Edition Bobbett1. Texts by Elizabeth F. Bobbett: 1.1.3. Correspondence, Letters to newspapers

1955 Elizabeth Bobbett: Letter to the Wicklow People, 09.07.1955

Butter Industry

I would like to congratulate your writer of Irish Affairs on his article in “The Wicklow People” of 2nd July on the butter industry. I thoroughly agree with every word of it, but would like to enlarge on such a policy of cheaper food for our own people to include bacon and poultry.

That we are consuming very much more butter at home now to what was used in years gone by is a sign that the standard of living for some sections of our people has been raised which everyone will be proud to hear, but there are many not yet enjoying the higher standard, and some have even had a reduced standard owing to the high taxes and rates they have to meet.

Perhaps your writer would turn his attention to the prices of bacon and pigs here compared with the price our bacon is sold to Britain.

We hear much about the benefits of the Health Acts, but the fact that people in certain grades are now enjoying a better standard of living and eating more butter and milk, etc., has much to do with better health. Let us put the food on their table at the price they can afford to pay, even if it means amending our present faulty financial system to do so, and assuring the producer a “just price” for all he produces.

Then only can the farmers go all out for increased production. Under present circumstances, the more we produce the less we shall get for it.