THE SLANDER ON MR. JOYCE.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 162, 28 October 1876, Page 2

THE SLANDER ON MR. JOYCE.

The following is one of the series of comments in the Tim mi Herald for which Mr Wakefield has apologised so abjectly:— “The other evening, Mr Joyce—whom, without any disrespect we may class among the very lowest of the House—in the course of the report of the Rabbit Nuisance Committee, made an eslraordinavy and very brutal statement. He said that he regarded the rabbits as the greatest blessing in the country, because they were mining the squatters! The ignorant prejudiced ruffian probably did not recognise that the ruin of the squatters meant the depreciation of the value of property and a general depression of trade, including his own, which, we understand, is that of a publican. A coarse boor like Mr Joyce might be excused for snob a sentiment, for he knew not what he did. But what shall be said of Sir George Grey—a cultivated man, and an experienced politician and administrator, who was capable of endeavoring to ruin the credit of the colony and plunge a large number of unoffending families in want, in order to wreak Ins spite upon political opponents? We can only say this of him: be is out of his mind, and deserving of pity rather than anger; or else he is a public enemy, whom every one who has the welfare of the colony or the safety of society at heart should do his best to crush. He is either a lunatic, or else a disgrace to the New Zealand Parliament, and of less account in the eyes of all good citizens than the' meanest member of the community who keeps the law and does bis duty towards his neighbor.”