at odds over how late the House of Assembly should sit.

Government hopes debate will begin today and end on Friday. That would mean much more succinct debate than last year, when it stretched over four House sittings from November 12 to December 3.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade said he believed the Throne Speech debate could be finished on Friday. But he rejected Government's view that the House should rise at 7 p.m. each of the two days.

"We can't go until seven and have two days,'' Mr. Wade said. "It would take us longer than the hours it gives us.'' Rising each day at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. would be more realistic, he said.

"Government seems interested in curtailing the discussion.'' Government Whip Mr. John Barritt said the United Bermuda Party Government was "prepared to debate the Throne Speech for so long as is necessary.'' However, "we see very little point in going into the late hours of the night and the wee hours of the morning,'' Mr. Barritt said. "What we're proposing to do is to adjourn the debate at about seven or eight tomorrow night and continue on Friday and finish off on Friday.

"Based on last year's performance, that may be something of an achievement.'' Mr. Barritt and Mr. Wade disagreed over whether late House sittings were productive. When the House sat all night, not only the day and night of the sitting were lost, but much of the next day as well, Mr. Barritt said.

Mr. Wade said his members were "always constructive,'' whatever the hour.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan is to open debate on the Throne Speech delivered by Governor Lord Waddington on November 4. Crime, racism, education, the Bases, and Independence were among the issues Government promised to address.

Mr. Wade said his Reply to the Throne Speech will deal with Government's approach to the Independence issue -- "Government's own position regarding Independence and their leadership in that area, or lack of leadership.'' Ideas to address the Island's crime problem that emerged from a recent Progressive Labour Party conference would be revealed, he said.

And Government's "reprehensible'' handling of the Base closures would be highlighted, he said.