To'omata Lilomaiava Tua (10 July 1905 – February 1970) was a
Western Samoan chief and politician. He served as a member of the
Legislative Assembly from 1951 and as Minister of Lands from 1959, holding both roles until his death in 1970.
Biography
Born in 1905, Tua was conferred with the chiefly title ''To'omata'' in 1924.
[Lauofo Meti (2002) ''Samoa: The Making of the Constitution'', p325] He became a member of the
Fono of Faipule
The Legislative Assembly (), also known as the Parliament of Samoa (), is the national legislature of Samoa, seated at Apia, where the country's central administration is situated. Samoan Parliament is composed of two parts: the O le Ao o le Ma ...
and served as its chairman.
[
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly from the Satupa'itea constituency in ]1951
Events
January
* January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950).
* January 9 – The Government of the Uni ...
. After being re-elected in 1954
Events
January
* January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting.
* January 7 – Georgetown–IBM experiment: The first public demonstration of a machine translation system is held in New York, at the head ...
, he was appointed to the Executive Council. When a Member System
The Member System, modeled on the cabinet system, was created by British authorities in the Federation of Malaya to provide self-governance. Like the Communities Liaison Committee, it drew on members of different communities, and was later descri ...
was introduced in 1956, he was given the Agriculture portfolio.[Meti, p39] Although he was re-elected again in 1957
Events January
* January 1 – The Saarland joins West Germany.
* January 3 – Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch.
* January 5 – South African player Russell Endean becomes the first batsman to be Dismissal (cricke ...
, he was omitted from the Executive Council. However, when a full cabinet system was introduced in 1959, he was appointed Minister of Lands.
In 1960 he was a member of the Constitutional Assembly
A constituent assembly (also known as a constitutional convention, constitutional congress, or constitutional assembly) is a body assembled for the purpose of drafting or revising a constitution. Members of a constituent assembly may be elected b ...
that drew up the independence constitution. He was re-elected in 1961
Events January
* January 1 – Monetary reform in the Soviet Union, 1961, Monetary reform in the Soviet Union.
* January 3
** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and cons ...
, 1964
Events January
* January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved.
* January 5 – In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patria ...
and 1967
Events January
* January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair.
* January 6 – Vietnam War: United States Marine Corps and Army of ...
, retaining his ministerial portfolio on each occasion; in 1964 the role became Minister for Land and Land Registry.
Tua was re-elected in the February 1970 elections, but died before the Assembly convened to elect the Prime Minister. His death deprived incumbent Prime Minister Fiame Mata'afa of a majority in a tied vote, and led to Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV
Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV (8 May 1922 – 9 July 1983) was the second prime minister of Samoa from 25 February 1970 to 20 March 1973 and again from 21 May 1975 to 24 March 1976. He held the title of Tupua Tamasese, one of the four main ...
becoming prime minister.[(2) A mixed bag of opportunists and sincere men]
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', April 1970, p51
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tua, Toomata
1905 births
Samoan chiefs
Members of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa
Government ministers of Samoa
1970 deaths