Battery hens

Press, 28 October 1982, Page 16

Battery hens

Sir, — One should not be amazed or find it ridiculous for people to show compassion for animals as suggested by Andrew Steven (October 23) referring to battery hens. Indeed these people who care about dumb hens do have concern for their fellow men. Battery-fed . prison inmates have not been preselected as applies to the battery hens who are condemned to jail for life virtually before' they are even bom. Our fellow meh have had the benefit of their freedom during the years of preparation to take their, place in society and are made aware of the penalties imposed for breaking the laws of that society. Battery hens constitute only one form of cruelty inflicted upon animals — 4 —»nv carine ih-

dividuals feel that when more people actively show compassion and respect for animals then a flow through of compassion to the human race will automatically follow. When that time comes the need for prisons will no longer exist. —

Yours, etc., ALMA and REG LANGLEY. October 25, 1982.

Sir,—ln reply to E. Wilkinson (October 5), if he genuinely wants the battery hen method banned, I suggest he writes to "cable-gram” care of the AntiCruelty Society, Inc., 447 Albert Street, Palmerston North. It is through a strong society such as this that our voices are more likely to be heard. He could write to the N.Z. Poultry Board in Wellington, expressing disapproval of battery hen methods, asking why no research into humane alternatives is being done in New Zealand, requesting that such research begin immediately, suggesting that the board actively promotes alternative commercial units, and phases out the battery system, insisting on non-battery eggs for himself and family.—Yours, etc.,

HILARY ECCLES. October 26, 1982.

Sir,—My name is Andrew Garry Stevens, and, apart from other employment, my wife and I run a poultry farm in Rangiora. In your paper of October 23 you printed a letter under the heading "Battery hens,” signed Andrew Steven. While the subject may be appropriate, I am not that same person and do not wish to be involved in the controversy.— Yours, etc., ANDREW STEVENS. Rangiora, October 27, 1982.