The Samoans
p. 112 · Read in the full issue
Defending The
Matai System
A Matter For The Samoans
A SMALL section of the European population of Western Samoa continues its campaign against the matai system of government — which will be retained when Samoa gets its full independence.
The matai, or chief system, of the Samoans provides that the chiefs and family heads, as elected repre sentatives of their families, repre sent politically the Samoan popula tion in village, district and higher Government bodies.
The Samoans have consistently refused to give up this system, which is based on Samoan tradition and custom, and to accept universal franchise.
Undoubtedly, a time will come when Samoans will be ready and willing to adapt the matai system to modern conditions, but the time has not yet arrived and it w r ould be
totally wrong and inadvisable to enforce a change against the ex pressed will of the people. Such an enforcement would undoubtedly lead to dissatisfaction and unrest, as was experienced in the late 20’s, when an attempt to interfere by force with Samoan tradition resulted in the Mau rebellion, which set the political economical and social de
velopment of the Territory bj years.
The Samoans particularly interference by European res in Samoan tradition and c and they rightly contend tha for the Samoans themselves cide such matters without pi from Europeans. —Apia spondent.