Civil servants are doing the political bidding of pro-Independence Government Ministers, Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade has charged.

Government Information Services director Mr. Gavin Shorto had no business writing a letter to the Editor of The Royal Gazette regarding what Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said or did not say, Mr. Wade said.

The Progressive Labour Party leader also complained about GIS helping with arrangements for pro-Independence Ministers to take part in debates and recent comments by Parliamentary Registrar Mrs. Marlene Christopher about the turn-out at last Tuesday's advance poll.

"What I find disconcerting is the manner in which civil servants are carrying out what I consider to be the political bidding of Government members, especially those in favour of Independence,'' Mr. Wade said.

But Human Affairs and Information Minister the Hon. Jerome Dill defended the civil servants and accused Mr. Wade of unfairly attacking those who could not defend themselves.

On Thursday, the Gazette published a Letter to the Editor from Mr. Shorto in which he took exception to comments recently made at a Hamilton Lions Club meeting by Mr. David L. White, Editor of The Royal Gazette .

Mr. White was commenting on a controversy over an account of a three and a half hour speech Sir John made in the House of Assembly in June.

The Gazette report at the time said Sir John had threatened to withdraw the licences of Bermuda broadcasters. The newspaper has since admitted that the Premier's speech in the House included no such remark.

In response to a question after his speech to the Lions, Mr. White said the reporter had been late arriving at the House and a sub-editor had inserted the quotation based on a television interview the Premier gave the same night.

In his letter, Mr. Shorto said Mr. White's explanation of how a disputed quotation attributed to the Premier found its way into print "cannot be correct.'' The Premier appeared on television that night, but "said nothing about broadcasting licences,'' Mr. Shorto said.

"Sir John never threatened to withdraw broadcasting licences -- not in the House, not on television, not in public, not in private, and probably not even in his sleep.

"His belief in the value of freedom of speech is as strong as your own,'' Mr.

Shorto wrote the Editor. "However, he believes he should be able to criticise media coverage of the news as freely, though perhaps not quite his often, as you criticise his part in making the news.'' Mr. Wade said Mr. Shorto's remarks were inappropriate from a civil servant.

"The civil service is getting too deeply involved in what are political matters,'' he said.

He also cited GIS involvement in arranging for Cabinet Ministers to speak at Independence debates.

And he took exception to public comments by Mrs. Christopher, the Parliamentary Registrar, following the first advance poll for the referendum.

As the advance poll closed, Mrs. Christopher told The Royal Gazette : "In my experience, there were far more people voting today than in previous advance polls, even for general elections.'' Mr. Wade said the comments were inappropriate from a civil servant, in light of the PLP's referendum boycott call. And he said there was no basis for comparison to previous advance polls, because no referendum or general election had ever been held at the height of the summer holiday season.

Mr. Dill defended all the civil servants.

Mr. Shorto had "conducted himself impeccably'' throughout the contentious Independence debate and remained quiet in the face of harsh criticism of Independence advertising which some perceived to be biased. Mr. Shorto wrote the Letter to the Editor because the Premier was off the Island and "couldn't speak for himself,'' he said. "A civil servant is clearly under a great duty to remain impartial and out of the fray,'' Mr. Dill said. "I think Gavin Shorto recognises that duty, and I don't think he crossed the line.' Mr. Dill said that when he announced his Independence information campaign, he identified a GIS official responsible for coordinating Independence speakers.

"I don't see what the problem is there,'' he said. The official "had an obligation to do that.'' As for Mrs. Christopher's comments, Mr. Dill said voting is "at the heart of democracy,'' and "surely it must be within the purview of of a civil servant charged with the responsibility of ensuring that advance polling goes smoothly to pass comment on the fact that the level of voting has been high.

"It is Mr. Wade who puts himself in a difficult position by doing something which, shall I say, is unusual in a democracy -- that is to encourage members of the electorate not to vote.''