Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett
1940 Arklow, Meeting of the Irish Farmers’ Federation
Source: Wicklow People, 24.02.1940
Miss Bobbett said their late president had said they might have made mistakes, but it only showed them what to do next time – mistakes of omission and commission, he had said. There was one thing the Federation had done for the farmers, it showed what they were prepared to do more than talk, but were prepared to take action (hear, hear). The strike was really only called as a demonstration to help to organise the country as a whole, and they all knew they were getting tired of waiting for action. While some of them in Headquarters in Dublin thought it would be better not to go at the time, they were pressed by other counties to take action before the year went out. They knew they had not all the counties keyed up to the proper pitch, but they had to take the vote when it was put to them. It showed that there were farmers prepared to stand up for their rights, and those counties which were not organised were now clamouring for organisation. They had a trade union now fighting their cause, the same as any other trade union, and if they did not take an interest in that union how could they expect the few on the executive to come and do their work for them? Rates, she went on to point out, had increased. In 1932 the total amount to run the county was £57’921; in 1938 £120’940, over double the amount, while they were fighting an economic war. They were going before the county council and let other counties do likewise. It was a scandalous thing the way rates were piling up, and pending getting complete de-rating there was nothing to prevent the Government taking over the roads and hospitals and making them a State charge. Everybody was in favour of that, even the Labour Party. It would be a big relief to the farmers when they considered that they were now faced with another increase in wages. This was a big tillage county, and they didn’t begrudge the wages to the men, because the high cost of living was a hardship on them.