Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett

1940 Bagenalstown, Meeting of the Irish Farmers’ Federation

Source: Nationalist and Leinster Times, 02.11.1940

Delegates from sixteen Branches were present, Miss Elizabeth F. Bobbett, General Secretary, was also present and very ably dealt with the future policy of the Federation and gave a detailed statement of the wonderful success already achieved as a result of the activities in general of the Federation. She strongly criticised the Government's policy regarding the primary industry of Eire, namely, Agriculture, which, she said, was unfortunately to a large extent the fault of agriculturists’ themselves by allowing professional politicians to cut out rules and regulations for them, the majority of which have, no doubt, proved detrimental to agriculture, and by so doing deny them the rights which they are entitled to, and also deny them a living existence in their own native land.

Agriculturists, she said, are keeping the whole machinery of State moving while the majority of themselves are in very bad circumstances, and yet a number of them do not realise their strength if only united in one body. Having dealt with many other matters of vital importance, including the huge and unnecessary costs of administration, Miss Bobbett concluded by appealing to the delegates present to see that every landholder, small and large, in their Branch area, join the ranks of the Irish Farmers' Federation, the one and only organisation in Eire which has the farmers' interests at heart, and which, she said, will eventually drag them out of the deplorable position they are in at present.