Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon has suggested Government may be trying to "hoodwink'' the public into thinking they need to have full-time MPs.

She was responding to Friday's news in the House of Assembly that it will not break for its summer recess until August 18.

Ms Gordon said the late rising was evidence of "poor management'' in Government's higher echelons.

"They may also be trying to hoodwink the public into thinking they are working hard for them and they need full-time MPs,'' she said.

Premier Jennifer Smith said: "On July 7, I indicated to the House that I anticipated being in a position today to indicate the definitive plans for the House rising for the summer.

`Late rising evidence of poor management' "Mr. Speaker, I can confirm to members that I will adjourn the House for the Cup Match holidays on July 28, returning on August 11.'' She added: "I can also inform members that it is my intention to adjourn the house for the summer recess, with members' cooperation, on August 18, 2000.'' In response, Ms Gordon said: "We have come to understand that this is the Government's show and they will run it as they see fit.

"The argument by Government is they are still doing the people's business.'' However, Ms Gordon pointed out that legislation raised as early as January would not come before the House until August and said she thought this was a result of "poor management, and the inability to be effective in getting things done''.

She continued: "We managed to complete the year by the first week in July, but when you look at the quality of a week's work, they are presenting two pieces of legislation a week, and all the substantial pieces are yet to come.

Ms Gordon noted that Government rarely had a full Bench and, then, only when they had an important piece of legislation to vote on and allowed their members to take holidays when they liked.

She outlined her concern for members of the Senate and said "say a piece of legislation doesn't go down till August, the Senate will run into the Labour Day Holiday''.

She stressed that it was important for MPs to spend time with their families and children so they would not end up as statistics, but noted it would be almost fall before the House rose for the summer recess -- affording them little time for family.