JANUARY 22nd, 1947:
FINE GAEL'S ardfheis at the beginning of 1947 was in bullish mood with an election expected over the following year or so, Fianna Fáil 15 years in power, and widespread complaints about the cost of living.
Food rationing and price controls were still in force, almost two years after the second World War, or the Emergency, had ended, and (according to this day’s newspaper) there was an open black market in chocolate bars on the streets outside Dublin’s cinemas. The ardfheis was chaired by Dr TF O’Higgins (destined to become minister for defence in the inter-party government elected the following year), who gave a suitably rousing speech.
DECLARING THAT this country has become a profiteers’ paradise and a poor man’s hell, and that a country is not run soundly on sops and doles and charity shops, Dr. T. F. O’Higgins, who presided, said that either the wage must be brought within reach of the cost of living or the cost of living must be brought down within reach of that wage.
“Our enemies, and even some of our friends, were saying that Fine Gael was dead, and that there was no alternative to the bungling, vicious and extravagant Fianna Fail administration,” he said.
“To-day, that whisper is no longer heard, the doubters have become enthusiasts. Not only our supporters within the organisation, but the masses of the people see clearly before them a sound, sensible and patriotic alternative to the present Government, and are ready and anxious to bring about a change, so that the petitions of the poor and needy will not be drowned by the crackle of the cheque-books and the expanding appetites of profiteers for more and more.” The next year or eighteen months would be vital for this country – after that period a general election must be expected, he said.
“Definitely, things must be changed here,” Dr. OHiggins declared. “Fianna Fail must go, but that alone is not enough, a sound, strong and sensible administration, prepared to take over, must be built up in the meantime.
By the next election, Fianna Fail will have been 20 years in office. Millions have been collected for hospitals, but the sick are finding it more difficult to secure a bed.
“Taxes have gone up by many millions of pounds, and rates have been doubled, yet thousands of families are living in sties because houses were not there for them. Expensive treatment services have been established, but illness is increasing through poverty and squalor.
“Ireland should aim higher than pauperism. A man is entitled to the right to rear a family through his work.
“This Fianna Fail scheme of buying political support through charity sops, replacing wages and camouflaging high prices must end. The Irish people are not beggars and this land must not be turned into an immense soup kitchen.”
Speaking on a group of resolutions calling on the Government to reduce the cost of living, Mr. D. Allen (Cork) said the remedy of increasing wages to meet rising costs was only dodging the issue.
The cost of living must be brought down, as had been done in France, otherwise they were only making the path easy for Communism.
Mr. J. Melia (Dublin) said that there was an artificial scarcity of food. Milk bars in Dublin could stay open until 3 a.m., while women and children could not get a drop of milk. There was no reason why the public should do without milk “while the blackguards who stayed out until the small hours could get ten pints if they wanted them.”
Among other resolutions passed was one urging that every town and village should be replanned, rebuilt and developed and that a nationwide system of transport should link up rural centres to improve the standard of life.
http://url.ie/4nex