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

1947 Elizabeth Bobbett: General Secretary’s Report for Years 1945 and 1946

Source: Irish Farmers’ Federation, Farming in Ireland, Yearbook 1947, pp. 72-74

For the past nine years we have worked consistently for better conditions for the agricultural community as a whole, and it looks as if our work was now going to bear fruits. At least we have hopes from the recognition by those not engaged in Agriculture, to the importance of a prosperous agriculture in the National Economy.

The sad part of it is, that instead of listening to the voice of the farmers and giving them the necessary means to full production which we have been asking for since 1939, it has taken the decline in certain of our agricultural production such as butter, bacon, eggs, oats, etc., to bring home to the non-agriculturalists the study of the causes for such decline.

While you see various groups such as Banks, Industrial Companies, etc., at their Annual Meetings stating that there has been a great rise in the prosperity amongst farmers, we farmers cannot hold with those views. While we welcome the rise in prices for cattle, they were long overdue, other sections of production have not enjoyed the same uprise during the year. While many of our prices were controlled at last years’ figures, our costs of production which includes Rates and Transport charges were increased.

While farmers may have handled more money, it was soon snatched up by demands for arrears of debts of Rates, Annuities and Bank debts, so that the farmer had nothing to put into production.

During the year the Federation made representation to the Minister for Agriculture on the following matters, the price for Seed Oats in the spring, the uneconomic price fixed for oats at harvest time, the difficulty experienced in getting bran pollard in some parts of the country and the necessity for a more even distribution of it, the prices for wool for the 1945 and 1946 clips, Agricultural Wages, the unsatisfactory prices being paid by the British Government for our Fat Cattle and many other items which effect the everyday life of farmers.

We have made representation to the Government to the necessity to enact legislation to fix a maximum economic and just level above which Rates cannot be increased, pending de-rating of agricultural land.

There is no reason why the Government can not do this, and every reason why they should do it, seeing that the prices for our produce are fixed and Agricultural Wages are fixed.

During the year we have been in communication with the Farmers’ Unions of England and Scotland with a view to meeting them to discuss future trade with them, as it would be to the benefit of both countries if such discussion took place between producers as to the types and ages of livestock most suitable for export.

However, it seems from the reply from the Scotch Farmers’ Union that all trade agreements are matters for the politicians and must be dealt with by their respective Governments.

We have co-operated with the Federation of Irish Beekeepers in an endeavour to give publicity to the harmful effects of the indiscriminative use of DDT and similar sprays if used on flowering trees etc. DDT is deadly to Bees and Insects which play such an important part in the pollination of plants, and now that we are extending Seed Growing anything to hinder that must be avoided.

During the year we have been invited to address meetings in County Monaghan, and I have been invited to speak at several large meetings in Dublin and at Rural Week, at all such meetings I put the plain facts before the public.

Some farmers who do not attend Executive Meetings may wonder what the Federation is doing, or is it recognised at all. If it were not recognised, I would not be invited to address these meetings. We still have a very great handicap by a domestic censorship, particularly by the Dublin Daily papers, it is not very often the farmers send letters to the Press but if these letters contain some home truths which may hit the other fellows hard, there is never any space available to publish them, while the other fellows can get half a page to make accusations against the farmer.

For that reason we published during the year our first book “The Future of Agriculture in Ireland” written in plain language by farmers for farmers. I am happy to say that it received very good sale and excellent publicity, and I have not yet seen any adverse criticism of it, indeed many Institutions which got copies of the book were very much impressed with the articles and in particular with the Christian outlook and objects of the Federation.

Last July we held a special meeting when we had an address from Lieutenant-Colonel James Creagh Scott, DSO, OBE chairman of the Farmers’ Action Council of England, on Finance and the Control of the National Credit, and the necessity for the present financial system to be changed from private ownership (viz. under the control of the Bank of England by the 1694 Tonnage Act and 1844 Bank Charter Act) he said the State should have power to create new money based on the National Credit what we can produce there can be no inflation.

The importance for organisation and the need for a central organisation cannot be too often stressed, we are the people who must direct the future of agriculture therefore I appeal to you in every county to keep up a strong organisation, hold your meetings, and keep in constant communication with the Irish Farmers’ Federation National Executive.

Remember that while the food scarcity lasts in Europe it will be easy for us to find markets and good prices, but if we are not organised in a few years time when other countries get their agriculture going again, we will be the sufferers, we have crashed in on the fertility of our soil, but we have saved our population from knowing what it is to be hungry.

Our farmers must not be let down. The members of your Executive have studied the position of agriculture in other countries, and if any of you have read some of the excellent books published recently such as “The Living Soil” by Lady Eve Balfour and “The Natural Order” by H. J. Massingham you will understand how very serious the World food supply is, and will be for many years.

