Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett
1939 Edgeworthstown, Meeting of the Irish Farmers’ Federation
Source: Roscommon Herald, 26.08.1939
Miss Elizabeth Bobbett, having detailed the history of the Farmers’ Federation, said it was non-political and its ranks were open to all farmers and farm labourers. They had found that politicians were always trying to divide the farmers, trying to play the small farmer against the big farmer and the labourer against the farmers and always promising the farmer the sun, moon and stars to get votes. Another suggestion was that they organise vocationally, but that was not going to get them anywhere, as the Minister could play off one section against another, as he did recently when the grain growers wanted an increase and he said it couldn’t be done as it would ruin the poultry keepers.
They demanded, in the first place, adequate compensation for economic war losses at least £ 1 per £1 Poor Law Valuation, with a minimum of £25. The mortality of cattle in Connaught was due to starvation, as the good healthy stock had to be sold out during the Economic War to enable the farmers to keep going. When disaster happened in any other country the Government of that country came to the relief of the people affected, but there was no help here. Deputy Erskine Childers of Longford had stated that Mr. Eamon de Valera had saved 88 million pounds in the Agreement with England. That money belongs to the farmers of Ireland, and they were determined to get it. The farmers during the Economic War on the export trade alone lost £ 117’000’000, as well as a very considerable amount on the home trade.
Why should not the tillers of the soil be compensated as well as the Roscrea and Waterford meat factories and the transport services? When the Government interfered with the bus owners they gave them, she said, big compensation, and when they interfere with our livelihood there is not a word about compensation, but pile on further taxation. Owing to the high tariffs on goods in general the value of the stock sold in the British market is further lessened and for every £100 worth sold they really only got £67 with the 33-one-third per cent tariffs on articles they bought, as that the farmers were carrying the whole load of the Irish industries on their backs. It was estimated that it was something like £29’000’000 annually the Irish Industries were getting out of the land of Ireland in that way.
The organisation also demanded a wage subsidy of 10 s a week for farm workers, a moratorium on land annuities and full derating. When rates were first charged on land they were based on the income of the farmers, and in those days they were only imposed for Poor Law purposes. Rates at present bear no relation to the farmers’ income. A Minister of the Dail living in a house, say of £30 valuation, with a big income only paid according to that valuation. The whole thing was unjust and intolerable, and rates must be abolished.
They were told that the abolition of these unjust rates would increase the price of tea and sugar, but they were not told when the Ministers raised their own salaries that tea and sugar would have to go up or when they voted £600,000 for tourism. The farmer would be better off if the wheat scheme were abolished and let him get his sack of flour at 10 s 6 d as it is in Northern Ireland.
The high cost of living was what was ruining the country. When they considered what it took to run the country in 1914 as compared with to-day they saw the seriousness of the position. How many gallons of milk would it take to pay your rates in 1914 as compared with to-day? How many dozens of eggs in 1914 would buy a pair of boots?
In 1914 the man got their tobacco at three pence per ounce, and you got a pint of porter, if you wanted it, at two pence. Now the tobacco is nine pence or a shilling, and the pint of porter is seven pence or eight pence. Where is the money going? There is as much money brought in from the road tax as would de-rate the country twice over. Certainly it is not going back into the land (A voice: “It is going in salaries”). Miss Bobbett: Yes, it is going in salaries. All our surplus agricultural produce has to be sold in the British market, but how can we compete in that market with the farmers of Northern Ireland under these conditions? In Northern Ireland they get a subsidy of 5 s per cwt. on every fat beast they sell and they get 31 s 6 d on every acre of corn they grow. If they want to make improvements on their holdings they get a grant of £ 80 on every £ 100 they expend, and if the farmer cannot find the remaining £20 he will get it on loan on easy terms. Unless our farmers are better encouraged there is going to be a big drop in the tillage and a great drop in employment. It is only by our agricultural exports we can make any money, and if we are out of production the country goes bankrupt.
I believe you have a new organisation started in Longford called Children of the Soil. The promoter of that organisation is, I think, a Mr. Michael Donnellan of Galway. He came to some meetings of the Irish Farmers’ Federation and accepted the position of vice-president for Connaught. He is trying to tell the people now that the Federation is only for ranchers. Our President for 1938 was Mr. John Conaty of Cavan, a farmer with less than thirty acres. That does show it is not a rancher’s organisation. The farmers have learned a lesson and they are going ahead with their organisation. They are sick and tired listening to politicians telling them what to do, and the farmers never again will be found running after any Big Light.