Gilbert Darrell have shrugged off the disappointment of not being invited to the conference on Bermuda's labour problems.

The pair said Government should have asked their parties to be represented.

But neither have expressed anger or surprise at being excluded.

"One comes to expect it from this Government. They only come to us in a crisis,'' said Mr. Wade.

The three-day conference at the Princess Hotel was laid on by Government, with help from American labour relations experts.

The meeting, attended by 50 officials from labour, management and Government, ended on Wednesday.

Mr. Wade said it was typical of Government to shut out the Progressive Labour Party.

He said the PLP was never invited to International Labour Organisation conferences in Geneva, even though the Bermuda Industrial Union and management were.

"Government never includes opposition parties, and it doesn't surprise me that they haven't this time. I believe, however, we ought to be invited.'' Mr. Wade said he supported the conference, provided the emphasis was on education.

Said Mr. Darrell: "It would have been nice to have been invited, but it wasn't to be. I'm not upset about it.'' Mr. Darrell believed the conference was a good idea, and could only be a plus.

"There is nothing to be lost by it, and everything to gain,'' he said.

Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman defended Government's decision not to invite the two parties.

And he stressed the United Bermuda Party had not been represented either.

He said the meeting was designed for labour and management who "principally have contractual arrangements''.

"It was a meeting for them. Government was there as facilitators, not as a party. It was not a political party meeting.''