If we have surpluses, they are only artificial surpluses, not because people don’t want our food, but because they have not got the money to pay for it. Money Must be used for Distribution and not for Profit and Power. We must keep on spreading the light.

I cannot conclude this report without reference to the very great loss the farmers suffered during the year by the death of Cardinal Joseph MacRory, we lost a real friend and one who understood the position of our agriculture.

It may be well to recall here, that on one occasion on which we interviewed the late Cardinal, we mentioned to him the necessity for a change in our present financial system, and he replied “he could not understand why our Government had not taken control of the Credit of the Country long ago.” We knew then we were on the right track and have given that point much study.

I think the year 1946 will be remembered in history as the year that did more than anything else to bring the people of Ireland back to reality, and made them realise the importance of the land and the farmers.

We held eight meetings of the National Executive and attended conferences at the Department of Agriculture during the year at which we stressed the necessity for higher prices for our produce owing to increased costs of production. We pointed out that while agricultural wages had been increased from 4s 0d to 9s 0d in the different counties, we had got no increase in the prices of grain milk or beet, and if the prices fixed for these produce was fair to both consumer and producer in 1944 and 1945 they could not be regarded as fair now to the Producer when his production costs had been increased by higher wages and in many counties also by higher Rates on agricultural land.

The very bad weather in July and August made it imperative that extra help must be provided for the farmers or much of the harvest would be lost, so we appealed to the Government on 4th September to make the necessary help available, by releasing men from the County Councils and the Army and we also appealed to private employers where possible to release their staffs.

We are glad to record our grateful thanks to the huge number of rims who released their staffs to come out to help us save the grain crops. We also wish to record our appreciation to the Irish Red Cross Society which helped so much in trying to provide rations for these volunteer workers. Without all their help, much more of the grain crops would have been lost.

On the 2nd of October we had an interview with the Minister for Agriculture (having been waiting a month for the interview) when we stressed the necessity for a better price for wheat, as farmers were suffering great losses by being cut for having a high moisture content in the grain, and also the necessity to do everything possible to ensure a supply of good seed wheat for next year. We also pointed out the danger of a milk famine during the winter to country towns, we suggested that a flat Beet-Freight rate be struck for the whole country, and that private lorries be permitted to take wheat to the Mills and so expedite the carriage of grain and not have it deteriorating in the sacks after threshing.

As usual we got a very sympathetic hearing but the only immediate help we got was that County Council workers would be allowed to continue to help at the harvest when the other volunteers were withdrawn, and we were promised a rise of 5s 0d a barrel on barley for 1947.

As we know well the misleading propaganda that high prices for agricultural produce are to blame for the high cost of living, we asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce in July to immediately investigate the Cost of Production and Distribution of Boots and Clothes which are essentials.

The result is that the tariffs have been removed off Boots and Clothes and both Wholesaler and Retailer profit margins have been reduced.

One of the most important matters dealt with during the year, was in co-operation with the Cork Farmers’ Association and other Agricultural Associations in forming the Irish Primary Producers Association, with a view to affiliating with the International Federation of Agricultural Producers which was established in London in May 1946, when farmers from 31 nations met for that purpose.

The aims of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers are: To promote the well-being of all who obtain their livelihood from the land. To exchange information and ideas. To co-operate with international organisations on any matter affecting the interests of farmers.

It is hoped that through the international Federation of Agricultural Producers to maintain farmers all over the world in constant touch with each other through their own producers organisations.

Only through such an International Federation can we hope to find some Plan to avoid the slumps that occurred after the last war, we hope that the year 1947 will see a big drive in every county in Ireland to build up a strong organisation of farmers so that we can take our place in the International Federation of Agricultural Producers.

It may be well to remind farmers that at the Hot Springs Conference in Virginia in 1943, at which 44 Nations attended and agreed that there never had been sufficient food produced in the world for all the peoples of the world to have an adequate diet, and if the Freedom from Want is to be a reality, something must be done to see that food is distributed to those in need. This Conference was followed by the formation of the Food and Agricultural Organisation which met in Quebec in 1945, (FAO is set up under the UNO).

These Conferences were between representatives of Governments, but their decisions intimately affect the work and responsibilities of the Primary Producers in every Country.

In conclusion I know I voice your opinions when I say that we very deeply regret to see our population trying to exist on such meagre rations of butter, sugar, bread, etc. when we know only too well that if the advice given by our Federation during the past six years had been heeded, this state of affairs would not have happened, we have often been told that the Government have not the money to grant farmers higher prices, etc. But what has it cost the country by Not Helping Agriculture?

Any money put into increased agricultural production is increasing the wealth of the nation.

Let us look forward to better times in 1947 and with better transport we hope every county will make a new effort to speed up organisation.

I shall end by stating that while our finances are on the right side we cannot advance much unless we are provided with the necessary funds to enable us to go into the different counties to meet and instruct the farmers on the value of organisation.