National Liberal Party said this week.

In a statement signed by leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell, the NLP said the Corporation needed to be reorganised so that it was financially independent.

The Old Town was just as entitled to wharfage fees for Airport freight as the Corporation of Hamilton was entitled to fees for use of the City docks, Mr.

Darrell said.

Instead, Government was collecting the Airport fees, which he estimated at $400,000 a year.

Ironically, "St. George's is now pleading and accepting central Government assistance in the form of grants for various projects,'' he said.

"A firm unwritten plank in the (United Bermuda Party's) unwritten platform has been to dismantle local Government.'' Sir Henry Tucker, the UBP's first leader, "saw to it that the popularly-elected Parish vestries were replaced with Premier-appointed parish councils,'' Mr. Darrell said. "Further, with the passage of time, the councils' responsibility in the parishes has been curtailed.'' The result was that local problems which should be solved by locally-elected representatives were dealt with by the Premier's appointees and civil servants, he said.

"The NLP is fearful that the town of St. George could become a central Government entity, as the parish vestries have become, if the corporate body does not assert itself.''