Samoa Prepares

The Story Behind It

For Its Vital

Plebiscite

By R. F. Rankin, managing director of Samoa Newspapers Ltd.

With the arrival in Apia in

February of Mr. C. G. R.

McKay, representing the New

Zealand Government as Ad

ministrator for the United

Nations plebiscite on indepen

dent government for Western

Samoa, preparations are now

under way for this final step to

wards the establishment of

the first independent Polynesian

State.

i r[E plebiscite, which will be held in May, consists of two questions on which all Samoan citizens over the age of 21 will be entitled to vote. The questions are: • Do you agree with the Consti tution adopted by the Constitutional Convention on October 28, 1960? • Do you agree that on January 1, 1962, Western Samoa should be come an independent State on the basis of that Constitution?

Not Wanted

At the meeting of the United Nations held last November to de termine the future of Western Samoa, it was argued by the Samoan Prime Minister, Hon. Fiame Mata’afa, that a plebiscite was un necessary because the Constitu tional Convention, which approved independence and drew up the Con stitution, was a legally constituted body and fully representative of the people.

This view was supported by New Zealand.

However, the United Nations, apparently believing that the Con vention was not fully representative since its members had been elected only by the matai as the heads of families, decided that a plebiscite was necessary.

The first step in organising the plebiscite is the registration of all adult citizens over the age of 21 who wish to vote.

This involves enrolment of approximately 42,000 people and as a new roll is required separate from any rolls now in existence, it in volves fresh enrolment of every voter.

A United Nations observation team, under Dr. N. Rifai, of the United Arab Republic, will arrive in the Territory sometime before the plebiscite is held to ensure the

plebiscite is run according to t) wishes of the United Nations.

Some knowledge of the Samot political system is necessary understand the United Nations’ i sistence upon a plebiscite.

There is no universal suffrage Samoa and the vote is restricted title holders (matai) as heads families and about 1,000 vot» registered as Europeans.

Of 42,000 people eligible to vo under universal suffrage, in fa only about 6,000 people had tl privilege at voting at the genei elections held early in February l The plebiscite will provide tl first opportunity in history f thousands of Samoan women a untitled men to have a direct vo; in any matter of government.

Samoan leaders claim that as tl matai is directly responsible for I actions to his family and that only the more capable members the society became matai, the ma; system is just as efficient and re resentative as universal suffra;, if not more so.

However, as increasing numb* of young Samoans return fro education in New Zealand and educational standards rise with the Territory, anomalies within t system become more striking.

For instance, a young Samoi graduate of Otago Medical Sch« with a brilliant record, who has n< returned to Samoa, is denied a vo because he is not a matai.

Danger of Change

There is increasing pressu even among the matai themself for modifications in the syste and the introduction of univera suffrage but the problem is not any means easily solved.

Samoa lags far behind t: Western world in political devela ment, and the clash of cultures the modern world, with increasii rapidity, encroaches upon the priß itive society and customs of c Samoa, has brought in its wai many problems, not the least which is insufficient respect for Is and order.

There is no doubt that even no the authority of the matai in t; villages is the strongest force fl order, and it is likely to have remain so for many years.

Any electoral reform therefc brings the danger that the author! of the matai might be weakeni and this may result in a serio: threat to the stability of Samof society.

The Constitution on which t: people are being asked to vote si restricts the vote to matai and!

“Yes” vote will mean a perpetu: tion, at least until the Constitute is changed, of the present restricts franchise.

A “Yes” vote would be a stran* reversal of historic trends in whiii a people will be voting again themselves receiving the right vote.