General elections were held in

Western Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabit ...

on 4 February 1961. They had originally been planned for November 1960, but were postponed by three months.

Electoral system

The Legislative Assembly had 46 elected members, of which 41 were Samoans elected in single-member constituencies (with voting limited to matais, and five were Europeans elected form a single national constituency.

Campaign

In 21 of the 41 Samoan constituencies there was only one candidate, who was returned unopposed, whilst two had no candidates. Elections went ahead in the remaining 18 constituencies, with by-elections held for the two vacant seats in March.Samoan Cabinet
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', March 1961, p140 Although the number of voters on the European roll dropped by around half compared to the 1957 elections, eight candidates contested the five available seats.West Samoa Receives Vote Approval
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', January 1961, p17

Results

European seats

Aftermath

Following the elections, petitions were submitted to the High Court regarding alleged malpractice in the Faasaleleaga I, Palaluli East, Faleata West and European constituencies. The petition by losing candidate William Betham to have the European results annulled on the basis that 55 voters had been added to the voter roll after registration closed was dismissed, with the judge stating that it was not an irregularity and would not have affected the results.Results of Samoan Elections in Dispute
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', April 1961, pp118–119 Former Minister of Agriculture

Tualaulelei Mauri Tualaulelei Mauri (12 June 1903 – 8 September 1961) was a Samoa, Western Samoan chief and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly of Samoa, Legislative Assembly between 1943 and 1961, and as Minist ...

submitted a petition seeking to overturn his 46–42 vote defeat by

Afoafouvale Misimoa Afioga Afoafouvale Misimoa (25 September 1900 – 18 February 1971), also known by his European name Harry William Moors, was a Western Samoan businessman and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly in two spells between ...

in Palauli East, where he claimed that a death oath had been placed on voters by a local chief if Misimoa was not elected. However, his case was dismissed due to contradictory evidence. The petition concerning the result in Faasaleleaga I (Magele Ate had been elected unopposed) was successful, with a by-election ordered for 10 June.

Government formation

A government was appointed by Prime Minister Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II.Samoa Picks A "Vital" Cabinet
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', March 1961, p20

References

{{Samoan elections

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

Elections in Samoa