Experiments using animals

Press, 9 August 1982, Page 12

Experiments using animals

Sir—W. C. Clark states (August 5): "It seems that animal experiments are objectionable when their goal is prevention of suffering.” The implica-

tion can hardly apply to the “tools of research” used. How does your correspondent explain the use of “carefully controlled ethical experimentation on laboratory animals” when the details of what is perpetrated on living creatures in Auckland's Medical School alone were published in a nation-wide newspaper recently. The interpretation of the word "ethics" relates to moral obligation. Anti-vivisec-tionists look upon experimentation on animals as immoral, unjust and cowardly. New Zealand is sadly behind the times as regards the availability of grants for alternative'methods of non-animal research which js expanding in countries such as England. A number of in-. dividuals. have written, to the-' various Ministers of Agriculture over recent years on their repugnance of many of the cruet farming practices. These ’ letters have been met with polite, but ineffective response. — Yours, etc., Miss NATALIE TAY- ; LOR. Christchurch Co-ordinator, N.Z. Anti-Vivisection Society. August 5, 1982.