New Prime Minister In Western Samoa

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32233, 27 February 1970, Page 22

New Prime Minister In Western Samoa

(New Zealand Pi Western Samoa has Tapua Tamasese Leak secret ballot against F liament this morning.

! There was intense lobbying] last night among members] ( after yesterday’s deadlock in the vote for the Prime Ministership. When the House resumed some members criticised the Speaker, Magele Ate, for voting in yesterday’s ballot He replied that the House had suspended Standing] [Orders for the informal meet-; )ing, and he therefore was entitled to vote as an ordinary i member. He vacated the Speaker’s chair again for the debate. Pressure grew from speakers for another secret ballot, 'the only alternative being to keep debating until the House reached a unanimous lopinion. Members were re-1

*ress Association) APIA, February 26. s a new Prime Minister, lofi IV succeeded in a *'iame Mata’afa in Par-

luctant to declare thei; allegiance openly and favoured a ballot. The debate took two hours and a half, but the voting was swift, with a 25-20 result. Tupua Tamasese thanked the House for its confidence and moved an adjournment until next Tuesday, when the ;new Cabinet will be an- ; nounced. After being elected by th* one-party Parliament, the Prime Minister must choose eight • colleagues from the members.