"Two hours? What does it mean to you? Two hours pass quickly when we are enjoying ourselves. Two hours spent helping a friend or a worthy cause is rewarding in itself. However, two hours for a tortured animal in a restraining device would seem like an eternity. We all know that many of these poor creatures spend interminable years under horrific conditions.

That is why we belong to the Australian Association for Humane Research, and this is why we give our support to the cause of abolishing experiments on animals, not only because of the incalculable suffering of these defenceless victims, but also because of the resulting damage to human health.

Nobody works harder to achieve our aim than our President. If you heard her report which she presented at our recent Annual General Meeting, you may have some idea of the colossal amount of work she does throughout the year.

I would like to thank the few members who attended our AGM on Friday 7 October. We changed the time from Saturday afternoon to Friday night, hoping for a better attendance, but alas, there were fewer than ever... why? We would not expect the elderly or those living a long way out of town to attend at night, but it is very disheartening to our President and committee to see so many empty seats.

Some would say annual general meetings are boring. I beg to differ. Our meetings are always short and to the point, the main draw being the opportunity to listen to our President's report which is always an excellent account of the year's activities.

Perhaps Friday night does not suit everyone or anyone. We may change back to Saturday next year. A little feedback from members would be helpful. At least we on the Committee would know that someone really reads the newsletter. We ask for two hours of your time once a year. Please think about it."

Jean Auld
Hon. Secretary AAHR Inc
Darlington NSW, Australia.

The previous item taken from the newsletter of the Australian Association for Humane Research, November 1994, exposes the apathy of the vast majority of those who subscribe to anti-vivisection societies. The reluctance to take interest in, or share even a minor role in the work of these voluntary organisations enables then to be easily infiltrated, taken over, have their initial policies watered down, modified and surreptitiously changed to the policies of the vivisectors themselves. The AAHR report outlines the situation at our Society's AGM on Saturday afternoon, 8 April 1995. It could have been written specifically for NZAVS.

At this poorly-attended meeting no-one was prepared to serve on a working committee. Only 3 members volunteered to assist in the office. No-one was willing to coordinate even a minor event.

We were saddened to receive word, that after 23 years working ceaselessly in a practical way for the betterment of animals, in April 1995 St Francis Animal Welfare (Inc) of Dunedin closed its doors. Your editor remembers the warm welcome she received from members of this group when visiting them as part of a lecture tour in 1983.

The group's secretary Laraine Gibson writes: "As with many voluntary organisations, the work over the past years has been undertaken by the same small group of workers...". Your editor is well aware of the crippling workload when too few people are willing to share responsibility. The news came as a shock and disappointment.

St Francis Animal Welfare (Inc) has generously passed two thousand dollars to NZAVS. In expressing our deep gratitude for their recognition we wish them well in their future personal endeavours.