APHSource: Connacht Tribune 20 November 1909
THE “FARM.”
The Department of Agriculture still refuse to meet the wishes of the people and retain their police barracks and canteens on the farm, called an agricultural station, and work at the institution is carried out amidst the surroundings of magazine rifles. The present staff look upon the. Townspeople aa so many serfs unworthy of recognition, and to this system the brothers at Upper Merrion Road consent.
“FARM ” APPRENTICES.
Some eight or nine students are at present ab the agricultural station as “farm” apprentices, or in other words, agricultural labourers working for their feeding. ‘Farm” apprentices “is a’ high-sounding name for an ordinary labourer who hods manure and cleans out stables. We wonder if those people who send their sons to the Athenry agricultural station, are aware that they can learn the R.I.C. drill during spare hours, and how to use rifles
ROBBERY.
At Glasnevin with 50 acres of land the pupils are students and can be taught everything in connection with farming. At Athenry 600 acres of land is required for nine “farm” apprentices, or labourers. What are the benefits derived from the Department of Agriculture at Athenry?
Since February 1908, some twenty-four police and a canteen have formed part of the institution for the education of farmers’ sons. These twenty-four police since then have cost the ratepayers £55 each policeman per annum that is, £1,386 and this system of robbery is to be continued. A police canteen has been in full swing on the Department’s lands since February 1908, and she average sale of the “Imperial shop” has been £300 per month. £1,0101
There has, therefore, been a sum of over £6,300 taken away from the traders of ‘Athenry. To rob the hard-working traders of Athenry of such a huge portion of their commerce is a crime worthy of punishment, and if present tactics were pursued by the popular Department in any other part of Ireland, it would be wiped out in a fortnight. The sum total of the public robbery of this county by this Department up to date amounts to £7,686 since February of last year.
WHO RULES?
A groat many people think Mr. Russell could remove these police, but this is not the fact, because instead of Mr. Russell ruling this Department, the Department rule him. Until the official tyranny which at present exists and the Department in done away with, it will be a millstone around the necks of the people of Athenry.
SUMMING UP.
Do the people of Athenry deserve any benefit from this 60O acres of land with its agricultural station? To sum this question up is quite easy. Early in the year when mutton was carrying a good price, they kindly killed sheep and undersold the local traders. At the present time milk is selling at its usual winter price, and this Department is now underselling the local people by supplying cheap milk, and when milk becomes cheap, the Department will cease to sell. The Department will buy popularity in Athenry with its buttermilk but unfortunately the people who can fight don’t live on buttermilk.
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