Judgment In Tongan
p. 57 · Read in the full issue
Title Case
Nukualofa, April 20.
THE Judge of the Tongan Land Court, Mr. P. A. Richardson, gave judg ment to-day in the claim for the hereditary noble title of Malupo and estates pertaining thereto.
Malupo is the titular chief of the is land of ’Uiha in the Ha’apai Group.
Judgment was for defendant, the present holder of the title.
The claimant, Amipeliasi 'Ahokava, based his claim on the fact that he is a direct descendant of a senior branch of the Malupo family whereas the pres ent holder descends from a junior branch. Although the evidence estab lished the ground that claimant’s an cestor, through whom the claim was made, was only a half-brother of the Malupo who was holding the title when the Constitution was granted in 1875 and that, in accordance with Tongan custom a full-brother takes priority of place in order of succession over a half-brother, irrespective of the order of seniority of birth.
The present holder is a descendant of a younger brother of the 1875 Malupo.
An appeal to the Privy Council against the judgment of the Land Court has been made by the claimant, alleging that Tongan custom places more emphasis on the order of seniority of birth than of blood relationship.