Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett

1943 Drogheda, Election Meeting

Source: Drogheda Independent, 15.05.1943

Miss Elizabeth Bobbett, one of the County Dublin candidates for Clann na Talmhan (the new agricultural party) spoke at a number of meetings on Sunday. She outlined the aims of the party including the following: To achieve and safeguard the complete unity, independence and neutrality of the nation; to establish a Christian and national social order based on a minimum economic income for all citizens of the State, whether farmers or workers, who are able and willing to work, and to make adequate provision for the aged and infirm; to secure for the agricultural producer economic prices for his produce, so that he can extend production, increase employment, and pay fair wages to his workers; fixity of tenure for tenant farmers of Ireland, working and deriving a living mainly or solely from the land; total de-rating on the first £20 of the valuation and a scheme of partial de-rating to be devised on the remainder of the valuation on agricultural land, the deficit to be made good out of the Central Fund; to promote intensive schemes of national development, including drainage, afforestation and land reclamation to be financed by the State; to secure such reform in the control of credit and monetary policy as will provide for the full employment of the entire population and complete development of the nation’s resources; loans to farmers at a nominal rate of interest for the development of agriculture; provision of adequate family allowances; drastic reform in the system of education and the provision of adequate agricultural, domestic and manual instruction in all our schools and colleges; that all roads and mental hospitals be made a national charge.