COLOR-BLIND IN A FLASH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 30 May 1914, Page 11

COLOR-BLIND IN A FLASH.

Mr Hoyle, Minister of Railways '.n New South Wales, while agreeing' that certain features of the eyesight test for the railway service should be modi-, fied, emphatically stated last week to a deputation that if a medicalman pro- v nounced an applicant to be color-blind that would effectually prevent him from being placed in charge of a passenger or goods train. To chow the reason why. he quoted a case which had occurred in the railway service,' wTiere a man who had been ruled out declared that the doctor had an <?edge" on him. The OHef Commissioner at that time (Mr Olliver) permitted him to have a further test, and promised that if he answered all the questions correctly he would be reinstated. The man did arewer the questions, correctly; but later on, unon the, doctor suddenly enqmriner. "What color is that Venetian blind F" he replied, s "Green," when it woa, in reality, of a slate color. To a further question an to the color of the cover of a book lying on the table he ! c;n.ve ftTiother incorrect, answer. T^e j <v)lAr-blindriec!Si, the doctor declared, had come i'T>on him like a flash. Such »■ thine: might n°t have occurred a^rain for ten years; but the danger w»« that it might have come to Trim when he wj»« looking ft *» sienal, and a terrible n'^ident would have bewn tlw result. I'Therefor**, if a m?m is declarer? by +he doctor t*» be color-blind." P3i<l the M?T1~ feter, "that k tho Wof it," TW d«m.it-?>iiou assurer! him that •■+V° fitwti'^ rlid -n^ asV thf»+.. v> ™»v ♦jnff^r.ip.jr.. tMs disoualificsition should be in charge of a train. ,

A earrnan tfie.Wfne^rtan •Masri'?tra.to thnt hig fnrmtnre had bpen seized by Ws landlord because be owed 35s rent. "I am on'v earning 35s fi week, and have a wife and family to kp^p," he fdded. .The MflffjV.ra+f: "Terrible. Well, I will pay "half this debt to save your home, and if you, will see the, Trtissionfl'^- he will arrange about ihe balaace.^ ; "