Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.3. Correspondence, Letters to newspapers
1939 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Farmers’ Gazette, 18.03.1939
Irish Farmers’ Federation1
For the past few months hardly a day goes by without letters appearing in the Daily Press extolling the heart-breaking conditions that prevail in rural Ireland to-day. The condition has become so serious that several of the Bishops in their recent Lenten Pastorals referred to the “Flight from the Land” and the need for an immediate remedy.
In the Sunday Independent of 19th February a County Cork farmer and Mr. T. Lynch, dairy farmer, Waterford, both had excellent letters, and mentioned essential remedies, including “Funding of arrears of rates and annuities, including the coming year,” de-rating, a new Minister for Agriculture, a council for agriculture, and facilities to restock land.
As General Secretary of the Irish Farmers’ Federation, I am in touch with most counties and have had seventeen counties represented in conference when we established the Federation in March, 1937. Strange to say, Waterford and Cork are the two counties that seem to have no organisation or are afraid to co-operate with their neighbouring counties. The IFF is a registered Trade Union, and was established to unite all existing Farmers’ Associations with the view of closer co-operation between farmers for the benefit of the industry, and is controlled by farmers only. One of the main objects of the Federation is to form a council of agriculture, elected from their own members representative of all branches of the industry, to act in a consultative and advisory capacity and maintain direct contact with the Minister for Agriculture. (I think my readers will agree that this would be most desirable following the disclosures of the Prices Commission and the Pigs Marketing Board). Since it was established the Federation has kept the farmers’ grievances before the Government and pointed out the necessary remedies. Below I give a few examples:
- In May, 1938, the IFF issued a statement which was sent to An Taoiseach claiming compensation to the extent of one hundred million pounds to compensate the Irish farmers for the losses incurred as a result of the Economic War. Quite recently Mr. Erskine Hamilton Childers, TD, has publicly declared that 88 million pounds has been saved by the Land Annuities in the recent agreement with England. (Farmers of Ireland you have borne an unjust burden; don’t be misled now, and clutch at a dangling straw by way of a loan at interest. Ask yourself, a loan of what? A loan of your own money. Be men and demand compensation for your just rights).
- On 11th August, 1938, a deputation from the IFF and representative of eight counties was received by Dr. James Ryan, and at that interview we stressed the necessity for a council of agriculture, and stated the County Committees of Agriculture as at present elected did not represent the farmers’ interests, and that we could form a council of twelve or fourteen members embracing all branches of the industry. (We also stressed for the withdrawal of the Flying Squads and the funding of arrears of annuities, and Dr. Ryan promised he would speak to the Minister for Lands and other Ministers about it).
- The following resolutions were sent to the Government: On 9th June, 1938: “To defer the collection of all annuities and arrears pending the re-examination of the whole position regarding these charges. We demand further that this examination take place forthwith.” On 10th November, 1938: “That we consider the setting up of a Commission of Agriculture does not relieve the Government of the responsibility of relieving the farmers’ burdens.” On 19th January, 1939: “That this meeting of the National Executive of the Irish Farmers’ Federation, while making it clear that they hold nothing personal against Dr. James Ryan, TD, calls for the resignation of the Minister for Agriculture owing to the hopeless failure of the Departmental administration of farming matters in this country.”
I mention these points to show you that the Federation, though working quietly and perhaps unnoticed by some, has been wide awake to the necessity for justice for the farmers. The work of the Federation has been carried on voluntary and we have not pressed farmers for large subscriptions and funds are small, so we cannot advertise to get publicity, but the fact that we are steadily increasing membership shows that at last the farmers realise their only hope is in a united body.
The Federation is strictly non-political, and it does not interfere in the running of any county association but asks their co-operation, and asks all farmers to join the IFF. I would ask any farmer who is desirous of starting a branch in his or her parish to write to me for full particulars.
It is not much for Ministers to advise us to produce more when at the same time their Flying Squad is seizing the last cow or the horses out of the plough, driving the people off the land and many to an untimely grave.
Resolutions and deputations have been turned down and the position of the farmers is so desperate that the farmers are ready to “down tools” when called upon by the Federation and co-operate in a National Farmers Strike to withhold supplies of food from cities and towns in Eire.
1 - The same letter was published in the Connacht Tribune, 18.03.1939 and the Nationalist and Munster Advertiser, 18.03.1939.