Government backbencher and former school principal Dale Butler has been slammed by the Opposition after he failed to attend a school charity event.

The Warwick East MP was invited to attend a book fair at the Clearwater Middle School in St. George's to sell his popular children's books.

Retailers, including the Bermuda Book Store and the Children's Book Store, were invited to set up a store at the school and sell books to parents who in turn would then donate them to the school's library.

But Mr. Butler replied he was only willing to attend the event if he was guaranteed $100 worth of sales. If not enough books sold, Mr. Butler expected the school to make up any difference.

And he added that as a cultural historian he would also be willing to present a seminar to the school -- for a fee of $500.

School representatives were reluctant to criticise Mr. Butler, but did confirm they were unable to meet his demands.

"This was an opportunity for the school to get more books for the library,'' one staff member said. "We couldn't put ourselves in a position where we might end up losing money. There's no way we could guarantee $100 worth of sales and at the end of the day we wouldn't be able to afford to pay out.'' Last night Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith condemned Mr. Butler's actions, saying it was wrong for the former school principal to expect a school to shoulder the financial risk of any business venture.

"I would have hoped that Dale Butler would have seen the mutual benefit of the event,'' he said. "Clearly there's a risk that he may not have sold as many books as he would have wanted to.

"But I thought he could be a bit more generous rather than have the school shoulder that risk.'' Mr. Butler defended his position, claiming that he needs to earn a living.

"Clearwater asked me if I would come and put on a book display and I said that I have been going to these things on a regular basis and sit there for two or three hours and not sell a book,'' Mr. Butler said.

"They asked me what else I can do and I said that, as a cultural historian, I could make a variety of presentations.

"But the deputy principal said that there would not be many people coming and so he declined my services.

"They were the ones who called me and said it was a book fair, but I can't go home with an empty pocket. I said if they could pay me $100, I would come.''