A study of the principal developments during the nineteenth century leading up to the attainment of treaty making powers by the British self governing colonies with particular reference to the part played by New Zealand in securing such powers

Abstract

The present paper is concerned with the principal developments during the nineteenth century leading up to the attainment by New Zealand of treaty making power. At first glance such a study would not seem to break new ground. Constitutional lawyers both in New Zealand and overseas are as well aware, for example, of the early failure of New Zealand premier William Fox to negotiate commercial arrangements with the United States, as they are conversant with the 1865 success of the Canadian provinces in obtaining the privilege of participating in the negotiation of British commercial treaties of particular Canadian interest. So far as the writer is aware, however, published material in this field has been primarily concerned to deal in a general way with the development of the treaty making power of the British Dominions. It would therefore seem useful, if only as an illustration of the 'logical and causal sequence' of events leading up to the 'treaty resolutions' of the 1907 Colonial Conference, to attempt a study in some detail of the part played by New Zealand in the attainment of these powers by the British self-governing Dominions.