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

1948 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Wicklow County Council, 13.02.1948

Source: Wicklow County Archives (WCA), County Council Minutes, 1947/48, p. 289, 16.02.1948

The following letter from the Irish Farmers’ Federation was read: The Irish Farmers’ Federation.

Springfield, Kilbride, Wicklow. 13th February, 1948.

K. J. Brangan, Esq., County Secretary, County Wicklow County Council, Wicklow.

Dear Mr. Brangan. On behalf of the members of the Irish Farmers’ Federation I have been directed to ask you to kindly have this letter given to the Chairman of the County Council before the Estimates Meeting begins next Monday: I am directed to enter a strong protest against any increase in the Rates for 1948/49 on the following grounds: Farmers’ prices have been pegged down for years past and still are while we have been burdened with increased rates and increased wages on several occasions during the past number of years. The extra grant towards relief of rates on Agricultural land has gone to meet in part the increased wages of farm workers, so was really a grant to the workers and of no extra benefit to the farmer. While Farmers’ prices are pegged down, it is only reasonable and just that there should be a limit beyond which Rates could not be increased.

As food production is of vital importance to the nation, and any increase in the farmers’ cost of production such as increased rates means money from the vital week of food production, we feel that the members of the County Council will give careful consideration to these matters and defer all increased expenditure on items that can reasonably be postponed of which there are many in the list of estimates.

We also consider that too much attention is given to main roads while county roads in mountain areas are neglected. We also consider it unfair that CIE which had the valuation reduced some years ago on Railway property, is now allowed to tear up our roads with their lorries while not paying rates for same roads. We earnestly request the Chairman and members of the County Council to have the proposed Estimates drastically reduced and give the farmers a chance of producing food.

Yours faithfully, Elizabeth F. Bobbett, County Secretary.

About the digital edition

This volume of Elizabeth F. Bobbett’s writings and speeches is divided into four parts. The first section comprises 321 texts written by her. The second part contains 150 speeches and statements by Bobbett, most of which were published in newspapers. Part 3 contains 727 texts written about Bobbett by contemporaries of her or addressed to her. Finally, Part 4 is a collection of 50 source texts that are important for understanding Elizabeth F. Bobbett’s activism. Parts 3 and 4 will be made available online in March 2027.

Suggested citation

Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Wicklow County Council, 13.02.1948, in: Peter Moser (ed.), In her own Words. The Writings of Elizabeth F. Bobbett (1898-1971). Farmer, Feminist and Public Figure, Bern, 2026, https://www.histoirerurale.ch/editions/pages/bobbett/1948-02-13-156.html, consulted on .

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