Veteran attorney and former Senior Magistrate Richard Hector has stood firmly by his position on the Island's "desperate need'' for a modern court reporting system.

Mr. Hector, who has been president of the Bermuda Bar Council since April, touched on the topic during his speech at the Hamilton Lions' Club weekly luncheon yesterday.

He also stressed that he wanted the Bar Association to be "more proactive, that is doing things ourselves rather than simply reacting to events''.

Mr. Hector said campaigning for the system had "caused me...to get into the bad books of some politicians''.

But he also repeated his statement of a few months ago when he said he would "make a pact with the devil'' if it meant progress.

He called the fact that judges still had to make hand written notes "embarrassing'' and criticised the slowness of Government's action to implement the system.

But the main purpose of Mr. Hector's speech was to give his audience an overall view of the Bermuda Bar Association's role in society.

Mr. Hector said one of his duties as Bar Council president was to encourage "improvements in procedure for a system of law reporting''.

Some of his other duties included: "The maintenance of the honour and independence of the Bar''; "The encouragement of legal education; "The determination of questions relating to etiquette and professional conduct'' for lawyers; "The encouragement of improvements in the administration of justice and procedure, including arrangements for legal advice; "The encouragement of improvements in the administration of justice...''; "The encouragement and support of law reform''; to name but a few.

He said his "responsibilities are not insignificant when one realises that there are now 270 lawyers enrolled to practice in Bermuda...''.

And Mr. Hector gave an example of when the Bar Council's responsibilities were tested, referring to when Premier Jennifer Smith wrote a letter to Canadian External Affairs Minister Saul Froomkin, saying that his attempt to have Attorney General Dame Lois Brown Evans blocked on age grounds "should disqualify him from his (diplomatic) post''.

According to Mr. Hector, a letter was sent to Editor of The Royal Gazette by Bar Association vice-president Ian Kawaley, attacking the Government's politically-based reaction.

It said: "The Association feels strongly that the principle of the independence of lawyers in the practice of their profession is part of the foundation of a democratic society.'' Mr. Hector used the instance as a perfect example of the Bar Association protecting the rights of lawyers.

But he also said the Bar Association was responsible for monitoring the actions of lawyers, of making sure that they do not overcharge people, and that they "keep books'' for all of their accounts.

"If the barrister does not comply with the requirements,'' he said, "the Bar Council may refuse to give him a Practising Certificate, thus preventing him from practising his profession.'' Mr. Hector summed up by saying: "Bermudian lawyers are subject to the most stringent rules in the practice of their profession'' and that it was his responsibility to "ensure members of this honourable profession remain honourable''.

Richard Hector yesterday