'Sacrificing' children to spray condemned

Comments made by MAF's Painted Apple Moth Project Director Ian Gear on TV1's Sunday programme, have incensed community representatives, parents and teachers involved in the controversial aerial spray campaign in Auckland.

Hana Blackmore, one of the community representatives who researched and released the spray's secret ingredients on Sunday, said comments from Ian Gear that he would be "happy for his children to be sprayed" is outrageous.

"This is another kick in the gut for all those parents and teachers sick with worry over the spray's real effect on their children" said Hana.

"In their view, for a senior MAF employee to go on national television and suggest he would be happy to 'sacrifice' his children to the same spray they have seen having such a devastating effect on their own children, is tantamount to child abuse."

Hana Blackmore believes Mr Gear's view is indicative of the prevailing attitude in MAF and the Government that the serious health effects from the spraying must be downplayed and concealed in the nations 'interest'.

"People are getting sick. We know they are getting sick. MAF know people are getting sick. But they are doing a Lord Nelson and sticking the telescope to their blind eye so that they can continue unhindered."

"I am reminded of witnessing the UK Minister of Agriculture at the height of the Mad Cow disease panic, stuffing a beefburger down his young daughter's throat to reassure the public about the safety of British beef."

"I think that nothing less than a full and public apology to the people of West Auckland is warranted . But first Mr Gear should sincerely and humbly apologise to his own children."

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