read by Governor Lord Waddington on November 4.

A call for a Royal Commission on Crime that was a centrepiece of Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade's Reply to the Throne Speech was scarcely addressed as a potpourri of other issues were explored.

Government backbencher Mrs. Grace Bell MP nearly called for removal from the bench of Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis. She withdrew her remark when challenged by the Speaker.

Comments by Shadow Finance Minister Mr. Eugene Cox sparked charges that the Opposition had "a hidden agenda'' on Independence and income tax.

Shadow Environment Minister Rev. Trevor Woolridge described the Throne Speech as "recycled trash'' from "a reactionary Government'' that only brought legislation forward after something happened.

And another UBP backbencher, the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto, urged Government to pass an anti-stalking law to protect Bermudian women from spurned husbands and boyfriends.

Following on recent criticism of a $500 fine and suspended prison sentence Mr.

Francis gave a 74-year-old man who sexually assaulted his nine-year-old granddaughter, Mrs. Bell said she was "begging for the case to be appealed.'' The Senior Magistrate "obviously has no empathy for the subject,'' she said.

The judgment said it was "okay to harm a youngster.'' Speaker the Hon. Ernest DeCouto rose amid cries from the Opposition benches that House Rule 21(11) prohibited MPs from commenting on the conduct of judges and performance of judicial functions, except on a substantive motion. Mrs.

Bell then withdrew the remark.

Mr. Cox, who described former Government Senate Leader the Hon. Sir John Plowman's recent public comments in favour of income tax as a UBP "trial balloon,'' said both income tax and Independence had been dropped from Progressive Labour Party platforms because they were unpopular.

But if the PLP was elected, it would "educate the people about the two issues and what they mean, then fight the next election,'' Mr. Cox told the House.

Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto, who appeared ready to pick up where she left off last summer as a backbench thorn in Governnment's side, criticised the Throne Speech for not saying how Government would raise needed funds. The environment was also "a grave omission,'' she said.

The lawyer said she was alarmed at the increase in "stalking'' on the Island by spurned husbands and boyfriends. Women's lives were being made "fearful, unsafe, and unpleasant,'' she said. Government needed to table an anti-stalking law "as soon as possible.'' Debate on the Throne Speech resumes on Friday.

Turn to Pages 4, 5 and 6 for the PLP's Reply to the Throne Speech; Report From The House continues on Pages 7 and 8