Nationalist.

Dr. Eva Hodgson said she found Government's reaction to the magazine "deeply disturbing''.

And she said nobody should be surprised by the anger of the magazine's writers.

"If these young people are anti-white -- and they might only be anti-injustice -- it is because they have been reared in a society which is not only patently anti-black, but where the Government has ignored positive proposals put forward by blacks to address the economic discrepancies.'' Dr. Hodgson said Government had turned a deaf ear to anti-racism ideas presented six years ago by businessmen and women.

It was no wonder young blacks had become frustrated, she added.

Dr. Hodgson is co-chairperson of the National Association for Reconciliation.

Last week Cabinet discussed the Nationalist Youth Alliance magazine, which is being probed by Special Branch officers.

Afterwards, Acting Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman labelled its anti-Government views "unfortunate''.

"This publication, The Nationalist, expresses views which are contrary to those of most people on the Island, and which currently run counter to those of Government.'' He said the magazine recommended a "violent solution'' to Bermuda's race problems.

The magazine attacks the "evil powerstructure'' in Bermuda and urges blacks to mount a brutal freedom fight against whites.

It also accuses Government of neglecting blacks and claims whites still profit from the legacy of slavery.

Among Bermudians saluted for their efforts in helping the black cause is Dr.

Hodgson.

Yesterday The Royal Gazette approached Dr. Hodgson for her opinion.

She immediately pointed to views on Bermuda's racial problems she put forward in 1989.

They were presented in a full-page advertisement in The Royal Gazette , paid for by businessmen and women.

Said Dr. Hodgson: "There is obviously a great discrepancy between the economic opportunities and the access to power and wealth available to different young people in this society! "The thing that I find deeply disturbing is that when I, supported by others, put forward proposals in 1989 to address these discrepancies -- which the Government could not interpret as either "anti-white'', or as implying "violence'' -- the Government ignored them, or condemned them!'' Dr. Hodgson said The Nationalist's writers -- presumably young -- were now tackling similar concerns.

"Six years later, young people who were probably only 13, or even 11 and 12 then, and might have been influenced positively by my proposals during the intervening five or six years, are now angrily making proposals to address the same discrepancies and the Cabinet meets and calls out the Police.

"And things are much worse now for young blacks.'' Dr. Hodgson added: "I find it both ironic and deeply disturbing that the Government should so completely ignore positive proposals, supported by responsible businessmen and women, that were not `anti-white' or implying violence and is so quick to respond so negatively to anything which they can charge with being `anti-white.''