1948 Western Samoan general election

General elections were held in Western Samoa on 28 April 1948,[1] the first to the new Legislative Assembly. The United Citizens Party won four of the five directly-elected seats.

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Electoral system

The new 26-member Legislative Assembly consisted of the Administrator, six civil servants, eleven Samoans appointed by the Fono of Faipule, three Fautua (Samoan chiefs) and five members directly elected by people with European status,[2] which included people of mixed European and Samoan descent.[1]

Campaign

The European seats were contested between the United Citizens Party, which was formed at a meeting on 16 March and supported by prominent businessmen in Apia, and the Labour Party led by Amando Stowers.[1] Both parties nominated a full slate of five candidates, with the United Citizens Party holding a primary election to select its candidates after nine members put themselves forwards.[3]

The campaign included radio broadcasts, public meetings and leafleting.[3]

Results

European members
Party Votes % Seats
United Citizens Party2,25963.014
Labour Party1,20833.701
Independents1183.290
Total3,5851005
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly

By candidate
Candidate Party Votes Notes
Eugene PaulUnited Citizens Party568Elected
Jacob HelgUnited Citizens Party510Elected
Fred BethamUnited Citizens Party468Elected
Amando StowersLabour Party436Re-elected
Willie StowersUnited Citizens Party383Elected
Arno Max GurauLabour Party342
Sammy MeredithUnited Citizens Party330
Emil FabriciusLabour Party226
G.J. PritchardLabour Party129
Percy MorganIndependent118
D. CrichtonLabour Party75
Total3,585
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly

Samoan members

A series of meetings was held in January 1948 to select the 11 Samoan representatives. However, the meetings were inconclusive, and instead a list of 31 names was given to the three fautua, Mata'afa, Malietoa and Tamasese to choose from.[4] The choices were announced in mid-April.[3]

Districts Member
A'anaThomas Nauer
Aiga-i-le-TaiLeiataua Soloa
AtuaFonoti Ioane
Fa'asaleleagaVui Manu'a
Gaga'emaugaTuala Tulo
Gaga'ifomaugaLavea Lala
PalauliTualaulelei Mauri
Satupa'iteaAsiata Muese
TuamasagaFata Tamati
Va'a-o-FonotiMolio'o Setu
VaisiganoMasoe Tulele
Source: Meti[5]

Aftermath

The new Legislative Assembly was opened on 2 June 1948 with a ceremony at Mulinu'u involving the new national flag being formally raised for the first time.[6]

After the death of Fautua Mata'afa Faumuina Fiame Mulinu'u I in 1948, the Fono requested that they be allowed to elect a twelfth member to replace him. This was authorised by the Samoa Amendment Act 1949, and Gatoloai Peseta Sio was elected by the Fono to be the twelfth member on 1 April 1950.[7]

References
  1. Samoan Election: Vigorous New Party In The Field Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1948, p27
  2. Samoa's New Assembly Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1948, p7
  3. W. Samoa's New Assembly Now Taking Shape: Samoan Members Chosen Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1948, p49
  4. Less Quarantine and More Politics Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1948, p13
  5. Meti, p28
  6. New Assembly In Samoa: Quarantine Imposes Last-Minute Absence of the NZ Prime Minister Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1948, p7
  7. Lauofo Meti (2002) Samoa: The Making of the Constitution, National University of Samoa, p28
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