Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.2.1. Published Texts, Articles in yearbooks and anthologies

1945 Elizabeth Bobbett: A Short History of the Irish Farmers’ Federation and Its Aims and Objects

Source: Irish Farmers’ Federation, The Future of Agriculture in Ireland, Yearbook 1945, pp. 17-22

One summer’s day in 1933, I strolled into the Mansion House, Dublin, to a Farmers’ Convention. I admit I felt very shy as I found there was only one other woman present in a very large audience. It was a Convention of the United Farmers’ Protection Association. I was much impressed at the speeches I heard there and delighted to know there were some farmers ready to fight for their rights.

We were going through a very difficult time owing to the Economic War, and of course, as I afterwards learned, there was a wide difference of political opinion amongst farmers. However let us leave all thought of politics out of the question. I was inspired to take a keen interest in the necessity for organisation of the farming community, chiefly by the speech of Mr. Ernest Browne of Clonboy, O’Brien’s Bridge, County Clare. Mr. Browne was most emphatic that we must have a Central Organisation that would unite all farmers and thereupon I resolved to do my share as regards organisation in my adopted County Wicklow.

It was not long till we had County Wicklow well advanced in organisation, and I took on the task of getting in touch with the Farmers’ Associations in other Counties. It was no easy task to convince them that it was possible to bring farmers together outside politics. However I am proud to relate that by invitation of the County Wicklow Farmers the first Conference of Farmers was held in the Hotel St. George, Parnell Square, Dublin, on 24th September, 1936. Fourteen counties were represented and a Committee was elected, representing Counties Clare, Cavan, Carlow, Limerick, Monaghan, Dublin, Westmeath, Wicklow and Wexford. Further meetings were arranged to discuss the Constitution and rules which would best help to give us a sound organisation, as many as seventeen Counties being present at our meetings.

Why the Federation was formed

Realising the urgent necessity for a Central Organisation that would unite all existing Farmers’ Associations with a view to closer co-operation between farmers for the benefit of the industry, the Irish Farmers’ Federation was established on the 3rd March, 1937, and was registered as a Trade Union on the 27th April, 1937. Being a Trade Union it is strictly non-political and non-sectarian. Membership is open to all farmers and farm labourers who accept its rules. The Irish Farmers’ Federation is the only Trade Body entitled to express a responsible opinion on behalf of the farmers of the country in general.

It will be understood, that there are many different Farming Associations such as Grain Growers’ Association, Beet Growers, Pig Producers, Poultry Keepers, Milk Producers, etc., etc., but the great majority of farmers had no central organisation, and we knew how one section of the farming industry could be played off against another section, as long as the farmers were kept divided into sectional organisation.

Now if agriculture is to prosper it must be treated as a whole and not divided into sections, therefore the Irish Farmers’ Federation acts like the hub of a wheel. It is the binding link, not alone between various Associations but between the various Counties.

That County Wicklow gave the lead in founding the Federation is quite easy to understand, when you consider that the Wicklow farmers are a typical cross-section of Irish farmers, holding medium to poor land, and enjoying none of the advantages of the subsidised crops of beets and wheat. (Of course at present owing to the emergency we are compelled to grow wheat, and several have tried to grow beet as it is one of the guaranteed price crops.) Tillage is not new to Wicklow as the land must be kept tilled and manured. The oat crop is grown as much for straw fodder as for grain, and in the more remote parts the farmers went in for pigs and stall feeding, theirs is essentially a mixed economy, a little of everything.This is the agriculture from which the Federation grew, and its founders have no need to apologise to any one for building on these lines. If one considers the various groups of farmers one finds for instance creamery suppliers in the South and West and in Donegal, grain growers principally in Leinster counties along with parts of Munster. Then you have the beet growing areas, the flax growing districts, and of course the milk suppliers to the cities and towns, but the vast majority of farmers are engaged in a mixed type of farming.

