Period 1 April 1983 to 31 March 1984

Nineteen hundred and eightythree was a year of entrenchment and consolidation. Relationships with overseas colleagues were reinforced and attachments to international organisations strengthened.

In my father's house there are many mansions! With this in mind we must accept that there is room for many philosophies in the animal rights movement. Within its self-imposed boundaries the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society is obliged to support in principle today's brave crusaders, recognising that within the context of its slogan the Society is morally committed to uphold the activities of its counterparts who are prepared, without fear, to undertake activities involving physical risks and deprivations, knowing that interdependent we gain from each other and that each is necessary to the other.

The conflagration sweeping the civilized world will not be doused with vague promises or hypocritical meaningless laws. Modern campaigners have overcome geographical, political and religious obstacles and their determination has obliterated differences of colour, race or social status as they face the common enemy of legitimised and systematic oppression of non-humans. Regardless of whether they suffer in the laboratories of the United States of America, Russia, the United Kingdom - or New Zealand the crusaders seek liberation for these lost souls in the knowledge that there can be no peace or well-being between nations whilst man tyrannizes animals.

The year has been filled with activity and in Wellington and the centres for local organisers the pressure was considerable. On 24 April 1983 members and supporters battled galeforce winds and torrential southerlies whilst marching through Wellington (the capital) and Christchurch (South Island) in support of World Mobilization for Animals. In bitterly cold conditions in Wellington on 16 July, 18 members picketed outside the Paramount Theatre at the NZ Premier of The Animals film. On 6 August a contingent from the Society supported the Greenpeace peace rally and for the third consecutive year in Wellington the Society participated in the Festival of Light on 24 September. In Wellington and the centres on World Animal Day, 4 October the Society organised leafletting, information stalls and evening functions to bring members together around the country.

An important milestone was the launching of the petition to Parliament in May calling for the abolition of LD50 testing in New Zealand and a dropping of the LD50 requirement by New Zealand Regulatory Authorities. In August the Society circulated its list of cruelty-free cosmetics to members, this being the result of considerable correspondence to companies both in New Zealand and overseas. On 5 December the Society's representatives attended the Parliamentary Hearing to make known its opposition to the Amendment of the Animal Protection Act 1960. The Christmas Draw results were very pleasing and the profit is being held in a special purpose account.

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