Independence polls.

The National Association for Reconciliation said the Bermuda Broadcasting Company and VSB surveys were "inaccurate''.

"We don't want people to put any faith in them,'' stressed NAR co-chairperson Mr. Murray Brown.

He said polls carried out by telephone were "inherently flawed''.

"For a start you have to have a telephone to take part. What about those people who don't have one? Additionally the polls require people to have touch-tone phones. The surveys are going to be biased right away.'' Mr. Brown also complained the ZBM survey asked the "leading'' question: "With all the other issues facing Bermuda, should we proceed with the consideration of Independence at this time?'' He added: "ZBM also changed their question, and I would hope they wouldn't combine the results from the two questions.'' In addition, Mr. Brown criticised ZBM for regularly publicising poll updates.

"By doing that, you compromise the conclusions. If, for example, the latest results show people against Independence, that is going to spur those who disagree into making their views known.'' Mr. Murray cast doubt on whether a "representative'' sample of people responded to the polls.

Did people with work permits, for instance, respond? "Since those on permits are not able to vote, they should not have been polled.'' Mr. Murray said the VSB poll was limited to three calls from one household.

But this would not stop one person ringing up three times. "We want to discourage people from putting any meaning into the results.''