PREFACE 
WHEN T published in 1909 my Responsible Govern- 
ment wn the Dominions, it was my intention in due 
course to develop at length the summary sketch 
contained in that book, and in particular to give in 
detail the evidence on which were based the con- 
clusions there presented. The need for rewriting 
became more pressing after the unexpectedly swift 
conclusion of the discussions of South African union, 
and the opportunity has been afforded by the readi- 
ness of the Clarendon Press, on the recommendation of 
Sir Charles Lucas, K.C.M.G., C.B., Assistant Under- 
Secretary of State for the Colonies, to undertake the 
publication of the work. 
My obligations to previous writers are, I trust, 
adequately indicated and acknowledged by the 
references in the notes, except in the case of the 
first edition of Todd’s classical treatise, Parlia- 
mentary Government in the British Colonies. In this, 
the first work on the subject, Todd so ably covered 
the period up to about 1879 that a later writer can 
add but little. I have, however, endeavoured, so 
far as was compatible with adequate treatment of 
the subject, to deal with the earlier years of the 
history of responsible government in such a way 
18 to supplement the information given bv Todd.