Government Leader Milton Scott signalled yesterday.

He warned Bermuda could not attract Supreme Court judges, magistrates or prosecutors to Bermuda because of low pay rates.

Sen. Scott said he often heard people accuse Ministers and MPs of only working one day a week.

But he said he logged a total of 42 hours in his Education Ministry only last week.

And he added that would be impossible without employers prepared to be flexible on hours -- meaning early morning and weekend work to keep up with Ministers' day jobs.

"I look forward to the day when we sit down and look realistically at what it takes to run this Country and set a salary structure and proper contracts,'' Sen. Scott stressed.

He was speaking after Independent Sen. Walwyn Hughes pointed out that the $125,000 pay deal for political Attorney General Lois Browne Evans was higher than the Premier or Minister of Finance could command.

But he said the Premier and Minister of Finance both bore heavy burdens of office -- at least as heavy as a political Attorney General.

Sen. Hughes said: "I think that there will be a move towards bringing parity to others who are out of step.

"And that's where the public may find this not so pleasant and not so acceptable.

"The pressure is on now to move others who are also long-serving and hard-working into that elevated area of salary.'' But Government Sen. David Burch insisted: "It certainly is mischievious to suggest that this amendment is the beginning of a series of amendments to see Members of the Legislature, Members of Parliament's salaries raised.'' And he said one of the principles of UBP Government was administration by conflict of interest -- which the PLP had avoided with Mrs. Browne Evans giving up private practice with adequate compensation for doing so.

He added: "It's a poxy system we inherited and there are a lot more issues ahead.''