The main objects of the Irish Farmers’ Federation are as follows. “To consolidate all other Farmers’ Associations. This Federation to be a Council of Agriculture representing all branches of the industry, to act in a consultative and advisory capacity to, and maintain direct contact with the Minister for Agriculture. Briefly the following items: 1) Fixity of Tenure. 2) Fair prices for farm produce based on the costs of production. 3) Full de-rating of agricultural land and farm buildings. 4) Re-adjustment of Loan Credit Charges and better credit facilities for farmers. 5) Fair representation for farmers on all national legislative and administrative bodies, and the election by the organised farmers of the State of a majority of their members on all Boards dealing directly with Agriculture. 6) A Moratorium on all Land Annuities and arrears pending the re-adjustment of the position regarding these charges. 7) Adequate compensation for Economic War losses.

Affiliation of County Association: Each Association pays a fixed sum to the National Executive of the Irish Farmers’ Federation and elect their own representatives to the National Executive.

Organisation was carried on all the time under difficulties, owing to the Economic War period, followed by a General Election in 1937 and again in 1938, however even with such distractions we increased our membership from 3,800 in December 1938 to 14,500 in 1939.

It will be remembered that in April, 1939, we staged a One Day Strike in Dublin city in which many thousands of farmers from all counties marched in procession carrying banners with appropriate slogans. The County Dublin Farmers’ Association under the very able directorship of Mr. Cornelius F. McLoughlin had charge of staging the demonstration which was magnificently carried out both from an artistic point of view and showed keen organisation and co-operation.

For the first time in history not a single beast was on offer for sale in the Dublin Cattle market that day. Dublin people were quite surprised to know there were so many farmers. It made the city folk realise that we were a force to contend with.

Our demonstration showed the few Counties that had not yet awakened to the possibility of organising the farmers that such was possible, and later these Counties built up strong organisations, and while some of these Counties have not officially affiliated with the Irish Farmers’ Federation we have their co-operation on all matters dealing with Agriculture.

It was our rule to hold monthly meetings of the National Executive and after getting the considered opinion of the farmers from the various counties, to send forward our recommendation to the Government, and in particular to the Minister for Agriculture on the successful carrying out of the agricultural policy. Unfortunately the Minister did not act on our advice when offered, with the consequent result that farmers could not continue producing certain agricultural commodities at uneconomic prices so we were forced to considerably reduce our productions, the result being the rationing of certain commodities of which we previously had an exportable surplus.

In September, 1939, at the outbreak of the European War we sent a deputation to the Minister for Agriculture assuring him of our fullest co-operation in increasing the Nation’s Food Supply on the understanding that the Minister would give adequate representation to the Irish Farmers’ Federation on any Board set up to deal with agricultural interests, and that immediate relief be given to farmers as this was necessary if they were to get into full production. The Minister agreed to meet a further deputation from the Irish Farmers’ Federation at an early date. It may be well to remind our readers here, that owing to the losses sustained by the farmers during the Economic war years, they were without capital or equipment, or credit, so unless they got help from the Government, they could not carry out their duties to the Nation as they wished to do.

The Minister for Agriculture was to receive a further deputation the following week, but owing to his illness our deputation was received by An Taoiseach, Mr. Eamon de Valera. We gave him full details of the farmers’ position and requested him to give us the following reliefs to enable us to pull our full weight in increasing food production: 1) To consult the farmers before making any agreements regarding the prices of our live stock and produce for export; 2) A moratorium on arrears of Annuities and Rates which had accumulated during the Economic War years; 3) To call off the Sheriffs; 4) To make credit available.

We were very disappointed when An Taoiseach refused to comply with any of our requests. He mentioned that the farmers could not go on strike like other Trade Unions. When we reported back to our National Executive the unsympathetic attitude of An Taoiseach they were most disappointed. We expected help and co-operation in our efforts to feed the Nation. Our farmers felt that they must do something to bring the true position of the farmers before the public, in the hope of obtaining Justice, so it was decided to hold a Farmers’ Strike. It was the decision of the National Executive to explore every avenue open to us to secure our demands before we would resort to Strike Action. Although we had had several interviews from time to time with the Minister for Agriculture he had refused to give the farmers any relief, and although he promised us adequate representation on any Board set up to deal with Agriculture, the Irish Farmers’ Federation was only granted two representatives on the Agricultural Consultative Council.

