They're Politicking
p. 29 · Read in the full issue
In In. Samoa
From an Apia correspondent There are signs that the Wes tern Samoan Parliament is
moving towards a multiple party
system.
Following the ousting of Fiame Mataafa as Prime Minister early in 1970, his supporters are now acting as an opposition. Mataafa supporters these days boldly question and criticise some of the measures of the Tamasese government. They make no effort to hide their disdain of the new govern ment.
This is not personal animosity, but plain politics. The government has yet to prove its efficiency and Mataafa’s supporters are not going to let it do it.
Thus the victory of the Tamasese faction is a disappointment to the old die-hards, but a blessing to the new group of liberals now seen in parliament. These liberals will soon form a nucleus which will be more than a match for the traditionalists.
This development had to come.
After world War II New Zealand planned for Malietoa and the late Tupua Tamasese to be the Joint Heads of State and for Mataafa to be Prime Minister. It was an imposed solution, all right at the time, but Mataafa remained in power too long because it was generally regarded as sacrilege to attempt to depose him.
The significance of the NZ decision was to delay a two party system.
Politicking has now taken over from “predetermination”.
The key word these days is loyalty —loyalty to two individuals—Mataafa and Tamasese—and the two party is thus developing.