Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett

1939 Charlestown, Meeting of East Mayo Farmers

Source: Western People, 03.06.1939

Miss Bobbett said it was her first time to visit County Mayo, and she was not conversant with the conditions of farming in this part of the country, but at the National Convention of the IFF held in Dublin on the 18th May 1939, there were 21 counties represented. The newly elected President, Mr. John J. O’Kennedy (County Kildare) asked what way would the meeting suggest that the remaining counties would be brought into line in the organisation. Miss Bobbett said she volunteered to visit Sligo and Mayo, and Mr. Cornelius F. McLoughlin (County Dublin) volunteered to visit Kerry and Cork to endeavour to stir up enthusiasm in these counties before the 1st June, as on that date their National Executive would meet again.

Miss Bobbett then outlined the aims and objects of the Federation, and in the course of her address gave the history of the foundation of the Federation. She stated that it was a registered trade union, and therefore the only farming association protected by an Act of Parliament, and it was the only trade body capable of speaking on behalf of the agricultural community in general. She explained that the aim of the Federation was to co-ordinate all counties and all branches of agriculture and let them make the Federation their central voice.

“We want,” she said, “to form a Council of Agriculture, which Council will be nominated by the farmers and representative of the different branches of agriculture. We want the ‘honest to goodness working farmers’ on this Council, this Council to advise and assist the Minister for Agriculture no matter what Government is in power.”

At present, for want of a Central Organisation, there was a lot of overlapping, and counties were asking for different demands, and it would be impossible for any Minister for Agriculture to accede to the wishes of each county. What was wanted was that all counties should come together round the table and hammer out concise demands for the immediate relief of agriculture. They as farmers knew only too well what they had lost during the past six or seven years, and they demanded compensation for the extraordinary losses incurred during the economic war, which loss should have been borne by the State and not thrown on one section of the community. She reminded them that every other section of the community which had suffered losses had been compensated. Even the Roscrea Meat Factory, that got close on £250’000 worth of their old cows, was given compensation when the supply of cows ran short and the factory was not working, and therefore not making profit. And, speaking from memory, she said, another meat factory that was making corned beef applied for compensation when their profits were not as large as expected under their contract, and they were granted approximately £10’000 compensation, and there was no reason why the farmers, who were the mainstay of the country, should not be compensated. There were several schemes already under consideration by the Federation whereby this compensation could be allotted. County Waterford suggested that the farmers be given compensation to the extent of £5 for every £1 of their valuation. For instance, a farmer with a valuation of £10 would get £50. This would give the farmer capital to re-establish his industry, increase production, and therefore increase the wealth of the nation.

Mr. Sean MacEntee quite lately stated that they must increase their agricultural exports in order to bring money into the country. Miss Bobbett said the farmers of the 21 counties unanimously agreed that compensation was due to them and that a moratorium of annuities be granted for six years, pending the re-examination of the annuity question.

She said she had read in the papers some months ago a report of a meeting at which Mr. Erskine Childers, TD, stated that Mr. Eamon de Valera had saved 88 million pounds by the financial agreement with England. The money saved by that agreement really belonged to the farmers of Ireland, and therefore no other section of the community had any right to retain it, and in justice it should be returned to the farmers. While on the subject of the agreement with England, she reminded the farmers that this agreement was only to last for three years, of which fourteen months had now expired. Also they must face the fact that they had lost a considerable portion of their trade on the English market, and if they wanted to increase their exports they must immediately be put in a position to increase production.

In the course of her address Miss Bobbett further stated that several counties were advocating that a wage subsidy should be granted for farm workers to supplement their present wage, something on the following lines: that the farmer would get 8s 0d subsidy from the Government for each man employed, 4s 0d of which would be given to the man. If this was done it would alleviate much of the rural unemployment and would help their youth at home. In conclusion she reminded them that Michael Davitt, who was a Mayo man, had started the Land League in the County Mayo, and she hoped that the farmers of Mayo would to-day follow in his footsteps and come out in strength and join the Irish Farmers’ Federation and save the farmers from despair and distress.