Bermudians of both races have made it clear to Human Rights Commission chairman Canon James A. Francis that they want more time to talk to each other.

"People felt that 45 minutes of discussion was far too short, by eliminating the panels this will increase the time for sharing to an one and a half hours'', Canon Francis told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

An increase in black attendence swelled by a large white minority at the Francis Patton school trebled the numbers from their first meeting in December.

Whites were conspicuous by their attendance.

"It was very pleasing to see the number of white people attending,'' Canon Francis said. "The feedback from the groups was most positive and pleasing.'' Canon Francis said the change was a matter of meeting the needs of the people.

The first meeting in December used panelists with questions invited from the floor. The second meeting saw guest panelists Dr. Eva Hodgson, Mr. B.W.

(Jordy) Walker and Mr. Ron Lightbourne each restricted to 10 minutes speaking time.

The next meeting, on Thursday, February 17, at Southampton Glebe school, has been refined once again.

"We will have a welcoming beginning followed by instructions on how the groups work and race relations minister Jerome Dill will close the meeting,'' Canon Francis said.

He added that after recorders make their reports at the end of the group discussions there will not be a question period at the end.

Canon Francis said there was no doubt the intimate and anonymous group discussions were "an overwhelming success''.

"Bermudians of both races are concerned about racial problems and are willing to deal with it together,'' he said. " It is very encouraging.'' Last month's forum saw Bermudians at a grassroots level from all walks of life sharing their personal experiences.

One white middle-aged Bermudian of Portuguese descent said he was stunned at the level of candor and willingness to listen and understand. The question raised in one group by an elderly black man - "Why won't white people talk about race'' -- was both simple, sincere and profound, according to the white man.

"I was puzzled at first because white people talk about race all the time just like black people, and then it dawned on me that the problem was that we were not talking to each other,'' the man said.

Canon Francis emphasised that the protection of anonymity at the level of Press, radio and television in the groups was most important.

Canon Francis pointed out that the Press were more than welcome to share the recorders' consensus from each group, but without names.