Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett

1945 Ballybay, Meeting of the Irish Farmers’ Federation

Source: The Northern Standard, 06.04.1945

Miss Elizabeth Bobbett, General Secretary, next spoke and said she had come there to speed up the work of organising the Farmer's Federation. There was, she regretted, to find a slight falling off of enthusiasm in Monaghan and Cavan and she hoped it was only a passing lull, and that the farmers would soon reassert their organised power. She didn't know what sort of bad times were ahead but the farmers would meet and defeat them if given a chance to produce food to the full. We are denied the means of producing that is the trouble and the necessity for the farmers to build up and hold intact was now apparent. She was confident Monaghan would send a representative to the Dail on the first opportunity. She was favourably impressed by the men of Monaghan on this her first visit to the county. (Applause.)

Continuing, she said the farmers wanted a just rate and a just taxation and the biggest item was the amount of interest on loans issued on the strength of credit of the farmers. The National credit loans should be interest free. No substantial or lasting benefits can come to the farmers of this country without national control of the credit of the country and they wanted to spread the light in that direction. Until we can regulate our own prices we cannot have proper planning for agriculture. We must have a long term policy governed by security and economic prices. The deplorable situation at present is that when we produce more, prices come down. The producers of the food should be paid a decent reward for their toil. She asked them to be loyal enthusiastic members of the farmer's organisation and to get the women into these Councils as anything the women took an interest in was usually well looked after. In conclusion, she exhorted them to do their bit for themselves at the County Council elections. (Applause.)