Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.3. Correspondence, Letters to newspapers

1938 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Wicklow People, 22.01.1938

Irish Farmers’ Federation

I kindly ask you to publish this letter, as I feel it my duty to contradict the statement made at the meeting held in Rathdrum on 9th instant of Fianna Fail farmers and supporters. I was amazed at the flagrantly incorrect statements (as reported) made by Mr. Christopher M. Byrne “That the Irish Farmers’ Federation was political, and had contested the elections.” Surely a man with as much experience of public life as Mr. C. M. Byrne must know that a Registered Trade Union is non-political. The IFF did not contest the election. There is nothing to prevent any Independent Farmer going up for election, and if the farmers wish to form a Farmers’ Party and support him outside the Federation they are quite entitled to do so. And this is exactly what happened at the last election. When I first joined a farmers’ union, which was the United Farmers’ Protection Association, Mr. C. M. Byrne was the chairman for County Wicklow, and de-rating was one of the chief objects in their programme. Surely if Mr. Byrne wanted to call a meeting of farmers he had a right to call it publicly, or did the Minister and Deputy Seamus Moore only wish to have a picked audience? Both these gentlemen got an opportunity to discuss and debate the farmers’ position in public on 1st November last. Why were they afraid to face a publicly convened meeting of the County Wicklow farmers of all political views? If Mr. C. M. Byrne is so solicitous for the benefit of the small farmers, why does he not use his powerful influence with the Government Party to have the tariff removed from poultry, eggs, and rabbits, which would mean so much increased income for them. The decline in poultry is about 3’000’000. The farmers of Wicklow, aye, the farmers of Eire, are as nationally minded as ever, it is easy for people with big salaries, and the prospect of 100 per cent increase, to talk patriotism, but the farmers won’t be fooled for ever. Farmers now realise they must fight for their just rights, and the IFF is open to farmers of all political opinions. It does not bother about politics, internal economics is its chief interest. The IFF is not opposed or hostile to the present or any Government, but we must protect our great national industry, and official figures prove the decline that has taken place. I was present at a National Convention of the United Farmers’ Protection Association on 29th June, 1933, which was addressed by Dr. James Ryan, he said: “We must maintain at least the amount of livestock we have” (see Irish Press report), and on 25th March, 1934, Dr. Ryan advocated the slaughter of 200,000 calves (see Irish Press report). Now he says, “take advantage of the schemes and guaranteed prices and produce more.” Where is the scheme to supply the farmers with seed wheat or to re-stock their lands? Of course, we know it is an old game of the politicians to keep the farmers divided.