Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett

1939 Borrisokane, Meeting of the Irish Farmers’ Federation

Source: Nenagh Guardian, 29.07.1939

Miss Bobbett was accorded a cordial reception when she was introduced to the meeting by the joint Honorary Secretary, Mr. J. B. Quigley, solicitor. In the course of a lucid and interesting address she indicated the various means by which the cause of the Federation could be successfully advanced. Amongst these there was the suggestion of the Central Executive to hold public demonstrations at the more populous centres. In that regard Miss Bobbett pointed out that it was now up to the farmers of the country to unite and support the demonstrations by all means in their power: such support she stressed as being highly necessary if the farmers were intent on having their manifold grievances properly redressed.

Miss Bobbett referred the meeting to the fact that a deputation from the Federation was received by the Minister for Agriculture on the 5th instant. The deputation, she said, submitted to the Minister for his consideration five points, the adoption of which, they contended, was highly and urgently necessary to relieve the present position of stress as it exists amongst the farming community. However, she went on, the Minister had refused to consider even any one of those points. The Minister’s attitude appeared to be based on the idea that the farmer has sufficient opportunities at hand if he so wished to avail of them.

Miss Bobbett proceeded to say that the present position was so clear as to indicate that the farmers henceforth have only themselves to rely on; that therefore it behoved each and every member of their community to come together in a strong and virile organisation, which, she added, was absolutely necessary at the present juncture.

The Irish Farmers’ Federation, she went on, embraces all elements of the community – farmers both large and small, and irrespective of their political affiliations. She related that their president for 1937/38 had been a County Cavan farmer, who had only 25 acres of land. Miss Bobbett emphasised that the time for talking had long passed; that the time had now arrived when every farmer had come to learn and to know too well what he had already suffered. The present, she said, was the time for action. Farming, like any other trade or profession, must cease to exist when once it becomes apparent that it could not be run on profitable lines. The nation as a whole was dependent for its very existence on their agricultural production and exports. That, she said, should show conclusively that agriculture is a vital industry – one of the greatest in the nation’s life, so important indeed that all necessary steps should be urgently taken to put the farmers into a position whereby they could advance the industry on profitable lines.

Miss Bobbett went on to say that if the Irish farmer is to compete on the international market his overhead charges must be reduced to a minimum. The present position of Irish agriculture went to show that they are only 14 points above pre-war; on the other hand she reminded her audience that the present cost of production is more than double that experienced in all other industries, which, in this country, are adequately protected. She instanced the fact that when the Roscrea meat canning industry was not making profits it was compensated in one year to the tune of £15,000; Waterford meat factory, which was similarly circumstanced, received £1,000.

Regarding the wage subsidy and compensation, Miss Bobbett said the Farmers’ Federation was demanding a wage subsidy of 10s per week for each worker employed on the farm, whether the worker was a member of the farmer’s family or not.

Regarding partial compensation for war losses, Miss Bobbett said that the Federation was demanding an immediate relief to the extent of pound for pound of the valuation, with a minimum of £25, so as to give the small farmer a chance to get into immediate production. She added that there were various ways and means and numerous suggestions for the financing of such schemes of relief on the land. One suggestion was recently published by Donegal Branch of the IFF – that was that the amount of money voted to the lime and artificial manure subsidy schemes, which totalled £338,000, and which did not in fact reach the farmer, would be better employed in paying the interest on a loan raised to give credit to the farmers. That figure would pay interest at 2 per cent on almost seventeen million pounds.

The Minister had boasted that the Government had never experienced any difficulty in getting money for sound schemes. It was the intention of the Federation to hold a public demonstration in Limerick or such convenient centre at a future date, and she requested that the farmers of Tipperary should turn out in full force at that demonstration and thus show the Minister that the farmer means business this time (applause).