St. Herbert. The “mentally deficient” are no longer debarred from going to the poll.
Elizabeth. What grounds were given for the decision?
St. Herbert. (He refers again to his notes.) A Returning Officer can only deal with objections arising out of the nomination paper. He has no jurisdiction to go behind a nomination paper and constitute himself a court of inquiry as to the fitness or unfitness of a candidate.
Phoebe. Good old House of Lords!
(Lady Mogton hammers.)
Elizabeth. But I thought it was part of the Returning Officer’s duty to inquire into objections, that a special time was appointed to deal with them.
St. Herbert. He will still be required to take cognisance of any informality in the nomination paper or papers. Beyond that, this decision relieves him of all further responsibility.
Janet. But this gives us everything.
St. Herbert. It depends upon what you call everything. It gives a woman the right to go to the poll—a right which, as a matter of fact, she has always possessed.
Phoebe. Then why did the Returning Officer for Camberwell in 1885—