DEATH OF PROMINENT SAMOAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 142, 29 March 1948, Page 4

DEATH OF PROMINENT SAMOAN

TRIBUTE BY PRIME MINISTER

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 28. “I regret,” said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) to-night, “to have to announce the death at Apia on Saturday of Mataafa Faumunia Siame, an outstanding personality and one of the highest ranking citizens of Western Samoa. He was one of the three Fautua and a member of the Council of State of Western Samoa established recently in connection with the revision of the Samoan Constitution. “Mataafa, as he was commonly called, was the head of two large family groups, Salevalasi and Sa-Tago, who* were based largely on the south-east coast of Npolu. He held his earlier title of Siame as a leader of the Salevalasi and' the two families, distinct from the Malietoa and Tupua lines, were predominant in conferring the title Mataafa upon him. Pie lived usually in Lepea, near Apia, where he was also a leading chief, and held the title of Faumunia. “Mataafa was appointed a Fautua early in 1944 following a generally expressed desire of the Samoans for a third Fautua in addition to the two existing titleholders, Malietoa and Tamasese. Although a leader of the Mau, and its president for sonie years, Mataafa was always highly respected by the then Administration and all parties to the disputes of those days. Mataafa is survived by his widow, a son and a daughter. “I have always had great respect for ,Mataa£a,’.’ concluded the Prime Minister, “and am convinced that his actions have always been animated by a true love of his country and concern for the welfare of its people.”