As soon as laws are passed to control and regulate vivisection and curtail non-medical experiments the vivisectors are SAFE in the knowledge that they may carry out their procedures within the full protection of such law.

... And that is what will result from a "realistic" step-by-step approach. It is a step backward indeed. The knowledge that partial reform is the greatest danger to the anti-vivisection movement is now responsible for the military strategics of the Animal Liberation Leagues and the Animal Liberation Front in Great Britain and the impending mass mobilization for animals in the United States of America - which is aimed at bringing this blood-drenched age to a close.

Globally anti-vivisectionists, without resources, fight the power of uncaring governments and established institutions, politicians, the multibillion dollar cosmetic, chemical and pharmaceutical industries and the gigantic animal breeding empires. All who have the power of the press on their side. It is tragic indeed if they must expend resources defending their principles against the irresponsible criticisms of other purported anti-vivisectionists.

For the enlightenment of NZAVS and SAFE members I must correct certain statements published on page 4 of SAFE July newssheet. And, in doing so I point out that the publication of such an article without first carefully and meticulously ascertaining the facts was deplorable. The SAFE committee admit that none of their number were active on the av scene when events in question took place. Had I been aware of their interest in the NZ Anti-Vivisection Society I should have been happy to supply them with the information I now outline:

1. Never at any time was the Wellington Branch of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (later to become the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society) a branch of the Auckland Branch of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (later to become SAFE).
2. The Wellington Branch of the BUAV (later to become NZAVS) was founded by Bette Overell in Wellington at the invitation and under the auspices of Mr Alan Whittaker, the then General Secretary, BUAV, London, after this was discussed and approved at a committee meeting in London on 15 December 1978.
3. The only link between the two organisations was when one of SAFE's past five presidents offered Bette Overell all SAFE's funds, legacies and national membership list to control by the NZ Anti-Vivisection Society. An offer which was declined after careful consideration.