WESTERN SAMOA

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1930, Page 3

WESTERN SAMOA

IMPROVED NATIVE SPIRT!

AUCKLAND, June 25

AVritiug under date June 10, tlie Apia correspondent of the Now Zealand Herald says;—

The malaga, of the Administrator of Western Samoa (Air S. S. Allen) to the districts of Savaii during the latter part of last month disclosed a 'much better state ot native feeling than was anticipated. The reception of the party in tlie majority of the centres was most cordial. In veiy few was there any evidence of sullenne.ss or lack of hospitality, and in only two or three was any disaffection encountered. On the whole, the result of the malaga. was gratifying in the extreme and full of promise oi success for the fono which was to follow.

The fono, for which nominations had been received in April and May, was called for June 4 and duly assembled upon that date. The spirit of the gathering was amicable, as only Polynesians know how to make it, and there was an entire absence of dissension throughout the proceedings. Indeed, the reluctance of tlie chiefs to break up the fono was so evident 'that the Administrator, at some inconvenience to himself and his staff, wisely permitted it to continue, somewhat longer than was uocesasrv lor its essential business. The Admin istratr, at tlie outset, outlined the- purposes for which the fono was convened—viz., having need of the advice and assistance of a lepreseiitative body of Samoan people m order to accomplish their administration and good government he would ask the fono to indicate the form such an organisation should take and the method of its election? It would be understood, of course, that in character and constitution such an organisation must be • acceptable to the S moan people. The Fono’s answer to the Administrator was covered by four resolutions, each of which was freely and exhaustively discussed in. true Samoan fashion, the fono going, automatically into committee for the purpose. Each resolution was 'then passed without dissent and they may be expressed as follows:—(1) That the fono of faipule be reconstituted; (2) that the election of the faipule be by written nomination hv the matai lodged "i.h the secretary‘of Native Affairs ; where the matai of. the district cannot decide between the claims of two or more rival chiefs the Administrator to exercise the right of appointment from the nominees; (3) that the representatives on tlie fono of faipnle be as for the present fono; (4) that the term of election be, in the first instance, for one year, and thereafter for three years. • It would appear, therefore, that. il the fouo just concluded spoke with the voice of Samoa, the Man has been for three years fighting for something which they already had The onlv difference in the proposed now fono is that one district will have four instead of five faipnle, due entirely to a simple error; and that the method of election will be slightly less democratic inasmuch as the matai will exercise their electors rights individually instead of m concert as members of their district councils. Of the 32 nominees to thefono. 16 were faipnle in the old kmo Of the remaining 16, two at leas have died, several have been retired through age and infirmity, some ol their 'successors were nominated to the fono, a number went over to the Alau( and one has been promoted o the rank of fautua. It is not yet possible to learn how many of the faipnle of the old fono, who were eligible for nomination, to tlie presen • fono, were pasesd over bv the matai. It would seem from the information available that, if any, they were few indeed. A more complete vindication of the past administration would be hard to conceive. _____