§ Mr. M'ARTHURasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. W. H. Glover, a certificated second mate in the mercantile marine, who was rejected for colour blindness on coming up for examination in London for a mate's certificate; whether he is aware that, on Mr. Glover's appeal to the Board of Trade, a special test of his sight was ordered by the Department, with the result that he was declared to be colour blind; whether he is aware that, on the case being further investigated by the London Local Marine Board, before whom a distinguished pathologist testified that Mr. Glover's visual powers fitted him for any position in the mercantile marine, judgment was given to the effect that the appellant was not incompetent on the grounds alleged, and his certificate was ordered to be returned to him; and whether, having regard to these circumstances, and to the fact that in the years 1905, 1906, and 1907 20 out of 51 persons rejected on the ground of colour blindness successfully appealed, the Board of Trade will consider the whole subject of sight tests as affecting the mercantile marine?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMy attention has been called to this case, and I am aware of the facts, as stated in the question. It is open to any candidate who fails in the colour vision tests in the Mercantile Marine to appeal to the Board of Trade, who remit the case to special examiners for final decision. The tests are based on 195W the recommendations of a Committee of the Royal Society in 1892, and the special examinations are conducted with the assistance of eminent scientific experts in colour vision. The whole subject of the sight tests and the method of conducting them is under consideration.