The Progressive Labour Party's Secretary General has hit back at claims of vote tampering to ensure Premier Jennifer Smith beats any leadership challenge at next week's PLP conference.

Last night a PLP supporter of possible contender Arthur Hodgson claimed branch members had been bypassed in four parishes to allow the handpicking of pro-Smith delegates.

The source said: "They want to stack the deck. A notice was sent out in St.

George's so late that a lot of people got it a day after the meeting.

"In Warwick the delegates asked for a meeting as early as February and again in June but they didn't call a meeting because they said they could not find a venue -- but they didn't make any effort.

"But in Paget they had it around a member's house; in Warwick they could have met at a restaurant or at the Rubber Tree or at a school.

"It was deliberately done to get supporters of the leader.

"The same thing happened in Southampton.

"It was probably done in Devonshire which has one of the strongest delegations.'' But PLP Secretary General Neville Tyrell said branch executives can decide whether to select delegates themselves or put it to the wider membership. He said: "That is not an unusual practice. It is utter rubbish to say that it is an attempt to tamper with votes.

"The process is that branches can select delegates or members can elect them.

The constitution is not firm on either one of those.

"In some places branches elect, if they have not had that opportunity, then they select. The executive votes on behalf of the members -- they have that responsibility.'' Asked whether allowing power to be concentrated in the hands of the branch executive was less democratic Mr. Tyrell said: "I would not use the term undemocratic, it's a process of either, or.'' But the PLP source said: "They do that in extraordinary circumstances if the whole branch is not functioning or they have run out of time.

"These branches deliberately didn't call meetings as part of the strategy to pick the people they wanted.'' The insider also said the leader's speech had been switched to before the crucial vote to give her a chance to rally the troops.

"That's why the `coronation' is being done before -- first they said it had been done before but they couldn't prove that so then a motion allowed the central committee to vote to put the banquet before the conference.

"I am sure there will be a video too.'' Charges of vote tampering PLP Public Relations Officer Corey Butterfield said last night that the only pro-Arthur Hodgson supporters to stand up and be counted -- Dr. Eva Hodgson and Rolfe Commissiong -- both had personal axes to grind.

He said: "All the comment is coming from people not active in the party. He said: "Arthur Hodgson is Dr. Hodgson's brother and Rolfe Commissiong has never supported the current leader in any regard -- why I don't know.

"Rolfe Commissiong did not sit in the Central Committee.

"He has only very recently renewed his membership, he is not a delegate and I am not sure if he is a member of any branch.'' He said members who did not sit on the Central Committee could still attend meetings to voice dissent if they wanted but no one had ever stepped forward during the two years of Ms. Smith's Premiership.

Mr. Butterfield said it could be time to move to end the practice of having the leadership up for grabs every two years because it meant the PLP could turf out a leader who had just been endorsed by the electorate.

He said he hadn't heard that anyone was pushing for it to be a five-year automatic term but he said this change would be wise.

He said any change -- including a rumoured move to have the election on a show of hands rather than a secret ballot -- could not come in time to affect the possible challenge to Ms. Smith next week. PLP backbencher Dale Butler said: "It's difficult to see what will happen and how people will vote. As it is a secret ballot it will be interesting to see what happens.

"Everyone is walking on egg shells, no one wants to be the one who leads to dissension and split in the party.

"No one wants to go back to the splits in the past. It's a ticklish matter in any party that has had its taste in Government -- can a leadership challenge be done in a diplomatic way in the interests of the party and the country? "I think it's healthy the Premier has stated she welcomes a challenge.

"At the moment people are trying to keep it internal as a family matter rather than broadcast their intentions to the public, it's natural.

"It's not because they are frightened or they think they may be seen as traitors, it's an attempt to keep matters inside, where they should be.'' Asked why the debate couldn't be public Mr. Butler said it was because the PLP was new to Government.

He said: "It's new for the party, if it was the fifth time around there would be people making flyers, there would be writing campaigns and TV commercials.

"Naturally when it is the first time there is worry it might lead to another split within the PLP -- no one wants to go back to those dark gloomy days.''