General elections were held in

Western Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); a ...

on 6 November 1929.Lauofo Meti (2002) ''Samoa: The Making of the Constitution'', National University of Samoa, p20

Background

In a Legislative Council debate of 16 March 1928, elected member

Olaf Frederick Nelson Ta'isi Olaf Frederick Nelson (24 February 1883 – 28 February 1944) was a Samoan businessman and politician. He was one of the founding leaders of the anti-colonial Mau movement. Biography Nelson was born on 24 February 1883 in Safune on th ...

proposed a motion that Samoans should be represented in the Council. Nelson had made the same proposal in the 1924–1926 Council term, but it had been rejected. The new motion was defeated again. On 5 August 1927, the

New Zealand Parliament The New Zealand Parliament ( mi, Pāremata Aotearoa) is the unicameral legislature of New Zealand, consisting of the King of New Zealand ( King-in-Parliament) and the New Zealand House of Representatives. The King is usually represented by h ...

passed an amendment to the Samoa Act 1921, giving the

Administrator Administrator or admin may refer to: Job roles Computing and internet * Database administrator, a person who is responsible for the environmental aspects of a database * Forum administrator, one who oversees discussions on an Internet forum * N ...

the power to deport Europeans without trial in cases where they had reason to believe were "preventing or hindering the due performance of the Government of the Dominion of New Zealand, of its functions and duties.. or the due administration of the executive government of the Territory."Meti, p19 This power was subsequently used to deport Nelson, who was replaced by an appointed member, Alexander W. Johnston in April 1928. Despite Nelson's motion to include Samoan representatives having been defeated, prior to the 1929 elections the New Zealand government amended the structure of the Legislative Council to reduce the number of elected Europeans from three to two, and introduce two nominated Samoan members.

Results

Prior to the elections, Johnston resigned from his nominated seat and stood for one of the elective seats. He was elected with the most votes, alongside

Samuel Meredith Samuel Meredith (1741 – February 10, 1817) was an American merchant from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress from 1786 to 1788. President Washington appointed him Treasurer of the United ...

Aftermath

Following the elections,

Malietoa Tanumafili I Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili I (1879 – 5 July 1939) was the Malietoa in Samoa from 1898 until his death in 1939. Personal and political life Tanumafili was born in 1880 to Malietoa Laupepa and Sisavai‘i Malupo Niuva‘ai. He attended the Lon ...

and

Mata'afa Muliufi Mata'afa Lealaisalanoa Muliufi (died 29 February 1936) was a Western Samoan high chief and politician. He held the Tama-a-Aiga title of Mata'afa from 1915 until his death. Biography Muliufi was born into the Mata'afa family. ...

were appointed as the Samoan representatives.

References

{{Samoan elections

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

Elections in Samoa