new roadside paid parking scheme, buying up huge blocks of the tickets for use by their employees.

As the Corporation of Hamilton has busily stuffed tens of thousands of dollars of earlier-than-expected revenue into their bank account this week, preemptive corporate participation has forced City officials to rush in two emergency air shipments of replacement tickets for their suppliers.

A second 10,000-book shipment, representing 100,000 parking vouchers, was already ordered and landed in Bermuda this week. A third shipment is expected at the beginning of next week.

The two additional shipments may hold the City supplies until their main shipment arrives by sea in a fortnight.

The City grosses four dollars out every five dollar book of tickets, according to estimates from Corporation of Hamilton secretary Mr. Roger Sherratt.

Printing, shipping and any other costs would come out of that fourth dollars.

The other dollar is split between the agent and the retailers.

The municipality is turning their attention to another pressing matter, as the plan to float a bond to help pay for the near six million dollar cost of the multi-storey car park at Bull's Head has been delayed.

City fathers had hoped to have been closer to having the financing scheme up and running at this juncture. They now hope it will be in place by September.

Some of the new directions being taken by the corporation had to be provided for by legislative amendments to the The Municipalities Amendment and Validation Act 1995, passed by Parliament this year.

The legislative measures included provisions for the City to be able to charge motorists for parking.

Mr. Sherratt, said of the corporate purchase of on-street parking vouchers: "We have found that quite a lot of companies that have commercial vehicles which come into the City, have bought them just in case their trucks cannot use loading zones when doing business in the City.

"Quite a number of companies have staff who need to come into Hamilton in their private cars during the day and they too have been buying vouchers. More were sold than we had anticipated.

"We also understand that quite a few businesses are also buying them for possible promotional purposes. There is a possibility that some would say that if people come in and buy goods, in their stores, they would give them parking vouchers.

"Also, we initially thought we would be able to get 30 or 40 outlets to sell the vouchers. But our agent, Pitt & Company, has been very successful in getting vouchers sold really all over the Island. That exceeded our expectations and in effect, we have a much wider spread of retail outlets selling them. They've become readily available to the public.'' The flurry of buying is expected to settle down within the first two weeks.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sherratt confirmed that there is an interest in increasing the length of time shoppers could be parked at one time in the City.

The steps being taken to create more parking in Hamilton was aimed at satisfying those people who drive to the City for shopping and other services.

But the new roadside system still requires that the car be moved hourly.

Mr. Sherratt stated: "It is a point that we've heard from business, and individuals. For example, ladies coming into Hamilton for their hair appointments. They find that they can't make it in an hour.

"We are reviewing the whole parking situation in Hamilton, but we were going to consider extending the number of two-hour parking bays at City Hall and Number One Shed. We were intending to increase the number anyway once the new parking structure is completed. I'm sure the Corporation will think about implementing it earlier.''