platforms to Civil Servants -- in official On Her Majesty's Service envelopes.

And the Progressive Labour Party's manifesto is apparently illegal because it does not carry an address for the printers.

The Royal Gazette understands that copies of A New Bermuda -- the PLP's General Election platform which was unveiled at the weekend -- were delivered to several Civil Servants in the official Government-issue envelopes.

But OHMS stationery is reserved exclusively for official communications -- not party political material.

One Civil Servant admitted: "It was a bit of a surprise -- especially when they were sent to people who probably know the rules on this kind of thing.'' But Cabinet Secretary Leo Mills -- who received one of the platforms himself -- has already reminded PLP bosses that the envelopes cannot be used for the transmission of party material.

Mr. Mills told The Royal Gazette any use of OHMS envelopes for party political material was improper use of the stationery -- and that the PLP had been reminded of that.

He added: "The use of OHMS material is for official correspondence in the normal course of events.

"One would not expect material that is party political to be transmitted in that way.'' A party spokesman last night said the platforms -- thought to be no more than a dozen -- were mistakenly put into the OHMS envelopes by a party volunteer, who was unaware of restrictions on the use of the official envelopes.

He added: "We accept full responsibility for the fact that this instruction was passed on to a volunteer who was not properly, or adequately, briefed on the necessary proprieties.

"The blunder that ensued was brought to the Leader's attention...and she took immediate steps to rectify the situation.'' And the spokesman added that Ms Smith had personally written to the Civil Servants involved apologising for the error.

The news came as it was revealed the election platform is technically against the law without details of the printers ABC Printing, believed to be an overseas firm.

It is understood that the Printed Publications Act of 1971 insists a printer be identified, as well as a publisher.

Attorney General Elliott Mottley could not be contacted for comment last night.

The back of the PLP document carries the sentence: "Produced by RF Communications for the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party. Printed by ABC Printing.'' But the UBP document, although it carries the statement "Printed in Bermuda by the Bermuda Press'', does not give a full address for the printer, either.

REMINDER -- Leo Mills Graphic file name: LEOO