He at once brought an
action against the Returning Officer, his contention being that his
mental state was a private matter, of which the Returning Officer
was not the person to judge.
PHOEBE He wasn't a lunatic all over.
ST. HERBERT We none of us are. The case went from court to court.
In every instance the decision was in favour of the Returning
Officer. Until it reached the House of Lords. The decision was
given yesterday afternoon--in favour of the man McCaw.
ELIZABETH Then lunatics, at all events, are not debarred from
going to the poll.
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.
Pages:
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41