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6. Mr Gibbons said that in view of the probable negative decision on independence, it was now his intention to raise the status of the Premier; he should be given an official house and car and play a greater part in entertaining visiting VIPs eg US Congressmen. He had already discussed this matter with the Governor, who had agreed with these proposals.
7. Mr Gibbons said that he would also like to ask that certain.. responsibilities for the Bermuda Police should be delegated by the Governor to the Minister of Home Affairs. He recalled that, following discussions on this matter in 1975, Sir Duncan Watson had written to the then Premier, Sir Edward Richards, saying that Ministers were prepared to approve the delegation to a Bermudian Minister of some responsibility for certain matters relating to the Police, in accordance with Section 62(2) of the Constitution. He would now like to pursue this possibility. He understood that any such delegation would be confined to establishment matters, finance, general organisation, training and equipment ie those subjects mentioned in the draft instrument of delegation which had been prepared by the Attorney General in Bermuda in 1975.
8. Mr Rowlands said he saw no difficulty in what Mr Gibbons was now proposing and would recommend to the Secretary of State that the Governor should be authorised to issue an instrument of delegation on the lines of the earlier draft. He asked Mr Gibbons to avoid giving any undue publicity to the proposed delegation.
9. Mr Gibbons thanked Mr Rowlands and asked whether the necessary authorisation could be given in time for inclusion in the Speech from the Throne, at the reconvening of Parliament on 28 October. statement on the delegation of Police matters would be a very short one, whereas the statement about the enhancement of the Premier's status would cover a whole page. He did not expect any opposition to delegation from the Progressive Labour Party.
10.
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In pursuance of Mr Gibbons' earlier suggestion (made before he came to London), it was agreed that he would have further discussions about the delegation of Police matters with the Overseas Police Adviser on 6 October at 10.30 am.
11. Mr Gibbons then suggested that some responsibility for the Bermuda regiment might also be given to a Bermudian Minister. Mr Rowlands said he would need to time to consider this suggestion and agreed to look into the matter.
12. The appointment of a new Chief Justice as successor to Sir John Summerfield was then briefly discussed and it was agreed that the present Solicitor General, Mr Astwood, appeared to be the candidate best suited for this appointment rather than the present Puisne Judge, Mr Seaton. Mr Rowlands said he was awaiting the Governor's final recommendation on who should be appointed.
13. Mr Gibbons said he was well satisfied with the outcome of the recently renegotiated UK/US Air Services Agreement, which affected Bermuda. On shipping, he was sure that a compromise solution would soon be worked out on the difficult question of
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