N.Z. not so upset at death of flies

Press, 18 February 1986, Page 36

N.Z. not so upset at death of flies

PA Wellington When swatting a fly or slapping a mosquito, the humanity of. the insect’s death is nof'usually the key consideration. Yet the issue was raised by Dr Hugh Wirth, president of the, Victorian ILS.P.C.A. ini Melbourne, whosaidhisoranisation WMto. ijfene if itWM«lMwnin»ect»were sufMtaS cruel d

i gested that present r methods of killing, insects J might cause suffering, he s said. i However, any campaign to protect insects’ rights is I unlikely to extend to New Zealand. i The national director of , the New Zealand S.P.C.A., i Mr Neil Wells, said such a ' campaign would be a pointless diversion of already stretched resources. ■ He said there were ad-

mitted grey areas in the society’s focus on sentient animals, that is those with sufficiently developed nervous systems to feel pain, but insects were not included.

“We have enough problems trying to protect the welfare of sentient animals — farm animals, pet animals, wild animals — without worrying about insects,” Mr Wells said.