SAMOAN LEADER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23542, 30 December 1939, Page 4

SAMOAN LEADER

iTHE MALIETOA TITLE SUCCESSION DISPUTES PLACE IN ISLANDS' HISTORY The dispute over the succession to the Malietoa' title in Samoa, which lias resulted in tlie nppoinnicut of Ati Tnnu, elder son of the late holder, in place of lioane Viliamu, the second son, 'who Mas at first elected, is no. new thing in Samoa. As far back as records go the death of a Malietoa has almost always led to disputes, often far mora serious than in the present instance, and culminating in fighting. From the beginning of written Samoan history there are constant accounts of struggles between the Malietoa and Tupua families for supremacy in the islands. Sometimes the leader of one family and sometimes the head ol' tlio other has held sway, but disintegrating forces and opposing European influences prevented either from establishing permanent supremacy. Wars Between Families Early in the 19th century the dominant position had been held for a lengthy, period by the Tupua family, but after a series of long and fierce wars a member of the Malietoa family became' virtual ruler of all Samoa. He was assassinated and a further period of lighting ensued before the holder of the Malietoa title avenged his dea.th on the rival group. . Onco again dissension over the succession ensued on the death of this ruler and only after seven years of conflict did the Malietoa again emerge victorious in 1818. hi this struggle European nations intervened for the first time and henceforth in the struggles between the two families Britain and America gave general support to tho Malietoa. and the Germans to the Tupua. For 30 years there was little cessation in disputes over leadership of the families or tho islands as n whole. In turn both Malietoa and Tupua candidates held the foremost place, while at one time it was arranged for the leaders of the two families to rule alternately for four-year periods. Later j* third chief, Mataafa. emerged as a candidate for the kingship. Two Positions Created After a few years of comparativequiescence matters again came to a head in 1808 on the death of the Malietoa leader who had been' recognised king. The British and Americans supported'the claims of the dead king's youthful son. Malietoa Tanumafili, who died this year, and he was crowned. However, a majority supported Mataafa. who had the German backing. Mataafa supporters over-ran Apia and the young king had to take refuge on a British vessel. A High Commission declared the abolition of the kingship and Malietoa Tanumafili retired to school in Fiji. After' the British withdrawal from Samoa; in r 1900 the title of king was transferred to the Kniser and Mataafa took a new title of paramount chief. However, disputes continued, and on Mataafa's; death the strategic step was taken of abolishing the paramount chief title and creating- two positions of Fautun, or high adviser?* to the Governor. "The contemporary holder of the name Tamascse in the Tupua family was appointed to one of_ these positions. Malietoa Tanumafili took the other and held it up to the time of his death this year, the system haying beeif maintained under the British administration.