Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.3. Correspondence, Letters to newspapers

1942 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Wicklow County Council, 24.02.1942

Source: Wicklow County Archives (WCA), County Council Minutes, 1940/41, p. 10, 08.04.1942

The following letter was read by the Secretary, the Irish Farmers’ Federation, Springfield, Kilbride, Wicklow, 24th February, 1942: The Secretary, Wicklow County Council, Wicklow.

Dear Sir. I have been instructed to send you a copy of the report of the recent Food Production Conference and the official statement issued therefrom. Hoping it will receive the attention of your Council at their next meeting.

Yours faithfully, Elizabeth F. Bobbett, General Secretary.

Food Production Conference. A National Conference of representatives from Farmers’ Organisations was convened by the Irish Farmers’ Federation and held in the Ormond Hotel, Dublin, on Wednesday, 11th February, 1942.

Mr. John Rooney (acting President of the Irish Farmers’ Federation) presided. Addressing the meeting, he said: The farmers are so misrepresented over the Food Production, and the unfounded charges made against us for hoarding, he called this Conference, not that we could tell the people anything new, but to repeat what we said before at previous conferences. The items we placed before the Government as being immediately necessary if we were to be in a position to produce, were Credit, Fair Prices, and that our debts of rates, annuities and Bank debts be sealed down during the Emergency.

We told the people and the Press that the Bankers and the Government would be responsible if there was Famine. Now we are near ’47 as regards Famine. The Manufacturers were not asked to produce at uneconomic prices, and we should not be asked to do so.

We need at least £10,000,000 immediately put into Food Production. It is better for a farmer to produce 14 barrels of oats on his acre of land than to produce only five barrels of wheat off that acre. The Bailiffs are as busy to-day as if we were getting fabulous prices. There are about 200 farmers in County Dublin before the Courts for debts in connection with Rates.

Mr. W. Scanlon, Roscommon Farmers’ Association, speaking on the price of Wheat, said that one of our Bishops recently said: “Thanks and praise was very little help to the farmers, and the farmers should get the same price as was being paid for imported wheat for flour, viz., £3 6s 6d per barrel.” The following week Dr. James Ryan increased the price to 50s.

Mr. Patrick McMahon, Meath, said the Agricultural Labourer was the worst paid and it was no wonder they were leaving the land, but the farmer must be put into the position to pay an increased wage. Mr. S. Lennon, Carlow, said the only means of prosperity to this country is by the Compensated Price Policy.

The following Statement was issued from the Conference: The Nation’s Food Productions Demands the Compensated Price Policy. Cheaper Food and Better Prices.

1. That remunerative prices must be paid to Farmers, and the price gap between what the Consumer is able to pay and the price at which the Farmer is able to produce must be filled by Government Finance, thereby putting in force the Compensated Price Policy. 2. That all Agricultural Production will depend on the Live Stock population of the Country. 3. That the ability of the Farmer to produce Food will depend on his Credit, his Equipment and his Live Stock. 4. That the Production of Food by Speculator has failed during the last two years. 5. That the Department of Agriculture must publish the cost of production figures for all Agricultural Products immediately. 6. That the soil of Ireland must not be depreciated in its Food Producing powers if the Nation is to be guaranteed from Famine and Poverty. 7. That Practical Farmers must direct the Food Production Policy.”

The following Resolutions were also passed unanimously: “a) That the Food Production of the 26 Counties is gravely endangered by the policy of the Government in collecting this year’s very high rate plus debts of rates, annuities, and Bank debts by Bailiffs. b) That we warn the Urban Community of the danger that may result from such a policy if continued in this Emergency. c) That ten million of 216 million idle credit lying idle in Irish Banks be immediately made available to the Farmers for the Food Production of the Country. d) That we call upon the Government to immediately have all debts of Farmers sealed down for the duration of the war. e) That all counties be responsible for the publicity of the report of the Conference in their own counties and its circulation to influential and public bodies.” Representatives from the Farmers’ Association in the following Counties were present: Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford, Westmeath, Meath, Carlow, Roscommon, Kilkenny, Monaghan, Louth, and Leix.

Elizabeth F. Bobbett, General Secretary, IFF, Springfield, Wicklow.