After several conferences with the organised groups of farmers which were not at that time affiliated to the Federation, representatives attending from Leinster Milk Producers’ Association, Federated Creameries’ Union, Cork Farmers’ Association, Kerry Farmers’ Association, Pig Producers’ Association, and Clann na Talmhan, all of which offered their co-operation in the event of a Farmers’ Strike.A Strike was called of the Leinster Milk Producers’ and the Irish Farmers’ Federation which lasted from 18th November to 1st December, and during which time the farmers responded willingly to the call for action in order to demonstrate their grievances, and there was a complete stand-still of all fairs and markets in many Counties, and the Dublin Cattle Market was closed for two weeks.

It was our procedure in organising the counties, to hold public meetings in large towns on fair days, and later to hold demonstrations in some counties. Several large demonstrations having been held in County Wicklow, and later in Letterkenny, County Donegal, and at a very large meeting in Dunleer, County Louth, we had the honour of being addressed by Mr. Charles Magee, then vice-chairman of the Ulster Farmers’ Union. We just had to get publicity for our grievances, and owing to our continued agitation we were forcing others to admit the true position of Agriculture, as plainly expressed in the Daily Press 1st November, 1939, by Mr. S. MacEntee, then Minister for Industry, when he spoke of the debt which Industry owes to Agriculture and he said, “in my view the time has come when the rural population is entitled to look for some repayment of that debt,” also the statement of Revd. Dr. Cornelius Lucey at Rural Week in Galway, (Daily Press, August 21st, 1939), when he stated, “It is idle to try to populate a Countryside whose income is stationary and whose expenses including rates and taxes are steadily mounting.”

The year 1940 was very difficult to extend organisation, owing to the farmers’ time being taxed to the fullest with the Tillage Campaign, and owing to the unsettled state of the country on account of the European War and the threat of invasion. When not working on the land our men and women were engaged in supporting one or other of the voluntary Services.

Nevertheless the National Executive of the Irish Farmers’ Federation kept a vigilant eye on all matters affecting agriculture, and had conferences with the following bodies, the Federation of Irish Manufacturers, The Irish Banks Standing Committee, The Agricultural Credit Corporation and The Irish Land Commission and were able to bring relief to many farmers who were being unduly pressed for repayment of debts.

Every year we made representation to the Minister for Agriculture for just prices for our grain and all agricultural produce, as our costs of production kept mounting. That eventually the Minister had to increase grain prices, and do away with the restriction on the price of pigs was proof that our advice had been sound, but unfortunately it was generally too late to prevent the shortage, when the Minister took the appropriate action. It was another case of locking the door when the horse was gone.

The year 1941 the country was visited by the plague of Foot-and-Mouth disease which was a very heavy blow to our farmers, we know that our farmers suffered tremendous losses through the Foot-and-Mouth disease while other sections were able to make huge profits out of our cattle. Of course farmers were paid some compensation for the cattle that were slaughtered owing to the disease, but the greatest loss, one which could not be estimated, was suffered by those farmers who had their stock and produce held up in scheduled areas and could not move them. Their stock deteriorated, and land was taken up by them which would have produced other crops, etc., and their business was brought to a standstill.

In September that year the Irish Farmers’ Federation sent two representatives, Mr. Patrick McMahon, Meath, and Mr. G. N. Wardell, Kildare, on a delegation to Britain with the Dublin Cattle Salesmasters and Shippers to confer with the Farmers’ Unions of Scotland and England and other bodies interested in the resumption of normal cattle trading again, and we have no hesitation in saying that were it not for that delegation going to Great Britain trade would not have been resumed so soon. I would like to say here, that everywhere the delegation went on their tour, they were received in the most cordial manner.

