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

1947 Elizabeth Bobbett: Short History of the Irish Farmers’ Federation. Its Aims and Objects

Source: Irish Farmers’ Federation, Farming in Ireland, Yearbook 1947, pp. 17-21 & 43

In 1946 we celebrated the centenary of Charles S. Parnell and the Centenary of Michael Davitt the greatest champions of the farmers and rural people of Ireland. It may be well to refresh the memory of some of our farmers of the older school and to enlighten those of the younger generation on the subject of organisation of the farmers.

When Parnell and Davit inspired the farmers to unite, and the Land League was founded, you must remember that the farmers were a very down-trodden section of the community, and all were united in their desire to shake off the oppression of an English Government and the Land Lords. The only way they could bring pressure to bear on that Government was to get elected and fight their cause in the Parliament in London, hence we know and gratefully acknowledge the many benefits won for our farmers in the various Land Purchase Acts. Later, in 1889, we had a great movement started to benefit farmers through the late Sir Horace Plunkett in the Co-operative movement which chiefly made headway in the Creamery districts, later this movement was subsided by the Government and is still going strong as the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society.

Broadly speaking, the period from 1900 to 1912 were the best periods ever experienced by Irish Farmers. Prices and Costs remained fairly steady, if you bought cattle or sheep in the spring, you knew what you were likely to get for them in the autumn, and if you put in cattle to fatten in winter, you knew approximately what they would be worth in the spring. Likewise with corn crops you knew to a few shillings what grain would fetch per barrel. Wages and Rates were fairly steady, and there was contentment amongst those who worked on the land.

Then came the disastrous Foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in 1913 followed by the Great War 1914-1918, which ushered in a period of great inflation, high prices coupled with high wages, high cost of living and rising taxation.

During the years 1918 to 1921 prices were falling for agricultural products, while wages and Rates and agricultural requirements remained high, as also did clothes etc. The farmers were unable to keep paying these high prices, there were several Strikes of Agricultural Workers.

After the Treaty and the setting up of our own Government the burden on farmers increased, taxation and rates soared, with prices declining. Then 1926/1927 came the Crash. Britain went back on the Gold Standard and by that action over night the value of our stocks was reduced to a third. When this crisis came, the farmers of England Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland were given De-rating of Agricultural Land and Buildings which helped them to meet the position, but the farmers of our 26 Counties got no relief.

In 1918/1919 a Farmers’ Union was started which rapidly spread to most counties, but later when we got our own Government, the farmers put forward candidates for election to the Dail gaining several seats and all went well for a time. Unfortunately at a later stage the Farmers’ Party was swallowed up by fusion with the Government Party and their Union faded away.

All farmers are aware of the continued depression in farming from 1927, (though they may not be aware of the cause) and in 1931/1932 the United Farmers’ Protection Association was formed having amongst its supporters many members of the Fianna Fail party.

At this time farmers were being sold out by Banks (for mortgages incurred during the inflation period, and which through no fault of their own, the farmers were not able to meet) one of the chief points in the policy of the United Farmers’ Protection Association was the settlement of Frozen Loans with the Banks and the control of our own currency and De-rating.

Incidentally, Mr. Patrick Cosgrave’s Government refused to give the farmers de-rating of agricultural land, Mr. Eamon de Valera’s party seeking election promised de-rating, but when they got in to power they did not give de-rating. Later they halved the Land Annuities but our rates were so much increased that in most cases the total charge now for rates and annuities is higher than it was in 1932.

In 1932 Mr. De Valera’s Government was elected and once again the Farmers were used as the tools of the politicians. Then the Economic War was launched by Britain putting a tariff on our cattle, sheep pigs etc. going into Britain because Mr. de Valera withheld the Land Annuities from Britain. Now many people think the Economic War lasted from July 1932 to April 1938 because the tariffs were kept on during that period, but they forget that the Economic War only lasted till the first Coal-Cattle Pact was made between Mr. de Valera’s Government and the British Government, hence our farmers were put into the front line trenches unaided to fight both a political and a financial battle. The United Farmers’ Protection Association did valuable work through publicity for the farmers’ grievances and their agitation to have the Banking Commission set up, at which they gave evidence.

How the Irish Farmers’ Federation was set up

I was a member of the United Farmers’ Protection Association and at their Convention held in the Mansion House in 1933 which was attended by farmers from nearly every country, I met Mr. Ernest Browne of Clonboy, O’Brien’s Bridge, County Clare. I was very much impressed by his speech and his out-line of a plan to unite the farmers of all counties in a non-political Organisation where every branch of farming would be co-ordinated. I resolved to do my share in the work of spreading organisation in County Wicklow, my adopted country, and I feel honoured to say I took a very active part in founding the Irish Farmers’ Federation. I took on the task of getting in touch with Farmers’ Associations in other counties. It was no easy task to convince them that it was possible to bring farmers together outside politics.

On the invitation of County Wicklow Farmers the first Conference of Farmers was held in Hotel St. George, Parnell Square Dublin on 24 September 1936 fourteen Counties were represented. Further meetings were arranged to discuss constitution and rules which would best help to give us a sound organisation, as many as seventeen counties being present at our meetings. 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 3rd March 1937 and was registered as a Trade Union on 27th April 1937. Being a registered trade union it is strictly non-political and non-sectarian. Membership is open to all farmers and farm labourers who accept its rules.

