Chemicals ‘need’

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33251, 14 June 1973, Page 9

Chemicals ‘need’

The New Zealand Clean Air Society has taken exception to a statement concerning agricultural chemicals, made by the chairman of the market division of the Vegetable and Produce Growers’ Federation (Mr R. K. De Castro). In a statement, published in “The Press” on Monday, Mr De Castro said the public should be made aware that if they were going to eat they would have to use chemicals because "chemicals are essential for commercial food production.” Mr De Castro also said that the board is concerned about “the disfavour that agricultural chemicals are receiving from certain minority groups,” and that the board zould not keep track of all “exaggerated claims” of damage to the environment. The president of the Clean Air Society (Dr H. G. Daellenbach) said in a supplied statement that the society would welcome an objective discussion on the use of chemicals for food production, as suggested by Mr De Castro. The public should be made fully aware of the issues involved, he said. Mr De Castro’s statement; is, however, “an exaggeration I and oversimplification of a! complex problem,” Mr Dael-' lenbach said. "He indulges in exactly the kind of exaggera-1 ’.ions he accuses the other side of making.” “Points to be aired are! which chemicals can, at the; present state of research, be considered safe, and which ones may pose immediate or 'ong-term health hazards, or iestroy non-target parasite iredator populations thus causing increased use of chemicals. “What alternative means, :uch as biological controls.; ire available?” Mr Daellen-! iach asks, “Are principles of organic gardening which bring a natural reduction in pest incilence economically feasible? s the Growers’ Federation upporting any research in hese areas?” his statement! concludes.