Samoan Elections.

Messrs. I. H. Carruthers and A. R. Cobcroft Elected with Small Majority.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Nov. 26.

AFTER a very short campaign, the election of two elected members of the Legislative Council took place on November 9, evoking lively interest amongst European residents. Of 172 voters on the electoral roll (a number of whom were absent from the Territory or prevented by illness), 157 exercised their civic rights in Apia and outside districts.

Of the five candidates standing in the contest, Messrs. Carruthers and Cobcroft had the support of the Planters’

Association and the Chamber of Com merce and sought a block vote. The re maining three candidates, Messrs. Bruce, Wekell and Meredith, stood as “Inde pendents,” Meredith, the sitting Member, standing for re-election. The support of the numerous Government officials, mak ing about one-third of the electorate, went chiefly to Carruthers and Cobcroft, known as strong Government sup porters.

The election result at Apia polling booth was a distinct surprise, as Mr. R.

G. Bruce topped the poll with 57 votes.

Carruthers followed with 52 votes, Cobcroft with 48, Meredith with 24, and Wekell with 41. Results from outside districts of Upolu East and South and Savaii reduced Bruce’s lead somewhat.

But the plantation districts of Upolu West, with a large majority of votes in favour of the Carruthers-Cobcroft block, brought the latter to the fore, and the official count taken later on resulted in the victory of the block, the final figures were: Carruthers 76 Cobcroft 72 Bruce 69 Wekell 47 Meredith 39 The result is entirely due to the ac tive and effective canvassing of the sup porters of the block in the outside dis tricts, which were neglected by the

other candidates. Still, the fight was fair and without undue incidents, and all the candidates are well-known resi dents and popular in wide circles of the

European population.

The new members are residents of

long standing and prominent in planters

as well as commercial circles.

The Honourable I. H. Carruthers

Was born in Samoa on October 27, 1888, a son of the late R. H. Carruthers, a barrister and solicitor in Samoa under the Three Power Regime. He was educated at the Apia Marist Brothers’ School, and took up business after leaving school, and started trading in the

islands, owning small schooners and gradually extending his business operations. For some time he was in partnership with Mr. A. G.

Smythe, now manager of Messrs. Morris, Hedstrom, Ltd., but later went on his own account again.

In 1928 he followed a family tradition by taking up cocoa planting, in addition to trading, and leased from the Administration the cocoa plantation of Malaefono, on the west coast of Upolu. His father had been the founder of cocoa planting in Samoa, having planted the first 25 acres from seeds obtained from the F.H. & P.G., who had experimented with cocoa unsuccessfully. Carruthers, senr., believed in the future of cocoa planting and after exporting the first cocoa beans, found his experience profit able and persisted.

The new Councillor is conversant with the difficult problem of Samoa and will be able and willing to advise the Administration. He is a vice-president of the Chamber of Com merce, a member of the Planters’ Association, and president of the Marist Old Boys’ Associa tion for the fourth term. He has taken an interest in all public movements tending to the progress of Samoa, is a keen sportsman, and has always proved a strong supporter of law and order.

The Hon. A. R. Cobcroft

Is an Australian, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J.

Cobcroft, of Summer Hill, Sydney, and nephew of the late Sir George Simpson, a former Chief Justice of New South Wales. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School, which he repre sented in rowing, football, and running. He left for Fiji in 1905 taking up a position with the C.S.R. Co., Ltd., and staying on their sugar

Hon. I. H. Carruthers.

plantations for six years. Coming to Samoa, then under German administration, in 1911, he took up the management of Papaseea Plantations, Ltd., an Australian-owned cocoa plantation company. During the War he was appointed manager of the large Mulifanua Coconut Plantation (at one time the largest coconut plantation in the South Seas) and re mained there under Government Administration for four years. After a short stay in New Guinea on official business, he came back to Samoa and started planting on his own account, leasing Vaipoto Cocoa Plantation from the New Zealand Reparation Estates. He has since

successfully extended his cultivations and has succeeded in producing a high-class cocoa on his plantations, which commands a good price.

Mr. Cobcroft has taken great interest in the public life of Samoa. He has been a president of the old Planters’ Association for several terms and is on the committee of the present Association, working entirely for the good of the plantation industry. He is a keen supporter of racing, vice-president of Apia Turf Club, and owner of several good horses. He is also in terested in boxing and football.

Mr. Cobcroft is married to a daughter of the late R. H. Carruthers, and is thereby a brother in-law of the Hon. I. H. Carruthers.

Government’S Congratulations.

In a radio message the Prime Minis ter of New Zealand has asked the Ad ministrator to convey his warm con gratulations to the Hons. Carruthers and Cobcroft on the occasion of their election to the council. He further ex pressed his earnest hope, that their col laboration on the Council would be con ducive to the welfare of the Territory.

Hon. A. R. Cobcroft.