§ MR. JEFFREYS (Hants, Basingstoke)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that G. M. Nicholson, a candidate for the Army, was twice passed sound by the medical examiners, but at the last examination, when he passed second for the Cavalry, the medical examiners refused to pass him on account of a slight congenital defect in one eye; whether he is aware that this candidate has never experienced any inconvenience from the alleged defect in his eye; whether G. M. Nicholson has served as an efficient officer in the Hampshire Artillery Militia; whether he is aware that this candidate's eyesight has never altered in the slightest degree, nor, according to the doctors, is likely to alter; and whether, under these circumstances, he will consent to refer the matter to an independent medical authority?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL - BANNEKMAN,) Stirling, &c.The facts are in the main as stated. The result is that Mr. Nicholson has been found to fall short of the minimum standard of sight required for the Army, and I have no power to make any exception; nor would it be right in any case to do so, as the general opinion of my Professional Advisers is that that minimum is already too low.
§ MR. JEFFREYSConsidering the hardship of this case, and that this 951 candidate was twice passed as sound by the Medical Authorities, and that it was only on a third examination, when there had been no change in his eyesight, that he was rejected, cannot some exception be made in his favour?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am sorry to say not. Mr. Nicholson went to a London specialist, who confirmed the opinion of the Medical Board that the eye did not come up to the minimum of sight required. I should have been glad if it had been possible in any way to relax the rules, but it is not.