Commission of INnquiry into the postponement of Bermuda's Independence referendum on August 15, says a Government backbencher.

The Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto added her voice to that of fellow United Bermuda Party backbencher Dr. David Dyer, who earlier called for a probe into the postponement.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade also demanded yesterday for an inquiry.

He said the House of Assembly should be recalled as soon as possible to discuss what happened in the lead-up to the referendum, including the cancellation of the poll on August 15.

"We need a Commission of Inquiry,'' he said.

Much of the controversy over the referendum stems from Hurricane Felix.

Felix passed close to Bermuda early on the morning of the poll -- fixed for August 15 -- bringing high winds and damaging seas. The causeway linking St.

David's Island with Hamilton Parish was temporarily impassable, and about a third of the Island was without power.

At 8 a.m., Cabinet Secretary Mr. Leopold Mills went on the radio to say the referendum had been postponed indefinitely.

Returning officers who went to Hamilton to collect their ballot boxes found the doors of the Government Administration Building locked, and at least one officer reported being telephoned at home and told not to show up for the vote.

However, the law provided for no such postponement. The vote could only be delayed by 24 hours if polling officers opened the 20 polling stations and immediately shut them on account of the hurricane.

Had that not happened, the referendum would apparently have become null and void, or been decided on the basis of ballots cast in two advance polls.

Shortly after noon, after reported intervention by Governor Lord Waddington, the returning officers were summoned to Hamilton and told to open and close their polling stations so the referendum could be held the following day.

A little earlier, Mrs. DeCouto and Mr. John Barritt had gone to Supreme Court to force the same result.

Mr. Wade complained that then Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan, sensing the overwhelming `no' vote, had attempted to delay the referendum and Mr. Mills was doing his political bidding. Sir John and Mr. Mills denied this.

"We need to look at the whole conduct of the referendum, Sir John Swan's cancellation of the referendum, and the expenditure of funds,'' said Mr. Wade.

"The whole conduct needs to be looked at and investigated.'' Mr. Wade also called for a probe into broadcasting rules, and whether these had been broken in the lead-up to the poll.

"The new Premier ought to clear the air.'' Said Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto: "I wish to issue a clarion call for an inquiry into what went down when the referendum was called off.

"I think there should be an inquiry under the Commission of Inquiries Act together with all of their subpoena powers as soon as possible.

"The new Premier should set it up, otherwise democracy in Bermuda will be undermined.''