Our farmers gave much time to the study of economic and financial matters as they affected other countries and compared with ours. In view of the advantages which other countries enjoyed, the following resolution was passed at our Annual Convention in 1942 and was sent to the Government. “That no substantial or lasting benefit can come to farmers without National Monetary Control.”

Our members have closely followed the activities of the Farmers’ Action Council of England and the Economic Reform Club and Institute of London in their efforts to have the present financial system changed, and they hold that “finance is at the root of farming difficulties with which view we concur and hold that the right to issue money and credit should be restored to the Government of the country and recognised as its most conspicuous and sacred responsibility.

This would not mean nationalisation of the banks or taking away from them the power of lending existing real money. The banks have a great service to perform to industry and commerce and deserve a fair reward, but they should have no power to create and destroy money.

If our Government had the power to create money, it can use the National Credit and authorise the issue of money needed at a nominal fee to the banks for their services, but it would mean we could proceed with many schemes for future production. We are promised Rural Electrification and many millions for improved roads and high speed ways, but under the present financial system this will mean only increased taxation on the community and a further withdrawal of money form the land as the money will carry high interest rate. After all when you give the matter some thought, the National Credit belongs to the people and not to the Banks to enrich themselves with high rates of interest.

The year 1942 was perhaps the most difficult year for organisation work owing to the extra tillage and scarcity of labour, and very curtailed transport services, but the Federation continued to work for their objectives, one of the main objects being “to encourage, develop, promote and regulate farming in Ireland, and to Consolidate all other Farming Organisations in Ireland,” and we have succeeded in getting the co-operation of all the Farmers’ Organisations with the exception of the Beet Growers’ Association.

There was a feeling amongst some of our members that owing to the repeated refusal of the Government to act on our advice, and seeing the way the agricultural output was dwindling, that the farmers should try other means to redress their grievances and several were anxious that the Federation should change its rules and form a political body, but after grave consideration it was decided that we should remain a Trade Union.The advantages of this can be appreciated when during the month of April we had an interview with His Eminence Cardinal Joseph MacRory first in Dublin. In June we had the unique distinction of being received by the Cardinal and Hierarchy at Maynooth, when we placed the true position of agriculture before them. We also sent a copy of the memorandum which we placed before the Hierarchy, to the Heads of the other Churches in Ireland.

In the General Elections of 1943 and 1944 Farmers in several Counties went forward for election and were particularly successful. They are now the third largest Party in An Dail.

The Federation gave evidence before the Summer Time Commission and the Commission on Vocational Organisation. Indeed the Irish Farmers’ Federation has laid the foundation for organising Agriculture as a Vocation. It can only succeed if taken as a whole, not if it is kept in sectional interests. We aim at having our County Executives representative of the various interests, and then have our National Executive representatives sent forward from their respective counties or Associations thereby making our National Executive representative of all branches of the Industry. We do not interfere with the running of any Association, we are out to bring unity between all sections of agriculture for the benefit of the Nation.

The Future

In drawing up plans for the future of agriculture in Ireland the first essential is to see that we set up a plan that will have a true Christian outlook, and we must ask ourselves, are we going to plan just what will suit the farmers best as the most economical way of making money out of the land to enrich themselves, or are we going to use the beautiful fertile land for the purpose for which God gave it to us, namely to provide to the fullest possible extent for the requirements of our people.

If we take the true Christian outlook, it will necessitate making many drastic changes in the present so-called economic and financial systems but if in so doing, we achieve our objects and bring forth a healthy prosperous agricultural community the end will have justified the means.

The land and the people who work it, are the nation’s greatest asset, and who are better able to direct the food production of the nation than the practical farmers. To make plans for the future of Ireland in regard to electrification, speed highways, housing, etc., etc., is futile unless agriculture on which the prosperity of the nation depends is first put on a sound basis.

