Samoan Official

Outstanding Service of Samoan Official Retirement of I'iga Pisa

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Nov. 6.

A SAMOAN Chief, I’iga Pisa, a well known figure in Samoan history and politics has recently retired from a position in the Native Office at Mulinu’u, Apia, Samoa, after spending a total of 35 years in Government service. Three of those years were served under the German Administration, four years under the American Naval Administration in American Samoa, and 28 years under the New Zealand Administration of Western Samoa.

I’iga Pisa was born on Savaii, Western Samoa, in 1882, and succeeded to his chiefly title in 1902, under the German regime. As a young man he took an active part in Samoan politics and was prominent in the Lauati trouble in 1908.

As a result of his activities he was ban ished, together with Lauati and other Samoan chiefs and orators, by Dr. Solf, the then German Governor, to Saipan, in the Mariana Islands. There he attended the German Government school and in 1912 was appointed typist and interpreter in the office of von Heinitz, Amtmann of Saipan. He was there in 1914 when World War I broke out and when the Marianas, including Saipan, were occu pied by the Japanese Navy.

In 1915 I’iga Pisa escaped from Saipan to Guam, the US Naval Station, in the southern Marianas, in a Samoan-style canoe. He found a job in Guam, where Governor Maxwell made him a printer in the US Naval Printing Office.

In September, 1919, the American Navy sent I’iga Pisa back to Samoa, after a

short period of work in the Pearl Harbour Dry dock and as a printer for a private firm in Honolulu. The New Zealand Ad ministration of Western Samoa, under Colonel Tate, appointed I’iga Pisa clerk and translator in the Native Office. In 1922 he was sent as a teacher to the Government boys’ school at Vaipouli, Savaii, but returned to the Native Office in 1942. He accompanied the party of Faipule, sent to New Zealand by General Sir George Richardson, as interpreter.

I’iga Pisa continued his work in the Native Office until his retirement on September 30, 1947, after 28 years of faithful service.