Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett

1953 Carnew, By-election Meeting

Source: Wicklow People, 25.04.1953

Miss Bobbett associated herself with the remarks of the Chairman concerning the late Deputy Thomas Brennan. She had known him to be a very good member of Wicklow County Council. Senator James McCrea also was a very excellent County Councillor, she said. While some might think it audacious on her part there to address a meeting, she was an Independent, who owed no allegiance to any political party, and who never would. She believed the time had come when petty jealousies and bitterness should be dropped, and when all people should work together for the good of their country. The people of this country were too much inclined to dwell on the past, but now they had got to face the future. Taxation in this country had become unbearable. A Health Bill, which she earnestly hoped would never be entered on the Statute Book, was about to be imposed on the people. This would cost the country a further £10 million. In its first year in operation, the Government would bear 30 per cent of the cost of the Bill, but after that the whole burden would be thrown on to the ratepayers. From reading the articles on the Health Bill in recent issues of the Irish Independent, it would be seen that there was nothing free in it, and it would be a great hindrance to many people. In addition, there was the objectionable feature that it would be the County Manager who would dictate what hospital a patient was to be sent to. If one could not succeed in getting into a public ward, he must pay for himself in a private ward. Those who imagined that they would be getting free treatment under the Bill would be paying for it in taxation on their everyday purchases. It would be obvious to anyone who read the Bill Clause by Clause that it would not be a benefit to the poor people or to anyone else, except the number of officials which it would require to run it and to do the book-keeping. They were told they must get away from dictatorship, but if that Bill went through, the people would be under the dictatorship of the County Manager and the Department of Health.

Miss Elizabeth Bobbett said the points of the policy on which she was going forward were: 1) To work for greater economy and efficiency in the spending of public money by the Government and by local authorities; 2) To promote a spirit of co-operation and unity among all sections of the people; 3) To curb interference by State officials in the lives of the people; 4) To do all in her power to promote increased production in agriculture and industry.

One who travelled the roads of County Wicklow would see the huge sums of money that had been spent taking off corners. That work had been done on the direction of men sitting in the office of the Department of Local Government. They were all aware of the waste of money this work was. A lot of good land was taken away at these bends. The County Councillors should have more say in running the affairs of the county. There was far too much interference by the State. For instance, in the giving of labourers cottages, it was the County MO and the County Manager who had the last word.

With regard to increasing production in agriculture, Miss Bobbett said they had a land rehabilitation scheme, a drainage scheme, a lime scheme, etc. While she did not wish to be singing her own praise, in fairness to herself she wanted to tell those present that if the lime scheme got its proper name, it would be called ‘Bobbett’s Lime Scheme’ instead of ‘Dillon’s Lime Scheme.’ On February 2nd, 1949, she had led a deputation to the ECA Chief in Ireland, Mr. Joseph Carrigan, and they told him that the farming community would have to get a share of the 20 million dollars which had come from America. They pointed out that it would cost £17 a statute acre to re-seed and rehabilitate most of the land in County Wicklow. At that time there was a lot of land needing rehabilitation. Mr. Carrigan said that though he was only two months in the country, he had spoken to a number of groups and that their deputation was the first group of farmers he had met who told him that the Irish farmers needed credit. He said that credit facilities were always readily available to the American farmers. When Mr. Paul Miller came to Ireland the following year he insisted on the subsidisation of lime to farmers.

Referring to the very severe Spring of 1947, Miss Bobbett said that the losses suffered by farmers during that period had been terrific. Ireland was a Christian country, and the Irish were always a charitable people who were ready to help other countries in distress. They had subscribed liberally to Pakistan, Italy, England and other countries all over the world when the need arose. But when in 1947 the farmers of Ireland and particularly those of County Wicklow, who were so badly in need of relief, made an appeal to the Government to give grants to aid them in their distress, no relief was forthcoming. However, a loans scheme had been initiated, but in many cases, loans were refused to the farmers, for the obvious reason that people who had suffered heavy losses feared that further catastrophe might make it impossible for them to repay the loan and interest. She had asked people through a Press advertisement, to let her know the extent of their losses so that she would have positive proof to submit to the Department. Only 131 people had sent her an account of their losses, and those farmers would not consider a loan, as their position might be worse the following year. Those 131 people had lost an aggregate of 594 cattle, 4,541 sheep, 15 horses and 63 pigs. It was a sad thing that the Government did not come to the aid of those unfortunate farmers in their distress.

Miss Bobbett said that for 17 years, she had been studying economics, and she also knew the problems attending the running of a house. She knew she was welcome to any house in County Wicklow, large or small, and people from all parts of the county came to her for advice in many things. She was sure that with a spirit of good will and given the means to do it, much could be done to improve the country. Money for housing and hospitals could be provided without saddling the people with crushing debts. If returned, she would endeavour to work for the good of the country, irrespective of what party was in power. The minimum price of milk to the producer in New Zealand was approximately 2s 11½d a gallon. The price of butter to the consumer in New Zealand was 1s 8d a lb, because the Government subsidised the price to the consumer. The retail price of New Zealand butter on the London market was 3s a lb. If the Government in this country had a national finance system suitable to the country they could also subsidise food to the consumer.

Farmers had been asked to increase pig production, and they knew that increased agricultural production was the only hope for the national economy of the country. She did not think it fair or honest to pursue a policy of asking farmers to increase production, and then reducing prices. About eight months ago, the Government started exporting pork to Britain, and prices were stepped up a few shillings a cwt to encourage Irish farmers to increase production. Now, when there was a good supply of pigs suitable for pork and bacon in the country, a new agreement was made under which Britain wanted unlimited light-weight pigs, but she also wanted a percentage of bacon pigs. While the price for 1 cwt to 1 cwt 2 quarters pork pig had been increased, there was a very substantial drop in the price offered for other grades of pigs. There was a drop of 18s a cwt in the price of the pig up to 1 cwt 3 quarters, which was quoted at 240s 0d a cwt. She held that if it was the intention to do away with heavy-weight pigs and over-fat bacon, farmers should at least be given a month or 6 weeks’ notice, so that they would have the opportunity of getting rid of all heavy-weight pigs at the prices prevailing before that drastic reduction. As a housekeeper she knew the house-wife would not buy fat bacon at 4s 0d and 4s 4d a lb, so the farmers should be encouraged to produce the light-weight bacon which the consumer wanted.

In conclusion, Miss Bobbett appealed to the people who thought her worthy to light their cause for their No. 1 votes. If she succeeded, she assured the meeting that she would do all in her power to improve the lot of the people of Wicklow. If she did not succeed, she would be none the worse friends with them.