"cynicism'' in his dealings with the Island's seniors.

But Sir John said Mr. David Allen MP was playing politics and owed all senior citizens an apology.

Mr. Allen, the Progressive Labour Party's Shadow Tourism Minister, rose during the Motion to Adjourn to say he was concerned by remarks Sir John made to a television reporter during the annual senior citizens' tea party at Camden last weekend.

Sir John painted "a very rosy picture'' about services for seniors in "a very cynical attempt to really curry the support of senior citizens in this community'', Mr. Allen charged.

The Premier told the reporter that 80 percent of senior health care costs are covered by Government, but did not mention the care is funded by the hospital levy paid by workers, Mr. Allen said. "That is no gift from a munificent Government.'' And while Sir John talked about private groups that help seniors like Meals on Wheels, he did not mention that Government support for Meals on Wheels has been frozen at $16,000 for the last three budgets.

Meanwhile, the hospitality budget for the Premier's Cabinet office rose to $228,000 from $170,000 in 1991-92, he said.

"I think it is an act of utter cynicism for the Premier to try to take credit and crow about these things, when in fact he has not provided the budgetary muscle for these very important activities.'' If spending was reduced on Government cars, there would be more money to help seniors, he said.

But Sir John swung back hard at Mr. Allen, noting that about 1,000 seniors attended the tea party and enjoyed themselves.

"To put a negative spin on that purely for political reasons, I consider it an insult to the senior citizens of this Country,'' the Premier told the House. Mr. Allen owed seniors an apology.

The PLP talked about cutting Government cars, but also said it would increase Cabinet ministers' salaries to $125,000 if elected.

That provoked howls from the Opposition benches that the salary figure was "a rumour'' circulated by The Royal Gazette .

The Premier said there is no doubt seniors are better off today than two, three, or five years ago. There are more programmes, the private sector is more generous, and an enormous amount of work is done by volunteers, he said.

And just yesterday, Sir John said a senior stopped him in the street to thank him for pension increases in recent years.

"The country owes a debt of gratitude to seniors not to be denigrated by any member of this House,'' he said. "We will work toward ensuring that our senior citizens get what they're entitled to, and they're entitled to an awful lot.'' Mr. David Allen The Hon. Sir John Swan.