Solved at last: The mystery of the 53 phantom societies which want "no change to the law" on animal experimentation in New Zealand.

Vivisection is one of the most atrocious crimes of our age. It affects every man, woman and child in the country. Too hideous to even contemplate, it is a filthy and corrupt industry that exists solely for the profits it yields. Given that thousands of high-ranking doctors are actively campaigning for abolition on the grounds that it is scientifically fraudulent, it is tough to swallow that the animal-loving RSPCA submitted for continuance of this evil. What, we wonder, are its motives?

In the RSPCA publication, titled Directory of Branches and Member Societies 1991, we have at last unearthed the names of the 53 societies which, through their spokesperson, the RSPCA, submitted to the Government that vivisection should continue. Without a single exception, every group on the following list, until revoking the contents of that Submission in a written statement to the Government Select Committee, with copy to the RSPCA, copy to NZAVS and a copy published in their journal, is running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. If members are affiliated with any of these groups, please bear in mind it is not sufficient to fob you off with comments like "NZAVS is making mischief", or try to mollify you with the usual phrases... As it stands all 53 of the groups listed, by allowing the RSPCA to speak on their behalf, have legally submitted NOT to abolish vivisection.

For the benefit of new members, the RSPCA Submission on the NZAVS Petition to Abolish Vivisection 1989 began with the words:

"The Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Incorporated (RSPCA) is the national organisation representing all 53 local societies which are either branches of the RSPCA or member societies. This Submission addresses the Petition of Bette Overall [wrong spelling] on behalf of the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (Inc.)."

The Submission concludes:

"The RSPCA does not seek any change to the basic law on the control of animals in research and teaching. Any minor adjustment required will undoubtedly arise from the current review of animal protection law which will probably come before Parliament in 1992."

RNZSPCAs
Bay of Islands Branch
Buler Branch
Canterbury Branch
Central Hawke's Bay Branch
Fielding and Districts Branch
Golden Bay Branch
Greymouth Branch
Hokitika Branch
Kaikohe Branch
Kawerau Branch
Manawatu Branch
Mangonui County Branch
Motueka Branch
Nelson Branch
North Otago Branch
North Taranaki Branch
Opotiki Branch
Poverty Bay Branch
Putaruru Branch
Rangitikei Branch
South Taranaki Branch
Stratford Branch
Taupo Branch
Tauranga Branch
Te Awamutu Branch
Thames Branch
Turangi Branch
Waiheke Island Branch
Waihi Branch
Waikato Branch
Wainuiomata Branch
Whakatane Branch
Whangarei Branch

SPCAs
Auckland
Central King Country
Dannevirke
Hastings & District
Hawke's Bay
Marlborough
Mid-Canterbury
Northern Wairoa
Otago
Rotorua
South Canterbury
Te Kuiti
Tokoroa
Upper Hutt
Wairarapa
Wairoa
Wanganui
Wellington

(Note: As at September 1983 the RNZSPCA's affiliates, the British RSPCA was found to have two hundred and thirty-six thousand pounds sterling invested in Britain's most notorious vivisection laboratories. (Refer Animal Research Takes Lives - Humans and Animals Both Suffer, page 247.))