Animal Production Society’s Future Discussed

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30055, 13 February 1963, Page 15

Animal Production Society’s Future Discussed

“So far as I can see in 22 years our society has not progressed in any definite direction and at present is not going anywhere in particular,'’ said Mr E. D. Andrews, of the Wallaceville Animal Research Station, giving his presidential address at the opening of the twenty-third conference of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production at Lincoln yesterday. In his view, Mr Andrews said, the society bad had little direct impact on animal production, although in its restricted capacity as an association of animal scientists it had functioned tolerably well In spite of the almost complete dependence of New Zealand on the group of industries from which the society took its name, it neither shaped public opinion nor influenced policy. Cabinet ministers remained unaware of its existence. Membership of the society, including overseas members, totals about 255. Of the 233 financial New Zealand members, 30 per cent are professional (non-veterinary) research workers, 25 per cent extension workers, 14 per cent, veterinarians, 4 per cent, technical workers, and 27 per cent farmers, but this latter group is not now very active in the organisation. National Problems

Mr Andrews asked whether the society should concern itself in matters like an agricultural plan to meet the possibilities of nuclear warfare and the possible economic consequences for New Zealand of British entry into the Common Market. In a sustained nuclear attack . on the country's main centres perhaps half of the country’s human population and perhaps half of the livestock population would die. The survivors would need to

be fed and should eat food uncoreamiMded by gross radio-activity. Among their many problems would be the disposal of millions of radioactive animal carcases. Undoubtedly if the possibility at nuclear catastrophe was planned for, some of its effects could be ameliorated if it occurred. But except for the parttime efforts of a few individuals associated with civil defence or in Government departments there seemed little evidence yet of an agricultural plan to meet such possibilities. On the Common Market issue Mr Andrews said the inquiring but uninformed layman was bewildered and bedevilled by a variety of opinions on the possible consequences of British entry for New Zealand. He did not know whether there was a body of experts that knew where the approximate truth lay, or to what extent the planning of the countfys economic future was adequate; but he did believe that a body like the society should know and might be expected to be concerned in the planning. Possible Courses Mr Andrews said that there was no lack of other problems to tackle. He saw four possible courses open to the society. If it continued as it had done during the last two decades it might eventually become extinct. By amalgamation it might merge its identity with that of another body with similar aims. It could deliberately take the course of increased specialisation in animal science as distinct from animal production, in which case scientists, who already dominated its ranks, should consider whether the society should change its name, rewrite its constitution and restate its aims.

Finally it might really aspire to encompass within its horizon the immense field

of animal production, in which, case it could not remain Satisfied that participation of its farmer members in its affairs ended with the payment of their annual subscriptions.

At the annual meeting held later in the day the conference approved a proposal by Mr Andrews that the toroming management commit-

tee should prepare a report on the extension or modification of the activities of the society for submission to the next annual meeting. Dr. D. G Edgar said that while he did not imply that the society could perform no other functions he felt it eras serving a most useful purpose as a forum in which scientists could present their work and have it criticised. Mr D. P. Sinclair said that he would not like to see the society “fouled up with politics and pressure groups." This might spoil a delightful conference.

If the society was made too big. Professor I. E. Coop said, scientists would lose a lot of the benefit that they now got out of it. Mr I. D. Dick said that there was a tendency for papers presented at the society's meetings to be too specialised and not to look at problems as a whole. Other speakers suggested that possible changes in the form of the conference might be considered and Dr. A. H. Carter suggested that a questionnaire might be sent to members of the society to solicit their views.