A well-known figure in the community is taking two housing activists to task for an advertisement they placed in a recent edition of The Royal Gazette .

After criticising Progressive Labour Party backbencher Dale Butler and former PLP political candidate Rodney Smith on a radio talk show, Leon Edmead and his dog Buttons have become the brunt of a joke.

Mr. Butler and Mr. Smith have been hosting community presentations where they discuss "how to buy a house with little or no money down'' -- a theory that Mr. Edmead does not endorse.

And their latest advertisement in The Royal Gazette yesterday for tonight's presentation at Somerset Cricket Club at 8 p.m. invites Buttons Edmead to attend and "find out how you can buy a dog box with no money down''.

Edmead not happy about Buttons ad The advertisement added: "Free dog bones, if Buttons comes.'' A furious Mr. Edmead later said: "I do not think it is funny at all.

"Dale Butler MP and Mr. Rodney Smith -- a has-been politician -- did not like the way I spoke out against their ideas of how to get a house with no money down so they saw fit to run an ad in the paper -- sponsored by Little Venice -- to bring down my dog's name Buttons plus Edmead.

"I don't find it amusing and I am disgusted.'' Mr. Edmead said his telephone started ringing at 6 a.m. with various people in the community calling to say they were upset about what they read in the advertisement.

And he stressed: "I am not associated with these two men who are pushing this issue concerning no money down to get a house.

"I disagree with using Buttons and my name in their ad.

"I disagreed with what they said on the talk show.

"I told Rodney Smith off. He's going to help them (people)? "Rodney Smith, who will move them out of their home if they fall behind in their rent like he did before the election?'' And Mr. Edmead asked: "Is Dale Butler going to do a biography or write books without getting the permission of the people he is writing about? "I don't think so.'' When contacted later, Mr. Butler responded: "Well it is unfortunate that Mr.

Edmead, who calls politicians critters and makes other derogatory remarks about people he doesn't like, had opinions about the programme we were providing and made certain that those opinions were felt.

"In the same way that he dishes it out, he has to be able to take it.'' Mr. Butler admitted that he and Mr. Smith did not have all the answers to the Island's housing problems and stressed this was why they invited everyone to participate in their community presentations.

"The ad was meant to be a joke, but he has overreacted to it. Other people have welcomed the light relief and have called us to say they found it funny.

"They like the idea of the famous Buttons Edmead being present.'' A dog's best friend: Leon Edmead and his dog Buttons have become the brunt of a joke.