Samoan Europeans

Method of Electing The Council

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, October 26.

THE triennial election of two members of the Legislative Council of Western Samoa takes place on November 1. The retiring members, Messrs. I. H. Car ruthers and A. R. Cobcroft, have again presented themselves as candidates and are being opposed by two new can didates, i.e., Mr. A. J. Smyth and Dr.

C. M. Dawson, both of whom are old residents and well and favourably known.

Mr. Smyth is general manager and a director of Messrs. O. F. Nelson and Co.

Ltd. Dr. Dawson is the only private medical practitioner here.

The voters are Europeans with property worth at least £2OO or an income of at least £2OO annually. The European population is officially given as 3,000 (600 European and 2,400 of European-Samoan blood) and there are 134 registered voters (84 Europeans and 50 of mixed blood).

Europeans here are of opinion that the

existing electoral law should be altered and every adult European who pays the personal tax of 25/- per year should be given the right to vote. The present sys tem is not a true representation of the European residents of the territory.

European And Samoan Status

According to the official gazette, seven part-Samoan families, comprising 29 in dividuals, have, in accordance with the new Samoan Status Ordinance, 1934, re linquished European status and reverted to Samoan status. There probably will be many more cases of the kind in the near future.

Mr. Higgs, inspector for the well-known Island firm of Carpenters, and Mr. Haw thorn, of the same firm, arrived in Apia in October by the Carrisso on their way from Rotuma Island. They continued the voy age to Suva by Matson liner from Pago Pago. Both gentlemen made many friends during their short stay in Apia, says our Apia correspondent.

Mr. Emil Oldekaver, an old resident of Tonga and Samoa, died on October 18, at Apia Hospital, aged 75, after a long illness.

He was a well-known trader in the Islands.