HC Deb 26 June 1913 vol 54 cc1229-30
41. Captain O'NEILL

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on the 4th April Mr. John M'Meekin M'Caw, second mate on Messrs. J. P. Corry and Company's steamship "Star of India," failed in the eyesight test for colour-blindness, although he had passed the test in October, 1912; whether he is aware that this failure was due to the novel introduction of the lantern test; will he state why this is now, for the first time, made obligatory; and, seeing that had this man attended for examination a fortnight earlier, before the lantern test was introduced, he would have passed the eyesight test and been able to remain for years in the service which he will now be compelled to leave, whether he will look into this case and, if possible, take steps that this officer should not be deprived of his employment and career?

Mr. ROBERTSON

The facts of the case are as stated in the first part of the question. The lantern test has been made obligatory for candidates for certificates of competency in the mercantile marine on the advice of the Committee appointed in 1910 to consider the sight tests. I sympathise with such cases as that referred to, but when the Board of Trade have reason to believe, as the result of the local examination, and on the subsequent report of their special examiners, that an officer's colour vision is defective, it is the duty of the Board, in the interests of safety at sea, to ensure so far as possible that he shall not serve as a watch-keeping officer at sea.

Captain O'NEILL

Can anything be done in cases of this sort to find employment for the men?

Mr. ROBERTSON

I am not aware that anything can be done, but at any rate the suggestion is one deserving of careful consideration.

Mr. JOHN WARD

Is it not the fact, in regard to those who fail at the test, that the shades between green and blue are so fine that it is a difficult proposition to decide which is green and which is blue?

Mr. ROBERTSON

I can assure my hon. Friend that he is mistaken, and I should be very glad for him to make an examination of the whole system of colour tests, and he would then realise that there is no such confusion as he has stated.

Mr. LYNCH

Does not this very case seem to demonstrate that the lantern test is the sole reliable test, and the only one that can be used in the public interest?

Mr. ROBERTSON

Certainly, I think it a most important test, but it is most desirable to have several concurrent tests.