Without A Hitch

Samoan Plebiscite Went

From an Apia Correspondent

West Samoa’s plebiscite for independence in May went off without a hitch, and the United Nations Mission which supervised the event returned to New York in mid-May full of praises for the way the whole thing had been handled.

THE plebiscite commissioner, Dr.

Najmuddine Rifai, said May 9 was a day the Samoans should remember with pride. For the first time, the right to vote had been given to every eligible citizen. They had voted in a most orderly fashion and shown a sense of responsibility which was most encouraging.

“Such an admirable performance i great tribute to the wise Samoaj leaders who have lead their peopll to such a remarkable state of politics maturity,” said Dr. Rifai. He am his team of 12 UN staff memben spent four weeks in Samoa, tourim all districts.

Dr. Rifai is from the United Aral Republic, and his team came fron 10 nations. He is a Doctor o Philosophy in international law. II 1953 he was with the UN Missioc to West Samoa and P-NG.

Dr. Rifai’s report will first go tt the Trusteeship Council, and then If the General Assembly.

W. Samoa overwhelmingly endorses the constitution and agreed tin Samoa should become independer (PIM, May, p. 20).

More than 89 per cent, o registered voters took part in tH plebiscite. There were more thas 34,000 votes (out of a total populiJ tion of 108,000).

At one polling booth, Samats (Upolu), all 184 voters wanted tH constitution adopted, and 180 of theK voted for independence. The n maining votes were informal. Cl the other hand at Lotofaga (Safats there were 98 voters who want©: independence and 106 who didn’t.

Their registration slips in their hands, these voters walk to the polling booth to cast their vote for independence or not during West Samoa's plebiscite in May.

Photo: Samoana

Dr. N. Rifai, UN Commissioner supervising the May plebiscite.

Photo: Samoana