Fence of Matai

[?] to Govern [?] Samoa Fence of Matai [?]tem

Letter to the Editor El letter, “Self Rule for Western Samoa, but not Democracy,” in rour April issue, from a special ispondent, requires explanation elucidation. e views expressed are solely jersonal views and opinions of Morgan, and are not shared by responsible Europeans or )ans. Nor do the four elected pean members of the Legis j Assembly associate them -3 with any irresponsible state s made by Mr. Morgan in the lative Assembly, at joint >ns with the Fono of Faipule, efore the Trusteeship Council ng Mission. die Mr. Morgan usually claims he represents the views of a rity, he suddenly changed his on and, before the joint session i the Trusteeship Council on, stated that he represents ‘vast majority” of the people imoa. He has moved amend s to motions in the Legislative nbly and later voted against wn amended motions. While sating strict economy in Gov ent expenditure, he (unsuc illy) moved that the remunera of members of Legislative As ly be increased from about per year to £1,200. ir article dealt mainly with the ion of universal suffrage and latai system. Many opponents le Matai system (and among Mr. Morgan) conveniently x)k the fact that the Matai n, a time-honoured custom of Jamoan people, does not deny ed persons, men or women, a in political matters. The i, or head of family, is demo ;ally elected by a majority of amily, to represent the family look after the family’s in s in village and district affairs, )eyond that in elections to the of Faipule, the Samoan dis representatives and, on a r level, to the Legislative As •y. ; Matai is also responsible for management of the family Should the Matai, in the )n of the family, fail to repre the family in a proper way or ?ainst the family interests, the y can depose him and elect other member of the family in :ead. So every young untitled »er of the family is in fact a tial Matai.

The Mau rebellion, in the late twenties and early thirties, was brought about by the attempt of the then Administrator, General Sir George Richardson, to abolish the Matai system and interfere with Samoan tradition and customs.

The administering authority, New Zealand, and the United Nations Trusteeship Council, have agreed that the present political set-up, based on the Matai system, should continue, and that no change should be forcibly imposed on the Samoan people.

The demand for universal suffrage should come spontaneously from the Samoans themselves, when they have reached a stage where the young generation has acquired suf ficient knowledge and education to realise the advantages of universal suffrage.

One of the reprehensible actions of the European member of the Legislative Assembly (Mr. Morgan) was when he, as a European repre sentative, tried to advance his per sonal views on the subject of the Head, or Heads of State.

This is considered entirely a matter for the Samoans themselves and of no concern whatever to the Europeans: and it has been strongly urged that this matter should be left to the judgement of the Samoans without interference by Europeans. (Over)

At the Constitutional Convention, when the subject was discussed at length, only six of the 170 members of the Convention voted and spoke against the appointment of the two Fautua (H o n. Tamasese and Malietoa) as joint Heads of State; and these six members subsequently withdrew their objections, so that the resolution on the subject was unanimous.

I agree with what your letter writer stated regarding the precari ous economic situation of the Terri tory, and regarding extravagant Government expenditure.

When we look at the post-war picture of the world, we find that many of the countries which were given self-Government faced enorm ous difficulties but gradually over came them, and these young countries are learning from experi ence and putting their political and economic structure on a solid basis.

It has been stated at Trustee ship Council meetings that self government, even if it does not function smoothly in the beginning, is still preferable to no self-govern ment at all.

The possible violent repercussions with which your letter-writer at tempts to frighten New 7 Zealand exist only in his imagination.

I believe in the commonsense of

the Samoan people and in their keen political acumen. I also believe that the interests of the European community, which are amply pro tected in the Trusteeship Agree ment and will be fully safeguarded in the constitution of any future

Samoan government, will in n( way be adversely affected by thi establishment of self-government.!

I am, etc.,

A. M. Gurau.

Apia, 21/5/56.