay would widen divisions in the PLP over the party's call for a boycott.

Mr. Wade said the opposite was true. "As far as we're concerned, the referendum can be held whenever the Government is ready to hold it,'' he said.

"The longer they take to hold it, the more time we will have to campaign and therefore to spread the good news and have people support our approach.'' After launching its boycott campaign with a meeting in Hamilton last week, the PLP holds a second meeting at Sandys Secondary School at 8 p.m. tonight.

"We intend to proceed with our campaign,'' Mr. Wade said. "We will determine our pace and our level of activity in accordance with good campaigning strategy.'' Committee for the Independence of Bermuda chairman Mr. Walton Brown has been trying to bring Government and the Opposition together on the referendum.

Asked if there was any possibility of that, Mr. Wade said: "Any movement has to come from the Government. They're the ones who are defending a position that's indefensible.'' While the UBP had no Independence stance, the PLP position was clear, he said.

The party favoured Independence, but reform of the electoral system and an end to the foreign vote were prerequisites. Government had to produce a White Paper and fight an election on the issue. "There is no compromise on that,'' he said.

Also yesterday, PLP central committee member Mr. Rolfe Commissiong said the UBP was "simply trying to buy time to turn around an untenable position''.

"But what they are doing in effect is digging their own political grave,'' he said.

A delay in the referendum "presages a serious crisis within the ranks of the UBP,'' he said.

The Bermuda Industrial Union will hold a public panel debate on Independence at 8 p.m. on Monday at BIU headquarters.

The panel will include Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess, Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Mr. Alex Scott, National Liberal Party Leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell, and former Bermuda Deputy Governor Mr. Peter Lloyd. The moderator will be Mr. Dale Butler.

The BIU is to decide its position on the referendum at a general membership meeting tomorrow night.