HC Deb 16 December 1902 vol 116 cc1326-7
MR. PHILIPPS () Pembrokeshire

To ask the president of the Board of Agriculture whether he can now state when the muzzling order in Pembrokeshire will be taken off.

(Answered by Mr. Hanbury.) I had hoped to be able to withdraw the muzzling orders in force in South-West Wales at no distant date, but the position has been materially altered by the occurrence of a further case of disease at Llandovery. Very searching inquiries are being made with a view, if possible, to discover its origin, and in the meantime it would, in my judgment, be undesirable, in the interests of the complete extirpation of the disease from to the district, for any modification of the existing orders to be made.

Merchant Shipping—Board of Trade Certificates—Colour Blindness Tests.

MR. BOUSFIELD () Hackney, N.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to the nature of the test for colour blindness at present adopted by the Board of Trade; whether he is aware that three dangerous varieties of colour blindness escape detection by this test, whilst many normal-sighted persona are rejected by the test; and whether he can see his way at an early date to appoint a small Departmental Committee to re-consider the test in the light of the recent discoveries and present opinion of medical specialists thereon.

(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I am aware of the nature of the tests for colour blindness adopted by the Board of Trade, but I am not aware that under the tests dangerous forms of colour blindness escape detection or that persons of normal sight are rejected. The present system was adopted on the recommendation of a Committee appointed by the Council of the Royal Society, and composed of gentlemen of the highest position in the scientific world, while the Board of Trade have in all doubtful cases the advantage of the assistance in the conduct of the tests ot the gentlemen who acted as Secretary to the Committee, and who is a well-known authority in this country on the subject of colour vision. The tests are those invented by a distinguished Swedish scientist, and are, I believe, adopted in Foreign countries where any tests are made in examinations for colour vision. Froeign the information at present before me, I do not think that there is any necessity for a Committee such as that suggested by my hon. and learned friend.