Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.2. Correspondence, Letters to the authorities

1947 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Wicklow County Council, 24.03.1947

Source: Wicklow County Archives (WCA), County Council Minutes, 1946/47, p. 201, 24.03.1947

The County Secretary read the following letter received from the General Secretary, Irish Farmers’ Federation: Springfield, Kilbride: Can we have De-Rating?

Sir. In the Dáil on 13th November, 1946, during the Second Reading of the Rates on Agricultural Land Relief Bill, which was passed, Mr. Sean MacEntee, Minister for Local Government, said: “Every acre of Agricultural Land would be rated, but the rates would be paid by the Community as a whole. De-rating of Agricultural Land meant shifting the burden to somebody else. The present measure gave no concession to the demand for de-rating or partial de-rating. The small farmer was entitled to all the relief that could be afforded to him.”

We Farmers know only too well that any increased taxation placed on other sections of the Community finally come back to be taken from the farmer in either prices for all he needs to buy (which includes wages) or lower prices for what he has to sell.

Recently, I understand from reports in the daily Press, a series of tables have been issued by the Government showing the trend of Local Taxation and the expenditure of Local Bodies over a number of years from 1st April, 1932, to 31st March, 1944. One table in the series shows the amount of Rates collected by each rating authority. There was between 1933 and 1944 an increase of £3,000,000.

Now the gross indebtedness of local authorities on 31st March, 1944, was stated to be 37½ millions. In the past two years we know this figure must have increased.

Can we have De-rating for all? Now I ask every ratepayer, no matter whether he is a farmer, a shopkeeper, professional man or a labourer, to carefully study the following facts and then unite in a demand to put a stop to such usury. We should demand that each County Council, Urban Council and City Corporation should publish officially the following information: 1) the amount of Local Bank Loans; 2) the amount of Interest collected through the Rates each year paid on these Loans. Then let us all demand that “all Local Bank Loans be converted into non-interest-bearing Loans.” You would find that the present high Rates would be reduced to about half.

You may ask how can this be done, or would it be fair to the Banks which lend the money.

The fact is that the Banks do not lend money belonging to their shareholders or depositors. Under the present Financial system Banks create money out of nothing, using as securing the credit of the people, their ability to produce.

Large borrowings, such as Loans to Public Bodies, are conducted, under the provisions of the 1694 and 1844 Acts, the money is created by entering a credit in a Bank Ledger and cheques are drawn on these entries, thus enabling the Nation, Public Bodies or clients to spend money when they could not do so before the entries were made.

People must realise the difference between borrowings in Cash and borrowings by Credit.

For all Public Works, the people of Ireland should get the Government to instruct the Banks to create the money free of Bank-debt, paying to the Banks a fee through the rates of half of one per cent. for the book-keeping services rendered, but not Interest.

Our present Minister for Finance is to be congratulated for his first advance to this problem when he decided to make money available to Public Bodies at 2½ per cent., but he should not interfere with the poor man’s savings; he can do much better by an Act of Parliament which won’t hurt anyone.

We ask the Secretaries of each County Council, Urban Council and City Corporation to place this letter before their Councils for consideration at an early date.

Yours faithfully, Elizabeth F. Bobbett, General Secretary, 52/’47.

It was proposed by Councillor Charles W. Hudson; seconded by Councillor Wallace Hammond: That we request the Government to introduce legislation providing for the de-rating of agricultural land.

A vote having been called for, it was found that the members present voted as follows: In Favour: Councillors James J. McCrea, Wallace Hammond, B. Farrell, P. P. O’Reilly, Charles W. Hudson and W. Clarke: 6. Against: Councillors P. McCarthy, Thomas Brennan, TD; P. Doyle, J. O’Reilly, P. Ledwidge, S. Dunne, W. Lawless, James Everett, TD; Christopher M. Byrne and Joseph Jacob: 10.