in community standards of discipline,'' Governor Lord Waddington said in yesterday's Speech from the Throne.

The speech -- which sets out Government's legislative programme and is read by the Governor when Parliament convenes for a new session -- set out several ways of tackling the problem, all of which had been announced earlier. They included: New policing methods brought by English Police Commissioner Mr. Colin Coxall; More emphasis on crime prevention, more officers on the street, and a review of sentencing and punishment; Amendments to the Drug Trafficking Suppression Act to provide for confiscation of proceeds from drug dealing; Support for the National Drug Commission and other groups fighting substance abuse; and A Code of Conduct for Bermuda's schools "which will include vitally important sections relating to discipline and substance abuse.'' Education also got plenty of attention in the Throne Speech, with Government hinting strongly at coming changes in its school reform plan.

"The Government is reviewing the details of plans for the new secondary schools, particularly in light of continuing concern expressed by the community related to the size of the proposed student population at the Prospect facility.'' It is widely expected Government will scale back the numbers at the new senior secondary school at Prospect and provide for more students at the other senior school, Berkeley Institute.

A new Education Act would be tabled to give effect to the school reforms and efforts would focus on development of a new Bermudianised curriculum.

Racial and sexual equality were also touched on in the speech Lord Waddington read in the Senate Chambers inside the Cabinet Building.

Racial harassment would be made a criminal offence and the new Commission for Unity and Racial Equality would produce a code of conduct for the workplace with respect to race.

And a task force would be established "to review and assess the status of women in Bermuda and recommend legislation to give protection to women.'' Government also promised steps to improve the Island's competitiveness, boost tourism, and use the recently-returned Base lands "to become the driving force for the diversification of the Island's economy and the improvement of the Island's lifestyle in the years to come.'' To address unemployment, a Department of Labour Training and Employment would be created, along with a National Training Board.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade, who is to deliver the Progressive Labour Party's Reply to the Throne Speech next Friday, said the Throne Speech formed his "bed-time reading'' on Thursday night.

"It contained what I expected,'' Mr. Wade said. "All the themes are there.

We have to ferret out what they mean.

"It's very flat, with only a simple mention of the problems, as opposed to a speech which talks about creating solutions.''