Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.2. Correspondence, Letters to the authorities

1933 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Minister of Agriculture, 08.11.1933

Source: National Archives of Ireland (NAI), D/AGF/92/3/13179

A Chara. On behalf of the members of the United Farmers Protection Association Barndarrig Branch I write to ask you can you give us any information as to where we can get Seed Wheat on credit. I wrote you on the Subject on 17th ultimo and received an acknowledgement of my letter from your Secretary.

It is getting late now for sowing winter wheat in this district unless we can get the seed within the next week. One of our members told me on Monday night that he was ready to sow six acres of wheat but had not the money to buy the seed and as I stated before, none of the seed merchants in Wicklow are taking up the scheme. Another member is ready to sow two acres. I also wish to state that only one merchant in Wicklow, The Wicklow Corn Company, have taken on the Oats Scheme, and of course any oats under 40 lbs per bushel they are offering a very bad price for.

In the lighter land round here the oats does not fill as well as on better land and the usual run of oats is 36 lbs to 38 lbs per bushel. Another merchant in Wicklow who is not taking up the Oat Scheme will give 7s 0d per lbs for white oats but will only buy as a great complement from some customers although the same firm are charging 1s 3d per stone for inferior white oats in their shop.

I hope you will pardon me for taking up your time with my letter but these are facts which will help to show you what we farmers are up against and how utterly impossible it is for us to meet the heavy demands made now for rates and amenities and pay labour.

I assure you as far as I know there is no Anti-Rate campaign in this part of the County.

Perhaps the enclosed statement may help to show you how desperately hard hit the farmers are.

In Rathdrum fair yesterday a neighbour told me he had ten cattle over two years old, and he got one bid of £3 each for four out of the ten. Now I rear young cattle and for the past four years have always counted on selling my year and year and half old cattle to pay the largest portion of my Rates. Well up to even last March I could get £7 a head and 1931 and 1932 I got from £12 10s 0d to £9 each; to-day if I brought out what I have I would not get £3 each although they are just as good and it has cost as much to rear them.

Surely it is not the farmers’ fault that prices are so low. Our overhead charges would need to be reduced to one third in order to correspond with present prices. For instance my Rates are increased £21 this year making a total of £77 14s 3d, the half year being £38 17s 2d I had not the money to pay the first moiety in full so I sent the Collector two cheques, one in September for £8 17s 2d and one in October £10. He returned me the two cheques and said I would have to pay the full amount before 18th October. I had sold fat sheep at 14s 0d each in order to make up the £18 17s 2d and until I sell my oats I can not pay in full. I sent two fresh calved cows to Wicklow fair last week and never got a bid for them. I want four barrels of seed wheat immediately and as I can not get any in the wheat Scheme I shall have to pay cash down for it so the Rate Collector will have to wait a little longer.

Mise le meas, Miss Elizabeth F. Bobbett, Secretary.1

1 - Enclosed to the letter is an overview of the valuation of the Springfield farm and the rates for certain years between 1919 and 1933.