The reason we registered as a Trade Union was to ensure it would be non-political and to have the protection of the Trade Union Acts, under which we had the right to hold public meetings and express our grievances, a thing we found very necessary to do at the time, as owing to the censorship of the Press the true position of the Agricultural Industry was being withheld from the public, and we were the victims of grave injustices.

It will be understood that there are many different Farming Associations such as Grain Growers, Beet Growers, Milk Producers, Pigs Producers etc. but the great majority of farmers carry on mixed farming, a little of everything, and 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 organisations.

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 the various Associations but between the various Counties.

The Main Objects of the Federation Are: To consolidate all other Farmers’ Associations. This Federation is 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. To voice the considered opinions of the farmers and to forward their interests. Fixity of Tenure. Fair prices for farm produce based on cost of production. Full de-rating of agricultural land and farm buildings. Re-adjustment of Loan Credit Charges and better credit facilities for farmers. 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. Adequate compensation for Economic War losses.

Affiliation of County Associations

Each County Association pays a fixed sum to the National Executive of the Irish Farmers’ Federation and elect their own representative to the National Executive. We found in organising the various Counties that they all liked to work under their own name such as Cavan Farmers’ Trade Union, Monaghan Farmers’ Federation, County Dublin Farmers’ Association, etc., while they affiliated with the Irish Farmers’ Federation. Then there were a few Counties which never affiliated, but kept in touch with the Federation and were willing to give their full co-operation if needed.

It was our rule to hold monthly meetings of the National Executive and after getting the considered opinions 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.

Organisation was carried on all the time under difficulties, we had several general elections, also County Council election and Presidential election all these help to distract farmers from the importance of their own organisation.

Then on the outbreak of the war in 1939, we were faced with a huge Compulsory Tillage Order. Well knowing our inability to produce the maximum of food owing to our impoverished position after the Economic War, in which our farmers’ losses can safely be estimated at not less than three hundred million pounds. Our farmers were without capital, equipment or credit, so unless they got help from the Government they could not carry out their duty to the nation as they wished to do. We sent deputations to the Minister for Agriculture and to An Taoiseach Mr. 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 prices of our livestock 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 [we] 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 very disappointed. We expected help and co-operation in our efforts to feed the Nation.

In order to get publicity for our grievances, we just had to get publicity, we called a Strike from 18th November to the 1st. December 1939, during which time the farmers responded willingly to the call for action and there was a complete standstill of all fairs and markets in many Counties and the Dublin Cattle Market was closed for two weeks.

It was our procedure in organising Counties, to hold public meetings on fair days in the larger towns and to hold demonstrations.

We gave evidence before most of the Commissions set up from time to time. 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 agriculture 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. After grave consideration it was decided that we should remain a Trade Union.

That our decision was wise can be appreciated, when it was possible at a later date to have a deputation received by the late Cardinal Joseph MacRory and the Hierarchy at Maynooth when we placed the true position of the farmers before them. We also sent copies of the memorandum which we placed before the Hierarchy to the Heads of the other Churches in Ireland.

The Future

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. 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 system, but if, in so doing, we achieve our objects and bring forth a healthy prosperous agricultural community the end will have justified the means.

1. Agriculture is and always will be our main industry. It has been sacrificed on the altar of political achievement, and for the setting up of a lop-sided industrial policy.
2. We need a revolution of the whole economic and social policy of the country. It is useless to plan for agriculture unless the economic and social policy is changed.
3. 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.
4. A guaranteed market free from disruption and destruction by unregulated foreign imports and financial interests.
5. A guaranteed price sufficient to give the farmer and his family a reasonable return, and the workers an adequate wage for efficient production.

If we admit that agriculture is a wealth producing service, we should agree that its development in this country is all important. Not only must we 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 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. From all over the world we have reports of Soil Erosion, and we have the statements from the Hot Springs Conference “that there never has been sufficient food in the world for all the people to have an adequate diet,” therefore we should beware of “false surpluses,” we even have them at home at times, because our people have not enough money in their pockets to enable them to pay for all they require to keep them healthy and strong.

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

We have closely followed the activities of the Farmers’ Action Council of England and the Economic Reform Club and Institute of England 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 Parliament of the Country and recognised as its most conspicuous and sacred responsibility.

We should aim at increased food production so that all our own 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 country 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 welcome the recent decision of the Minister for Agriculture to set up a Costings Committee to inquire into the cost of production of the various agricultural products. We have been agitating for such a Board for a long time. Better late than never.

Let us see that we are paid a Just Price for our own produced food and ensure that we have healthy soil, healthy food and therefore healthy people. In conclusion we again ask the Government to Free the National Credit in order to carry out the following essentials to a prosperous agriculture. To Close the Price-Gap. To stop restriction of production. Stop the Taxation ramp and finance the post-war reconstruction effort. What is physically possible must be made financially possible. Consumption should control production and production should control finance.

The Irish Farmers’ Federation is at all times willing to co-operate wholeheartedly 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 time to organising the County Cavan farmers. Third President: Mr. John J. O’Kennedy, Punchestown House, Rathmore, Naas, County Kildare, carried on Dairy farming. Fourth President: Mr. Richard Hipwell, Ballybrittae, Leix, a tillage farmer. Fifth President: Mr. John Rooney, Ellistown, Ballyboughal, County Dublin, carries out mixed farming and tillage.