Independence referendum law can wait.

That was the threat issued in the House of Assembly yesterday by Progressive Labour Party Leader Mr. Frederick Wade.

But Deputy Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman said Government would not respond.

"I see a gun being put to one's head,'' Mr. Pearman told The Royal Gazette .

"I don't see how we can respond under those circumstances.'' Mr. Wade said he would not debate his motion on an Independence Commission of Inquiry before the House rises for Easter on Friday unless more PLP nominees were named to committees dealing with the future of the Base.

Government's Independence Referendum Act 1994 has passed the House. But last week the Senate said it would not deal with the legislation until Mr. Wade's motion was dealt with.

The motion from Mr. Wade calls on the House to reject plans for a Commission of Inquiry on the pros and cons of Independence.

Because of the Senate's action, the motion is now the key to passage of the Independence referendum law. Initially, Government hoped to hold its referendum late this year.

Mr. Wade complained that the PLP was excluded from the main Base negotiating committee and said only one PLP nominee was named to other Base committees announced by Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan last week.

"I'm putting the Government on notice today that unless we get some quick consideration on these matters ..., then I will do my motion when I see fit,'' Mr. Wade said. "I will wait and see what happens during the week on this matter.'' That sparked a cry of "blackmail'' from the Government benches.

"I put names forward,'' Mr. Wade said. "What do I get? A slap in the face.

My face is getting tired of being slapped. It's got two sides. They've both been slapped.'' The Opposition "buried the insult'' of being excluded from the main Base negotiating committee and submitted four names to sit on the air operations and infrastructure committees, Mr. Wade said.

But only one of the PLP's nominees, architect Mr. Arthur Daniels, was named to a committee, he said. The National Liberal Party, with no MPs compared to the Opposition's 18, had fared just as well.

Outside the House, Mr. Pearman said he considered the appointment of former PLP MP Mr. Eugene Blakeney to the infrastructure committee a second example of Opposition representation, though his name was not among those put forward by Mr. Wade.

And former NLP MP Mr. Walter Brangman was chosen as "a well-known citizen, not an NLP member at all,'' Mr. Pearman said.

Membership on other Base committees was up to the Premier, he said. But membership on the two committees named was about completed and he did not expect other committees to be named this week.

"It's his option,'' Mr. Pearman said of Mr. Wade's motion. "If he doesn't take it up, he doesn't take it up.''