Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.3. Correspondence, Letters to newspapers
1947 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Irish Independent, 04.02.1947
Agricultural Price Index1
Sir. In the Irish Independent of January 9, 1947, a short paragraph appeared under the heading: “Agricultural Prices Steady.” The article states: “Agricultural prices continue to remain relatively steady. The index figure for November was 197 (base 100 August, 1939), compared with 196 in October and 197 in November, 1945. The average price for 1945 was 190, compared with 139 in 1941. The average for 1946 promises to be some points above 1945. The cost of living index figure for November, 1946, was 293, compared with 298 for November, 1945.”
It must be remembered that in stating the Agricultural Price Index the base is now taken as from 1938, based at 100, but the fact is not disclosed that the 1938 Agricultural Price Index base is on a par with the agricultural prices of 1914.
Now, while all other sections of the community, as is well known, advanced their position as regards wages, salaries, and standard of living from 1914, they never reverted back again to the 1914 figures, but continued to advance from their 1938 index base. Therefore, farmers are only getting an advance on the 1914 price index base, which was almost the lowest in the history of the industry.
I understand that the original price index figures were taken from the 1911/12/13 years, which were very difficult years for farmers, and considering the country had just come through an epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease, and that prices had dropped heavily and markets were uncertain, it was a case of farmers having to take any price that was offered to them for their stock. It is hard to imagine that anyone who could claim to represent farming could have anything to do with the selection of those years as a basis for agricultural prices.
As the farmers’ cost of production (which includes cost of living, agricultural wages, and rates on agricultural land) have increased by hundreds per cent since 1938 (not to mention 1914, the farmers’ prices base in reality), it is only fair that, when giving the Agricultural Price Index figures, the cost of production figures should also be given. We farmers only demand fair play.
Elizabeth F. Bobbett. General Secretary, Irish Farmers’ Federation, Wicklow.
1 - The same letter was published in the Offaly Chronicle, 13.02.1947.