to be welcomed.

There was no benefit to be had from continuing the ban while the matter is still before the courts and there is still the possibility that the matter can be settled through arbitration -- the correct approach.

But this dispute, and the possibility that the Oleander may reschedule its Sunday arrival, suggests that the dockworkers may already have gone too far.

This move, which would see Sunday work on the docks end, could result in savings for everyone except the workers, who have come to expect a good deal of overtime pay as a result.

But the winner would be the consumer, who could expect to pay slightly less for transporting goods than they have in the past.

It has been pointed out that the Sunday call started so that shops would have fresh goods available on Monday, but with shops -- and supermarkets often open seven days a week -- there may no longer be any need for the call.

The Bermuda Industrial Union has set the battleground for this dispute on the question of whether employees can be made to work on an overtime basis as opposed to doing it voluntarily.

While employees can claim that they are contracted to work 40 hours a week between certain hours, it is common practice for employees to be asked or required to work longer hours in order to complete essential tasks such as unloading ships, repairing vital equipment or even covering for ill or absent colleagues,. Very often the employee will be paid more to recognise that the work is "overtime''.

These questions should be settled when an employee is taken on -- the person can be told that they will be required to work nights or weekends -- or the issue needs to be settled as part of an accepted practice.

In the meantime, with the suggestion that the Sunday calls may be scrapped, the union has received a reminder of the old saying: "Be careful what you wish for. You may get it.'' CLUBS AND DRUGS EDT Clubs and drugs With the clubs and drugs saga showing no sign of petering out on Friday, United Bermuda Party MP Tim Smith moved to defend and clarify his statements.

Mr. Smith maintains that he never said sports clubs received a direct benefit from any drugs being traded on their premises. The benefit is indirect, in the sense that the trade attracts people to the clubs where they spend money.

There may be little point in extending this debate now. if that is what Mr.

Smith said, then the point also needs to be made that far more people are driven away from sports clubs by the drugs trade than are attracted to it.

The clubs need to take a stand against those who use their fields and the surrounding areas. To do that, they need the help of the public and the Police.

There is no question that some clubs do a great deal to build their communities and to help the youth. But they also need to make it clear that they will not tolerate any drug abuse on their premises at any time.