A typical Irish farmer reacts to a government budget proposal to introduce a levy on farm produce.
The typical Irish farmer, Reginald Massey Ferguson (played by Eamonn Morrissey) gives his thoughts on the budget to a reporter (played by Paul Murphy).
Under the budget, a two per cent levy was placed on the sale of most agricultural produce at the point of sale.
Reginald Massey Ferguson says he was shocked by the introduction of the levy and describes it as monstrous.
The farmers, they've no experience of paying taxes. Not paying taxes is part of our lovely old traditional way of life.
This episode of 'Hall's Pictorial Weekly' was broadcast on 7 March 1979. The presenter is Frank Hall.
Frank Hall's amusing and satirical series began on 29 September 1971 with the full title "Hall’s Pictorial Weekly Incorporating the Provincial Vindicator" which became known as "Hall’s Pictorial Weekly".
The series allowed Frank Hall to follow his own interest in the lives of viewers throughout the country. Regarded as RTE’s flagship comedy show, it featured satirical sketches on current news stories and popular culture, as well as parody songs, comedy sketches, re-edited videos, cartoons and spoof television formats. The show ran for 9 series until 1980. In the RTE Guide on the week of its first transmission, Frank Hall wrote,
The form and content of Hall’s Pictorial Weekly should be impossible to forecast until the last moment. It should be as varied and absorbing as life itself.
He added,
I have an inexhaustible interest in the lives and times of the people who live in our country towns and villages; no event is too small to capture my attention, no community too out of the way... This programme is intended to be about you, your town, your friends, your local interests.
RTE Guide, September 24, 1971, Vol.8, No.9, p.2
