ELECTION NEXT MONTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 796, 17 October 1929, Page 7

ELECTION NEXT MONTH

SAMOA LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Nominations for the Samoa Legislative Council election, which takes place on November 6, closed at Apia on Saturday, when the following were declared candidates: —Arthur Williams, Samuel IT. Meredith, Alex. Johnston and Cecil Gardiner. Sir Joseph Ward recently announced that the number of elected European members would be reduced from three to two, and that two native members would be appointed by the Administrator. At the last election the Hons. O. F. Nelson, A. Williams, and G. E. L. Westbrook, were elected as a Citizens’ Committee ‘ ticket” by a large majority over an “Independent ticket,” which supported General Richardson’s policy. The Hon. O. F. Nelson’s seat was declared vacant owing to his “absence without leave,” when he was deported for five years, and the Hon. G. E. L. Westbrook retired. The Hon. A. Johnston was appointed to fill one of the vacancies, but also retired some months ago, after making a public statement That he found he could be of no service to the European community on the council. Of the present candidates, Messrs. Williams and Meredith are members of the original Citizens’ Committee. Mr. Johnston is a trader for Burns, Philp and Co., Ltd., and Mr. Gardiner is a planter. The franchise is a very restricted one, and the present roll closed with only 190 electors, but the contest is creating a lot of interest in the territory. Under the new arrangement the council will consist of his Excellency the Administrator as president. with six Government officials nominated by him, two native representatives appointed by the Administration, and two Europeans elected by the European residents.