Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge vowed yesterday to fight on in his leadership bid, despite the fact most MPs have expressed support for his opponent, Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul.

Fellow MPs made a "grave error'' when they signed a letter of support for Dr.

Saul that was presented to the party chairman on Friday, Mr. Woolridge said.

"When you talk about the Parliamentary group who seem to have given their support to Dr. Saul, you're talking about 13 people (including Dr. Saul),'' Mr. Woolridge said at a news conference.

"We're talking about 16,000 people who have voted in favour of the position we have taken.'' Mr. Woolridge, 68, surrounded by six MPs who openly support him, was referring to the result of last Wednesday's Independence referendum, in which 74 percent of voters said `no' to cutting colonial ties with the United Kingdom.

His Smith's South running mate, Mr. Trevor Moniz MP, released copies of a just completed opinion poll by Harris & Mitchell Associates of Bermuda.

When 650 voters were asked which of the two leadership contenders they would prefer as Premier, 44.9 percent said Mr. Woolridge, compared to 17.8 percent for Dr. Saul, according to the survey.

"It is quite clear to us that the vast majority of the electorate of Bermuda wish Jim to lead the United Bermuda Party and the Country,'' said supporter the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto.

Dr. Saul, who is calling for "a healing process'' in the UBP, told The Royal Gazette he was "a private person'' and "must be one of the most misunderstood people in Bermuda.'' "The people who know me best are my Parliamentary colleagues,'' he said. As of press time at 10 p.m. last night, only Mr. Woolridge and Dr. Saul had been nominated for the UBP leadership, and no further nominations were expected before the midnight deadline. The 21 Government MPs are to vote by secret ballot on Friday, after meeting on Thursday for the contenders to deliver short speeches and answer questions.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan promised to resign if Bermudians voted no to Independence. He stepped down as UBP leader on Thursday and said he would resign as Premier as soon as a successor was chosen.

Mr. Woolridge, first elected in 1968, campaigned against Independence. Dr.

Saul, a member of the Cabinet committee that wrote the controversial Independence Green Paper, remained publicly neutral on the issue.

While the Independence debate underlined a sharp split in the UBP, Mr.

Woolridge took a conciliatory tone yesterday. He talked of the "great need ... for cooperation in rebuilding,'' and said "this is not the time for recrimination.'' He would not comment on whether he would retain the Tourism portfolio or who else might be put in Cabinet if he was made Premier. "I will reserve the right to choose anyone ... based on their ability and what position was available at the time,'' he said.

"I do not intend to compromise myself beforehand.'' Bid for UBP leadership But he did say some ministries -- like Community and Affairs and Human Affairs -- could possibly be combined.

When he was asked about Cabinet appointments, Dr. Saul said: "I'm sure if Mr.

Woolridge wins, I will be in his Cabinet, and he can be assured if I win, he will be in my Cabinet.'' It is Mr. Woolridge's second bid for the UBP leadership, having finished second to the Hon. Sir David Gibbons in 1977. The cricket broadcaster who is known as the "Voice of Summer'' earlier was sales director for ZBM and vice-president of Bermuda Mechanical Co., among other jobs.

Dr. Saul, 55, who was first elected in 1989, has not run for the leadership before. The president of Fidelity International Ltd. is a former school teacher who served as Permanent Secretary of both Education and Finance.

On Friday, party chairman Sen. Gary Pitman was presented with a letter of support for Dr. Saul reportedly signed by 12 of his colleagues.

"Everyone is permitted to make a mistake,'' Mr. Woolridge said. "I think they made a grave error.

"It's not unthinkable for us to get the necessary four or possibly five supporters necessary for us to carry the day.'' Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira said the "crucial thing'' was to translate the people's wishes into MPs' votes on Friday. He urged voters to telephone their MPs.

"For Members of Parliament to defy the public and show in fact a certain amount of arrogance by so defying, I think is going to lead us in the wrong direction.'' Government Whip Mr. John Barritt, Dr. Saul's running mate, said Dr. Saul was a good candidate, but Mr. Woolridge was better.

The party and Bermudians deserved a choice for leader, Mr. Barritt said. "I could not be ... part of any backroom deal to basically abort or undermine the leadership process.'' Other supporters of Mr. Woolridge in attendance were MPs Dr. David Dyer and Mr. Rick Spurling.

Only the Hon. Harry Soares has reportedly expressed public support for neither candidate.

Also yesterday: Former UBP and Independent MP Mr. Harry Viera resigned from the UBP, one day after it was reported he had rejoined.

His detractors were trying to hurt the Woolridge camp by falsely linking it to him, he said.

"I will resign today with no intention of ever rejoining -- certainly not under the present bunch,'' he said.