the Tourism Minister hire Opposition MP Mr. Julian Hall to defend him against a human rights complaint filed by the Party's treasurer.

UBP MPs and officials say continuation of the dispute between the Hon. C.V.

(Jim) Woolridge and City businessman Mr. Roger Davidson will do the party no good.

The dispute, which was sparked last August by Mr. Woolridge's "little white boys'' comment, has not been resolved despite the intervention of a special caucus group to bring the two men together.

Instead, it appears to have hardened with Mr. Davidson's formal complaint last month to the Human Rights Commission and Mr. Woolridge's subsequent hiring of Mr. Hall, an Opposition strong man who has never passed up an opportunity to muckrake against the governing party.

Mr. Woolridge appears to have severely misplayed his hand by hiring Mr. Hall.

Party members say he has crossed a line that has cost him any support he had within the party.

"Hiring Julian, well that's shattering to be quite honest,'' one Minister said. "A little common sense and decency would say that's not on. It's a crazy move.'' "Of course people are annoyed,'' one UBPer said. "Hiring Julian was a slap in the face to the Premier, a move of absolute arrogance. I would say the people who lobbied the Premier to have (Mr. Woolridge) reinstated would consider it the worst thing they ever did.'' Premier Swan reinstated Mr. Woolridge to the Cabinet 24 hours after firing him for refusing to apologise for a remark against Mr. Barry Brewer and Mr.

Davidson, two former members of his Tourist Board. Mr. Woolridge called them "little white boys who don't mind a black man being in charge as long as they can tell him what to do.'' The Premier's reversal followed strong pressure from people within the party to reinstate Mr. Woolridge and Mr. Woolridge's apology for "any offence (the remark) may have caused.'' The Minister, in speeches and comments since then, has since muddied the intent of his apology.

The caucus effort to get the two men to bury the hatchet failed with Mr.

Davidson's insistence on a personal apology and Mr. Woolridge's refusal to give one. Caucus members, however, believed the issue had died away until news of Mr. Davidson's complaint to the Human Rights Commission.

"They're two hard-headed people,'' one party member said. "Neither will give in.'' "Both men are acting like children,'' one backbench MP said. "I'm surprised that they're dragging it on. I think the Opposition will be very happy about it. It doesn't look good from a public point of view.

"It looks like the party is fighting itself, but most of us don't pay it much attention.'' The dispute between Mr. Davidson and Mr. Woolridge developed when Mr.

Woolridge fired Mr. Barry Brewer from the Tourist Board's cruise ship committee for allegedly leaking information to The Royal Gazette about a cruise ship policy development.

Mr. Davidson subsequently resigned his committee seat in protest against the "white boys'' comment.

MPs acknowledged Mr. Woolridge had a right to hire the best lawyer he saw fit but questioned the selection of Mr. Hall regardless of his legal prowess.

"He could have gone to any other number of qualified lawyers,'' one said.

Yesterday, Mr. Woolridge declined to comment on his hiring of Mr. Hall.

"That's my private business,'' he said. "I don't have to discuss it.'' Indications are that Mr. Davidson's complaint will be a long time with the Human Rights Commission.

"The process is slow and laborious,'' one Minister said.