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

1944 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Irish Independent, 03.02.1944

Butter Shortage

At a meeting in Roscommon, Mr. A.C. McLoughlin, General Secretary, Irish Retail Traders’ Protective Association, is reported as stating: “Lack of foresight by the Government in allowing the export of heifers and young cows, coupled with the non-civic co-operation of many of the more extensive farmers, who would not produce sufficient butter for their own homesteads, had led to the reduced ration.” I would like to draw the attention of the public to the following: 1) What would be the effect on milk production if the export of heifers and young cows were stopped? The price of all cows would drop, and those farmers whose particular line of farming was the sale of in-calf heifers and young cows would cease to put their heifers to breed and would sell them as stores or fat cattle. Hence the reduction in the numbers of milk-producing stock with consequent reduction in our milk and butter supply and our exports. 2) With regard to Mr. McLoughlin’s suggestion that the Government should compel farmers with a certain acreage to produce sufficient butter to maintain their own homesteads, perhaps Mr. McLoughlin is not aware that it takes three gallons of milk to produce 1 lb of butter by home churning, while 2½ gallons of milk churned at a creamery will produce 1 lb of butter, so if his suggestion was carried out it would mean thousands of gallons less milk delivered each week to the creameries and this would have the effect of reducing the butter ration still further.

At present the country is suffering from under production of milk both for consumption and for butter production, while malnutrition and TB are on the increase. The first essential is to give the farmer some security in his industry and with an economic price for his milk he will increase production. The consumption of milk and butter, both most important foods for the health of the nation, should be subsidised, so as to enable the consumers to purchase more with their present limited incomes. For many years the consumers of butter in Eire were subsidising cheap butter on the export market.

Many millions of pounds are taken annually out of production in order to pay for unemployment and social services under Board of Health, etc. Far better put money into production and consumption of health-giving foods. The Government could readily make an issue of National Credit at a nominal interest to subsidise production and consumption, the security for which would be the increased production of wealth from the land, and a healthier people are also a national asset.