§ MR. SAMUEL SMITHI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it is true that repeated applications were made to Mr. Giffen by the Royal Commission on Gold and Silver to assist them in their investigations into the theory and practice of Bimetallism; and whether Mr. Giffen declined to give such assistance; and, if so, upon what grounds?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHThere is nothing in the Report of the Commissioners which in any way suggests that they considered that Mr. Giffen did not render them all the assistance they required from him in their inquiry which is not, I think, accurately described by the hon. Member as an investigation into the theory and practice of Bi-metallism. As a matter of fact, he gave two days' elaborate evidence, besides assisting them in other ways in his official character. I am, however, informed by Mr. Giffen that he was subsequently asked to go beyond this and to appear before them as the champion of Monometallism. He considered this to be outside his official duty, and was left free by Lord Stanley, then President of the Board of Trade, to decline the request, which he did, mainly for reasons of a private character.
§ SIR W. HOULDSWORTH (Manchester, N.W.)Before Mr. Giffen published a series of letters in the Times commenting on the Report of the Royal Commission, did he ask and receive permission of his official superiors in the Board of Trade?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHI understand that Mr. Giffen, when he accepted the office which he at present holds with great advantage to the Public Service, stipulated that he should be allowed to write on subjects outside his official duties, and his stipulation was conceded. He therefore did not ask my permission before publishing these letters; but it appears to me that the publication of the letters has been very much to the advantage of the Public Service.