Hubert Hall

“ Giffen, a prolific writer on economic, financial, and statistical subjects, possessed a luminous and penetrating mind, great stores of information, an intimate acquaintance with business matters and methods, and shrewd judgment. His instructive handling of statistics and his keen eye for pitfalls contributed greatly to raise the reputation and encourage the study of statistics in this country, though he did not develop its technique by the higher mathematical treatment. A sturdy individualist, Giffen viewed with suspicion any infraction of the maxim laissez-faire. ”

“ In 1876 Giffen was appointed to the board of trade as chief of the statistical department and controller of corn returns. In 1882 the commercial department of the board of trade, the main work of which had since 1876 been entrusted to the foreign office, was restored and united to the statistical department under Giffen, who became an assistant-secretary to the board. In 1892 a third department, the labour department, was added, and Giffen became controller of the commercial, labour, and statistical departments. ”

“ His frame of mind is reflected in his opinion that investors should inform themselves and judge for themselves, and not be guided by the advice of their bankers, brokers, or friends. He was in favour of 'free-banking,' under which a cheque might be drawn upon any person whether a banker or not. He advocated the reduction of the representation of Ireland in the imperial parliament, and the boring of a tunnel under the Irish Sea with a view to closer union. ”