of the Committee Room during the House of Assembly debate on Friday evening.

Library books had been "dumped'' into it.

"They were not cataloged, just thrown in,'' he said.

Why couldn't Government have first had the room prepared as a library, by putting in shelves and cabinets for the books, he asked.

He hoped the room would be tidied up soon, because the Press often used it to interview MPs and committees often met there.

On a separate issue, Mr. Wade said it was "curious'' that the Human Rights Commission, "a Government institution'', was marching on Parliament to highlight race relations when MPs were on recess -- March 21.

Mr. John Barritt (UBP) rose to explain the Commission had chosen that day because it was marked international race relations day by the United Nations.

While MPs would not be sitting, many would be in attendance, he said.

He added that updating of the House library was long overdue and that the books Mr. Wade said were dumped in the committee room would soon be sorted out and properly cataloged.

Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pamela Gordon remarked that PLP members had sat on the House and Grounds Committee which decided on moving the library to the committee room, so they were fully aware of the plans.

Mr. David Allen (PLP) commented that "the public must be amused at how this discussion has changed to housekeeping arrangements''.

And on that topic, what about a separate smoking room?, he asked.

He said he personally would miss the "quiet'' of the House library where he often did research.

He said the House was probably "most behind of all Government buildings''.

A room was needed for the media to conduct interviews, he said, noting they often resorted to the House steps, which were not pleasant in rainy weather.

"We need that room back,'' he said.

Mr. Roberts said he would like to see more parking bays for MPs. He often had to park on yellow lines, which "does not look good to constituents''.

Dr. Saul said MPs were more in need of cycle parking bays.

He accepted the Committee room was "now a mess'',.

But it would be completely redone. Books would be properly cataloged and "it's not too far away'' for computer terminals to be installed.

A separate smoking chamber was under consideration, he said, but it was at the bottom of a "to-do list''. "A great deal of work is needed structurally, especially to the exterior veranda.'' * * * JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT Dr. Saul said a total of $2,216,000 was allocated for Magistrates and Supreme Court wages and salaries.

They usually sat for 30 days three times a year and also got a $32 a day food and travel allowance.

The cost of operational materials and supplies was up, to $128,000, due to purchases of new equipment, such as tape recorders and filing cabinets for Magistrates Court. Mr. Morton said the 240 percent increase in professional and special services was concerning.

He wanted to know what the travelling Appeal Court judges were paid for their three sittings a year.

He said he was glad the "ridiculous'' practice of having Police officers prosecute cases in Magistrates Court was finally done away with.

He wondered if private lawyers could be hired to work overtime to hear what he claimed was a backlog of cases. Overtime was necessary to expedite the many lower court cases pending, he felt.

Mr. Wade wanted to know when Government would take up the Tumim report suggestion of having court reporters to record Supreme Court cases. The move would speed up cases considerably, thus saving money, he said.

Responding, Dr. Saul said the professional and special services category also included fees for flying in witnesses, autopsies, jurors and preachers fees.

He said the Appeal Court president received $392 a day.

Court reporting would be implemented in due course, he promised.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS Dr. Saul said the AG's 14 staff members now included eight Bermudians, and that number would be increased to ten by the end of the year.

Two Bermudians and two non-Bermudians would be made lower court prosecutors, he said.

A major training programme was underway to train Bermudian lawyers as Crown counsels.

And Bermudians would be hired for the posts of legal advisor, legal administrator and litigation manager.

Salaries in the department would total $1,726,000 for the financial year. Mr.

Morton questioned the "great turnover'' in the department.

He added it was information a non-Bermudian crown counsel had been specially trained abroad by Government, however, was soon "taking flight''.

Mr. Wade said he was alarmed by recent remarks by the Attorney General Mr.

Walter Maddocks concerning recent Court of Appeal decisions.

His comments were "irregular'' and had concerned the legal fraternity.

"It's not very good for Government's top law officer to be critical of the Appeal Court on the sentencing policies,'' he said.

Mr. Barritt jumped to his defence, saying the PLP had taken Mr. Maddocks' remarks out of context. He had not been criticising the Court, but simply answering questions from the media concerning the reasoning behind recent Appeal Court decisions.

Dr. Saul denied claims that the AG's had suffered a "great turnover''.

"Four people left. One went into private practice, one went to work for a bank, one was promoted to judge, and one left the service,'' he said.

* * * OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR Mr. Morton said the department was critical to Bermuda. However, he was concerned that not all accounts had been audited, and had not been for "some years now''.

He demanded the department be brought up to strength so it could produce its report. The current situation would be unacceptable in a business, he said.