100 march to slow drum

Press, 23 April 1983, Page 8

100 march to slow drum

About 100 marchers, many ofthem walking dogs, moved slowly through the Christchurch city centre yesterday to a World Day for Laboratory Animals rally. They marched to a slow drumbeat in protest against the use of animals in laboratory experiments. Miss Natalie Taylor, in funereal garb, led the procession. She is the Christchurch co-ordi-nator of the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society. A placard carried by one protester said that 300 million animals a year died in experiments.

Miss Taylor said this year’s primary concern was for primates used in research laboratories. But the campaign was concerned about all animals subjected to stress and torture. She said there were “many fine scientists and researchers capable of giving us better things in life without using creatures as research tools.” The campaign was not anti-science, but simply working to release all animals from laboratories. No

compromise could be accepted. One heckler tried to interrupt Miss Taylor while she spoke in Cathedral Square. “Would the gentleman please organise his own march?” she said. He could apply to the City Council for a permit. World Day for Laboratory Animals activities started in 1978. An Auckland campaigner was shut in a cage outside the Auckland Medical School as part of the protests. At least 50 protesters, mostly members of Save

Animals From Experiments, gathered with pamphlets and placards in a peaceful protest. The vice-president, Mrs Annette Schnack, said public sympathy for anti-viv-isection groups was strong, although many were not aware of the extent of the practice in New Zealand. “The person crammed into the cage will show everyone what it is like for an animal,” she said. “We are talking about thousands of animals being used for all sorts of experiments, both cruel and pointless.".