Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett
1953 Arklow, By-election Meeting
Source: Wicklow People, 13.06.1953
Miss Bobbett said that she was not going to make an election speech as they must be tired of reading such matter, but there was a very important matter that she would like to explain to them and one which would be a shock to farmers in general. It was the news of a change in the method of allocating the agricultural grant for the relief of rates on agricultural land. She had asked for particulars in detail and would read examples for them to show how they would benefit or otherwise. It was regrettable that some of the daily papers should so misrepresent the facts. The “Independent” gave a very fair outline of the proposed changes, but the “Irish Press” gave such a misleading heading and account that people thought the farmers were to be spoon-fed by receiving a pound per man per week in grant. When in fact they would only receive £13 relief for each man who was kept in employment for the 52 weeks.
Here are the examples: based on the Rate struck in March, 1953:
Present system on a farm, of £30 PLV rate if no man kept £43 15s 4d and under new system, £31 19s 6d. If one man kept, £37 9s 4d. Do., do., £38 19s. 6d. On farm of £140 P.L.V. if no man kept £142 5s. 2d. Do. do., £175 1s. 8d. If two men kept, £129 3s. 2d. Do. do., £149 1s. 8d. On farm of £220 P.L.V., if no man kept, £229 15s. 4d. Do. do., £284, 10s. 2d. If three men kept, £210 5s. 4d. Do., do., £245 10s. 2d. The first £20 of P.L.V. qualifies for relief and does not come under the employment relief. So that up to £33 P.L.V., the new proposed system will benefit a little, but over £33 PLV it will be an increase.
Continuing, Miss Bobbett said that while this scheme was handed out by the Civil Servants it was plain to see that they did not understand the needs of rural Ireland as this would lead to more unemployment than anything else. Very many farmers could not keep men the full year round. Indeed, at times now it was impossible to get men to work on the land, and if your employment was broken you would get no relief under this system. It was going to place a further increase of £11,000 in rates on the farmers and she would oppose it everywhere and anywhere she could. If it was meant to increase employment on the land she believed that the best way to do so even if it was only to deal with periods of temporary unemployment would be for the Government to give the farmer the amount that would normally be paid in dole to the unemployed man and let the farmer make up the balance of the wage and give the man employment for so many weeks. There would be some effort at getting a return for the money so spent.
That such a stupid scheme was put before the Dail showed the necessity for them to have more representatives in Dail Eireann who really understood the needs of rural Ireland. Would any one in their sane senses believe that a farmer would take on an extra man for the 52 weeks, pay him £220 for the sake of getting back £13 grant?
Miss Bobbett assured them she was standing as an Independent Farmer and had no allegiance to any party and would vote for any matter which was good for the country or against if she thought it was not good and would vote against anyone who would seek to increase the rates on farmer or town dweller. The cost of living was the hue and cry with all sections she said, but how to take down that cost was the problem. She believed if those in power were sincere, they should have made a start at the top and reduced the salary of Mr. Sean T. O’Kelly and the Taoiseach and Ministers and all high salaries. It might not mean a big amount but at least it would have been a gesture in the right direction. She reminded them that having been with them in all their troubles over the past seventeen years. She had been the first person to be brought to court for failing to pay her rates in full. At the time she was only £12 short of her half year’s rate which was that year about £62, and when she went before the court she was given time to pay, but the Economic War was on then and it was very difficult to pay rates. She had rallied the farmers and got them to go in to the courts and get time from the Justices when otherwise they would have been seized on by the rate collectors.
While at present they had many politicians coming round the country soliciting their votes, where were these men when your cattle were being seized, she asked. She was proud to say she had been with them when it was unpopular to be organising farmers and she was with them still, willing to do all she could to fight their cause if they considered her capable to do so.
In concluding she made a special appeal to the women voters to give her their No. 1 vote as they have no one to really represent them at present. She being an Independent candidate could give them fullest support.