Doubts On Western Samoan Plebiscite

Press, Volume C, Issue 29504, 4 May 1961, Page 9

Doubts On Western Samoan Plebiscite

(New Zealand Press Association)

APIA, May 2. Next Tuesday, May 9, is plebiscite day in Western Samoa. To acquaint the people as to what independence means, what a plebiscite means, and what the constitutional convention means, the Government of Western Samoa has done just about everything in its power. Explanatory pamphlets in both English and Samoan have been distributed by the thousands. The local radio broadcasts daily on the whole situation and it seems inconceivable that there could be anyone in the Territory of Western Samoa who does not by now know just what is at stake. . The number of voters on the franchise is a little more than 37.000. There are 53 polling booths on Savaii and on Upolu there are 87. The questions to be answered are: (1) "Do you agree that on January 1, 1962, Western Samoa should become an independent State? (2) “Do you agree that independence should be based on the constitutional convention of last year?” There is. however, a story going the rounds which indicates that all Samoans are not as fully informed as they might be. According to this

report, one of the United Nations observers in a village not far from Apia, through an interpreter, asked the Matai concerned: “Have you advised your people as to the meaning of this coming plebiscite and have you advised them as to the basis of the constitution?” The reply to this was a puzzled look and the question: “What constitution?” There are some grounds therefore for thinking that the United Nations observers may not be absolutely satisfied with the extent to which people generally are aware of the full implications of the plebiscite. At the same time, however, it is difficult to suggest what further steps the authorities could take. Some observers, impressed with the damage done to Western Samoa’s economy by the recent tropical storm and the degree to which people have been affected by it, are saying that at this stage the result of the plebiscite is by no means a foregone conclusion.