Samoan Elections
p. 60 · Read in the full issue
Enemy Aliens to Vote
From our Own Correspondent
Apia, Oct. 24.
FIVE candidates are putting up for the two Legislative Council seats at the November 5 elections. They are: O. F. Nelson, sitting member; A. G.
Smyth, merchant; Arthur Williams, plumber; P. W. Glover, store manager; Amato Stowers, planter.
Before the war, Samoa’s population was about 3,000 Europeans and Eurone sians—of whom some 500 were German nationals, many with Nazi sympathies.
When war broke out, some of the Ger mans were deported; war-time restrictions were imposed on those left, but otherwise they were allowed to carry on as before.
They conduct plantations, lease and buy land, take part in business and trade and, generally speaking, enjoy all privileges under the protection of the British flag.
Judge the indignation, then, when the electoral roll was issued and local British residents found that of the 578 names, 100 were those of enemy aliens. Repre sentations were made to the Adminis tration and the matter was referred to the NZ Cabinet. Those gentlemen decided to allow the aliens to retain their votes.
As many British voters are at present absent, working on the American base at Pago Pago (Eastern Samoa), and a num ber of Britishers refuse to go to the poll alongside aliens, the enemy-alien vote may well be the deciding factor of the elections.