author and educator Dr. Eva Hodgson asserted yesterday.

And the co-chairman of the National Association of Reconciliation (NAR) said the recent labour crisis and attitudes indicated that the group was needed more than ever.

NAR, which formed last year to bring blacks and whites in Bermuda together, will hold a public meeting on August 10 at 47 Elliott Street, Hamilton, to discuss cultural experiences and race relations.

The meeting has been organised as a result of the recent labour unrest and comments made by United Bermuda Party supporter and former official, Mr. Edgar Wilkinson in the Bermuda Sun last week.

Mr. Wilkinson, expressing his personal views in a column, contended that race relations "are always exacerbated'' by labour problems, "with blacks tending to side with the workers and whites with the employers ...'' He added that the cultural differences between blacks and whites in Bermuda are so great, that the Island would be a happier place if "we give up our phony efforts at integration and concentrate on encouraging everyone to go after their opportunities in life''.

Dr. Hodgson said improved race relations are needed not only because of people sharing Mr. Wilkinson's view, but also because of the growing percentage of blacks who are becoming cynical about integration.

"There is a large percentage of the black community who are cynical about integration because the political leadership has not been working toward general integration,'' she said, "and integration that has taken place has been so superficial and insincere.

"The NAR believes that all of this reinforces the necessity for there to be some group of Bermudians who believe we must find more harmony than we have.'' Noting that the group's membership grew rapidly at its inception but has slowed down, Dr. Hodgson said: "However, there are members who are actively participating and others outside of NAR who show great interest in community service, such as the group which played in Par-La-Ville Park last week to give support to NAR while we were handing out literature.'' Dr. Hodgson said NAR decided to hold its meeting next month, rather than wait until September as some suggested, because university students who may want to get involved will be home.

"Our hope for Bermuda clearly lies in the younger generation,'' she said, "as it is clear that older Bermudians', black and white, attitudes are hardening.'' Dr. Hodgson said at an NAR meeting last Monday, founder of the Committee for the Independence of Bermuda, Mr. Walton Brown Jr. contended that independence would improve race relations because "we would realise that we are in this together and we would know there is not a fall back (Britain) and therefore we will do better''.