We base our memorandum on the following points: 1) Agriculture is and always will be our main industry. It has been sacrificed on the altar of political achievement. It has also been sacrificed for the setting up of a lop-sided industrial policy. 2) We need a revolution of the whole economic policy of the country. 3) What is wanted is a considered decision as to the part in the total economy of Ireland which agriculture is in future to play, a decision taken not in the interests of the towns population and not even altogether in the interests of agriculture, but in the interests of Ireland considered as an economic whole. 4) The organisation of agriculture as the main industry deliberately planned to produce so much of this, so much of that, and the other agricultural commodity. The old anarchy of each farmer producing regardless of what others were producing and each being at the mercy of particular surpluses and combines which “kill the price” must go. 5) A guaranteed price sufficient to give the farmer and his family a reasonable return and the workers an adequate wage for efficient production. 6) A guaranteed market free from disruption and destruction by unregulated foreign imports and financial interests.

If we admit that agriculture is a wealth producing service, which incidentally helps us to solve the practical question of unemployment, and also many other problems, we should agree that its development in this country is all important. Not only must we try and keep the people on the land but we must also bring many people back to the land. It is only too well known that the land has been sadly neglected during the past 30 years, it has been mined rather than farmed. We must remember that agriculture is not an industry, it is husbandry.

We must build up the fertility of the soil again, and as the soil will repay according to the treatment given, it will repay for any credit given to increase agricultural output. The first essential financial requirement is the spending of say ten million pounds a year to build up agricultural life. This is required to create new wealth as the ability of the farmer to produce food will depend on his credit, his equipment and his livestock. Then we need finance to provide improvements in farm-houses and farm buildings, houses for our workers, drainage, water supply, and electricity for light and power. This is all production for permanent wealth and could be financed by using the National Credit to provide Interest-free National Credit loans.

We should consider plans on the following lines: Producers should be given full responsibility for production of certain goods most suited to their locality, and get such guaranteed prices as will enable them to participate with the rest of the community in the benefits obtainable from a thrifty agriculture. The public in its own interests should accept responsibility for insisting that farmers are given facilities to produce food up to the limit of the capacity of the land, and at the same time to demand that they as consumers have sufficient purchasing power to enable them to pay a remunerative price for all agricultural produce. We should aim at increased food production so that all our people will get sufficient good healthy food grown from our own land, and after the requirements of the Home Market are filled we can export the surplus. If the surplus is not sufficient to exchange for the imports we need (no Nation can be wholly self-sufficient) we can produce more for the export market. The Home Market is the only one where you can regulate the price you will receive for your goods.

We are too often distracted from realities by the value of the Export Market while for reasons well known to all, viz. the lack of sufficient purchasing power in the hands of our own people, our people are suffering from malnutrition and our greatest industry seems to be building hospitals and sanatoriums and paying a miserable pittance through Home Help and Dole to keep people out of employment.

Let us use our land for the benefit of our own people and not carry on a system whereby we give all the profits to the shipping companies and industrial producers of artificial manures and patent food for man and beast. Let us see that we are paid a just price for our own produced food and insure that we have healthy soil, healthy food, healthy livestock and therefore a healthy people.

In conclusion we again appeal to our Government to Free the National Credit in order to carry out the following essentials to a prosperous Agriculture: To Close the Price-Gap, Stop restriction of production. Stop the taxation ramp and finance the post-war reconstruction effort.

What is physically possible must be made financially possible. We recommend the compensated price mechanism to close the price-gap and thus facilitate the production, distribution and consumption of agricultural produce.

The Irish Farmers’ Federation is at all times willing to co-operate whole-heartedly with the Government of the day in any measures for the betterment of the Agricultural Industry in Ireland.

The first President of the Irish Farmers’ Federation was Mr. William J. Davis, Leabeg, Newcastle, County Wicklow, who carried on dairying and mixed farming. Second President, Mr. John F. Conaty, Annagelliff, Cavan, who farmed about 30 acres and who devoted much of his time in organising to County Cavan farmers. Third President, Mr. John J. O’Kennedy, Punchestown House, Rathmore, County Kildare carried on dairy farming. Fourth President, Mr. Richard Hipwell, Ballybrittas, Leix, a tillage farmer. Fifth President, Mr. John Rooney, Ellistown, Ballyboughal, County Dublin, carries out mixed farming and tillage.