§ MR. W. AMBROSE (Middlesex, Harrow)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, of the number of persons (sailors) rejected by the Board of Trade as colour blind, as appears from the Board's Report, 1896, 38 per cent. of those that were rejected and appealed were, on appeal, passed; and whether the Board of Trade propose to take any steps to revise their tests?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) Croydon6,680 candidates were examined during the 16 months ended December 31st, 1895, in colour vision. 101 failed, but of these 21 availed themselves of the right to appeal, and eight passed on appeal. The present system of sight tests is based upon the report of the Committee of the Royal Society specially appointed to inquire into the subject, and I am advised that no case has been made out for revising it.
MR. G. W. WOLFE (Belfast, E.)asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he would allow all boys of five years' apprenticeship to be examined, so that, after having learned the trade of a seaman, 908 they might not at the end of their term possibly be put aside.
§ MR. RITCHIEsaid that anyone who desired to present himself for examination could do so, and he would be examined. The only difference was that the examination was not compulsory in the case mentioned by his hon. Friend.
§ MR. WOLFFasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would make the examination compulsory in the case of boys.
§ MR. RITCHIEreplied in the negative, observing that in the case of boys it would not be sufficient, for large numbers of men became officers who did not enter the service in the manner suggested.