Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett

1939 Trim, Meeting of the Irish Farmers’ Federation

Source: Meath Chronicle, 21.10.1939

The Chairman then introduced Miss Elizabeth Bobbett, who was received with applause. She said the farmers were now faced with another war after passing through one without receiving restitution. The Federation was going to see that the farmers were not victimised now. They were going to see that the sufferings of this war were borne by everybody and not by the farmers alone. Some might think that this was a young organisation and that they had not done a lot. That was not correct. They had now got twenty counties well organised and they were increasing in strength every day. Having referred to the support of the Federated Creameries and the Cork and Kerry Farmers’ Association, the speaker said they had formed a united front to see that the Irish farmers were not robbed again and to see how best to produce the necessary food for their people as well as for export. It was all very well to say “increase food and increase tillage,” but they could not do that without money nor without horses and ploughs and fertilisers.

A few months ago they were prepared to “down tools,” but when the crisis first arose they thought it their duty to seek an interview with Dr. Ryan. She wanted to emphasise that they did not give an unconditional surrender. They made it clear that they were prepared to do their duty and increase the supply of food, but they must be given relief and the means to produce increased food. When they went to the Department they were informed that Dr. Ryan could not see them until the following week. They asked for a fifteen minutes interview and they sat on in the offices until all the officials were gone. At 6.15 p.m. Dr. Ryan gave them a twenty minutes interview. They said they were willing to co-operate with him but he must recognise the Federation as the voice of the farmers of Ireland as a whole. They asked him to give the Federation proper representation on any Board set up in the agricultural interest. He said that while he did not think that any Boards would be set up he would give them that representation if they were. She asked him would he receive them again and he replied that he would, provided he got due notice.

Detailing some of the things that took place during the three hours’ interview with Mr. De Valera the speaker said she regretted to say that it was a representative of the Beet Growers’ Association who was the first to mention compulsion. He said that where a farmer was not tilling the land it should be set at the lowest possible price so that the man who took it would not have to pay the highest price as was the case in the last war. One of the Federation members then got up and let them have their ideas. They said they would not have compulsion. There was no necessity for it. Mr. De Valera said he did not like the word, compulsion, himself. All the farmers wanted was an inducement to till, and if they got decent prices they would till.

Dealing with the Government’s tillage policy, Miss Bobbett pointed out that in 1918 there were over 2,380,000 acres under tillage while in 1939 that had fallen to 1,478,000, a decrease of over 900,000 acres. There must be something very wrong with the Government’s tillage policy or some of the other policies they were carrying out. In view of the statement of Mr. De Valera, she continued, that no agreement had been come to at that time with regard to the sale of livestock, the Federation advised the farmers not to withhold the sale of their stock while they had a free market.

A butter pool had been formed in England, and the Food Controller there could give what he liked for Irish creamery butter. The Danes were not able to get their ships, carrying bacon, butter and eggs, across to England. Last week three ships were captured on the high seas. The Danes were not exporting pork to England for the present but now pig export from this country were to be controlled. It was very peculiar that when there was a scarcity on the English market and when the Irish farmers should be looking for an improvement in prices, they were told they could not export them.

Referring to the subsidy on eggs, the speaker said that Irish eggs were classified as foreign going to the British market. In Leitrim eggs were 1s 2d a dozen, while across the Border they were 1s 5d. The farmers of Ireland were not going to take a lesser price than any other foreign country got in the English market. They must get equally good prices, otherwise they would not send them.

In the course of their interview with Mr. Eamon de Valera they asked for a moratorium on rates and annuities. He replied that he had not a fairy chest to put his hand into to give money to the farmers. One of those present said that he did not want a fairy chest when he was increasing his own salary (laughter). People were very shy to speak of credit. A very simple solution was put forward by the Donegal farmers in evidence to the Agricultural Commission. They said that the £338,000 voted to subsidise artificial manure should be devoted to meet the interest, at two per cent on a loan, the money for which the Government could borrow at four per cent. If the amount mentioned was devoted to meet two per cent of the interest that would cover a loan of £17,000,000. She did not see why the Government could not come to an agreement with the banks to do some such thing as that.

