Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett

1941 Rathdrum, Meeting of the Irish Farmers’ Federation

Source: Wicklow People, 09.08.1941

Miss Elizabeth Bobbett said the prices announced by the Minister for Agriculture had been discussed both at the last National Executive meeting of the IFF on 24th July and at their National Agricultural Council meeting the same day, and were considered unsatisfactory. The farmers had responded wholeheartedly last Spring to the call for increased food production, and without indeed any assistance from the Government. They had a shortage of manures. Credit through the County Council schemes was very limited and could not be availed of by the farmers most in need of it owing to the red tape regulations governing it. They should thank the seed merchants for what credit they gave them though this was also on a limited scale. The Minister for Agriculture admitted in the Dail, in reply to a question by Deputy Patrick Cogan that he did not consult any farmers’ organisations on the matter of grain prices. A meeting of the Consultative Council of Agriculture was held on 10th July at which Dr. James Ryan announced the prices for grain, but he did not consult the members of his council on the matter. The Irish Farmers’ Federation representatives on the council protested in the strongest manner, but got very little support from the other representatives present. Now they would remember that they held a meeting of the National Agricultural Council on 26th July at which meeting the costs of production of the various crops were gone into in detail. From that meeting they offered to submit their figures to Dr. Ryan, but only got an acknowledgment of their letters.