Senate.

He spoke after seeing an interview by Opposition Senate leader Milton Scott broadcast on television on Thursday night.

Senator Oughton, who sits as an Independent, claimed that the Opposition leader implied that he was taking orders from the Premier on how to conduct affairs in the Upper House.

During the Motion to Adjourn Senator Oughton said: "I have to refer to the TV appearance of Senator Scott last night.

"The inference he gave was that I had met with the Premier to receive instructions -- that is so far from the point.

"Yes, I did meet with the Premier and yes it was me who asked for the meeting. The reason I met with the Premier was because it had come to my attention that certain accusations had been made from high ranking UBP MPs that I was being too lenient to PLP members in this chamber.

Oughton tries to `clear the air' "This resulted from the time when I allowed Senator Terry Lister to present his motions when he hadn't presented them in writing.

"The reason for meeting with the Premier was to express my concern that I was seen to be pandering to the PLP Senators.

"I do not take any instruction from either the Premier or the Leader of the Opposition -- I won't take instruction from either party while I am sitting in this chamber.

"I was rather perturbed last night because I had made an appointment to see the Premier because I was being accused of pandering to the PLP and then on TV I was being accused of taking instructions from the Premier. I was upset and concerned that these accusations were being made.

"I take instruction from no one but His Excellency the Governor. There may be times when I am asked to discuss with the Premier or the Leader of the Opposition matters that take place in the Senate and I see nothing wrong with that. I try to sit here and deal with matters of the Senate in an independent manner. I just wanted to clear the air on that point.'' Ironically Senator Oughton came under fire from the Opposition Senate Leader earlier on in the session when Senator Milton Scott moved the motion "that the Senate register its disapproval of the decisions of procedure made by the President during the last three meetings of the Senate''.

But Independent Senator Welwyn Hughes argued that the motion could not stand because of a technicality in Senate regulations, which states that such a motion can only be brought forward if a decision is to be rescinded.

The Senate President agreed and ruled that the motion be rejected.

Despite the obvious disagreements between Senators Oughton and Scott, the President's plan to "clear the air'' was successful. Once the session had concluded the pair shook hands.