There was one big thing which must be settled – the question of “frozen” loans. They were weighing the farmers down since the last war. When the deflation set in they had to give back three bullocks for one they bought. These things must be settled before there was talk of compulsion. It would be up to the farmers themselves to start talking about compulsion if they were going to do anything at all (hear, hear).

Miss Bobbett said the organisation was never better than it was to-day. She had great hopes that in the very near future they would be a big force in this country. Everything depended on the farmer now. With regard to the proposed Consultative Council for Agriculture the speaker declared that Mr. Ernest Browne, the founder of the Federation, had been calling for that since 1936. They were not satisfied with the composition of this Council and felt they were being kept in the dark in connection with the matter. They were told that they would have two representatives on the Council and two names had already been proposed but not ratified. If the Council was not what it should be they would hear about it.

Continuing, the speaker said that at a time like this when every penny should be devoted to increased production in land, she felt that their public bodies should curtail unnecessary expenditure. There were lots of things they could do without. They could live with bad roads; they could live without sewerage and without electric light, but nobody could live without food (applause). They should curtail all extravagance. The farming community was the only one which could absorb considerable numbers of the unemployed and those about to be unemployed. Again, stressing the need for credit, the speaker said that the Land Bill has taken the last chance of any farmer getting credit. The simplest way to relieve the present situation was to give the farmers de-rating. Failing that the Federation urged a moratorium on rates and annuities. Instead of that the Flying Squads were in their yards waiting for the money. The Volunteers should be sent out to bring in the crops instead of paying them for doing nothing. She went on to say that the tax should be taken off all agricultural implements coming into the country. There was a duty of £6 5s on manure distributors, for example; yet they were expected to get into production. There was a duty of 40 per cent on two wheels of a binder. With regard to seed wheat she warned the farmers to be very careful. They should see that they get guaranteed wheat for sowing. Unless the price for wheat was very considerably increased people would grow barley. Concluding, Miss Bobbett invited questions from those present.

Mr. Conlan (Meadstown) said there was no equipment to be got in Dublin.

Miss Bobbett: It is utterly ridiculous. You can buy a Wexford plough cheaper in Belfast than in Wexford. Answering questions with regard to the shortage of maize, she said that there was supposed to be a shortage, but at the end of August 70,000 tons of extra maize was imported. Extra bran and pollard were also imported. She added that Manitoba wheat was extremely cheap last season and the price of bread should have come down in this country.

Mr. Eivers alleged that the mills were now under the control of the Government.

Mr. Michael Bracken, County Councillor, said they should make it clear that the Federation and not the Cattle Traders’ Association represented the farmers of Ireland.

(A voice: They are only the men who buy the cattle at the fairs).

Mr. Bracken: If they are invited they could act on the Consultative Council but not to speak solely for the farmers. That should be made plain to Dr. Ryan.

(A voice: You should ask Dr. Ryan to get out).

Miss Bobbett: We told him to get out long ago (laughter).

Mr. Bracken said he understood that the County Committees of Agriculture were to be represented on the Council and he learned that one of the Deputies in Meath was nominated.

Miss Bobbett: I believe the County Committees were asked to forward a list of names to the Department. It looks as if Dr. Ryan is selecting them.

Mr. J. Wilkinson said Dr. Ryan should not have the selection of them.

Miss Bobbett: He won’t have the selecting of the Federation representatives (laughter).

Mr. Eivers: I think two representatives from the Federation is not reasonable.

Miss Bobbett: Should we take two representatives or should we not? If you get two representatives on the Council you can know what is going on. She added that the feeling all over was that the County Committees of Agriculture did not represent the farmers. They were elected on a political basis.

Mr. O’Connell (Dunderry) said it would be well to make out a list of bona fide farmers of these Committees. If the majority of them were not farmers they should let the public face the facts. He thought there were men on the County Committee of Agriculture who would not know a turnip from a mangold (laughter).

Mr. Andrew Elliott (Kilmer) said they should not recognise the Committees in connection with this matter because they were elected on a political basis.

Miss Bobbett said the Federation wanted the Pigs Marketing Board scrapped altogether.