Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.3. Correspondence, Letters to newspapers
1943 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Irish Independent, 04.09.1943
Agricultural Council
Sir. Your leading article of August 25th on the necessity for an Agricultural Council is very appropriate, but you say “had such a body been in existence during recent years muddles and blunders might have been avoided.” As General Secretary and one of the founders of the Irish Farmers’ Federation I can assure you that it was the intention of the founders of the Irish Farmers’ Federation that it should be a Council of Agriculture representing all branches of the industry to act in a consultative and advisory capacity and maintain direct contact with the Minister for Agriculture. From the inception of the Federation in 1930 we had several Interviews with the Minister for Agriculture and other Ministers, but it was plain to be seen that the Agricultural Industry was being sacrificed for political ideals.
In 1939, at the outbreak of the war, An Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture received deputations from the Irish Farmers' Federation when we offered the Government our fullest co-operation in securing the Nation’s Food Supply, and we put forward our views as to the necessary help and relief needed by the farming community to enable us get into production. We offered to set up an Agricultural Council representative of all branches of the industry, but these offers were turned down by the Government. Of course, the Minister for Agriculture did set up a Consultative Council of Agriculture, but it is explicitly laid down in its rules “that the Minister is not bound to accept the advice offered by the members of the Council.”
The present muddles and blunders are the result of the non-co-operation of the Government and Minister for Agriculture with members of the Irish Farmers’ Federation, who are all practical, experienced farmers. The future outlook regarding food supplies is serious. However, it is an old saying, “It's never too late to mend”, and now that the figures showing the decline in agricultural output have been recently published they are proof that all is not well with agriculture. It behoves all honest thinking citizens to insist that the farmers are put in a position to carry out their God given right to produce the food for our people. We read a lot about the farmers’ responsibilities to the country, but the citizens also have responsibilities to see that the farmers got fair treatment. There are a few vital questions which should be considered by all. Can we produce sufficient food for our people? Have we the soil and the climate to do so? Have we the farmer capable to do so? What is holding us back from such production? It is always said when the farmers ask for any help that we have not the money to enable such help to be given. The present war has shown how easy it is to get money for destruction, so it should be much, more sensible to give money for production, and what physically possible must be made financially possible.