politicking'' by Government, car dealer and former Toruism Board member charged yesterday.

Mr. Harry Cox, the president of Pearman-Watlington Ltd., accused the United Bermuda Party of trying to attract votes "at a frightful expense to the community''.

His blast came on the heels of Monday's announcement that new legislation will be introduced to allow owners to sell their cars second-hand without waiting a year to buy a new one.

Government hopes to have the legislation in place by April 1.

Mr. Cox said yesterday it was absurd to believe the number of cars would not be significantly increased on Bermuda's already "shockingly crowded'' roads.

And the policy change also threatened the survival of Bermuda's tourism industry, because visitors were already dissatisfied with traffice.

Mr. Cox also found the timing of the policy change "shocking''. He said an unprecedented number of second-hand vehicles would soon be available as a result of the Canadian Base closure and announced reductions in personnel at the US Naval Annex.

But Mr. John Bento, the Chamber of Commerce's car dealer committee chairman and general manager of Holmes, Williams and Purvey Ltd., welcomed the new policy.

Calling the number of cars in good working condition which are destroyed each year "wasteful'', Mr. Bento said Government should be commended for "recognising the problem '' and acting on it.

He felt that in the long-term, the new legislation would result in stability in the market place.

Mr. Bento said by making cheaper, used cars available "everyone has an equal opportunity to buy what they can afford''.

National Liberal Party chairman Mr. Graeme Outerbridge said: "We are very encouraged to see that Government is taking a policy from our platform.'' Mr. Outerbridge said he hoped Government would act on other suggestions, such as a review of the use of Government vehicles by civil servants and the introduction of a point system for traffic offenders.

Shadow Trasnport Minister Mr. Walter Lister called for further changes, including allowing persons other than the car's owner to drive the vehicle.

Most other car dealers backed the move. Bermuda Motors, director Mr. Edward (Teddy) Chapman said the change would help the local economy by keeping more dollars in the Island.

He expected sales of new cars to slow until the new policy took effect, because owners would wait to sell their vehicles for more money.

PW's chief general manager Mr. William Cox, in an apparent contradiction to his father's view, called the decision "long overdue''.

"But I don't know how they're Dealers split going to avoid used car dealerships from springing up,'' he said.

Mr. Robert Shaw of Shaw Enterprises said he was the only car dealer who opposed the plan at last Thursday's meeting between the dealers and Mr.

Marshall.

He said the move overlooked several major concerns, including people who would purchase new cars as often as possible and abuse of the used car market.

Mr. Shaw said he was also worried that cars with defects that would usually result in the vehicle being scrapped, would slip through TCD.