1935 Western Samoan general election

None General elections were held in Western Samoa on 1 November 1935. Electoral system Two Europeans were elected from a single two-seat constituency. Voting was restricted to Europeans or Samoan-Europeans owning property worth at least £200 or with an annual income of at least £200. Of the European/Samoan-European population of 3,000, only 134 people were registered to vote,Samoan Europeans Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1935, p32 down from 172 in the 1932 elections.Samoan Legislative Council Pacific Islands Monthly, December 1935, p30 Campaign Four candidates contested the two available seats. Incumbents and brothers-in-law Irving Carruthers and Alan Cobcroft both ran for re-election, alongside businessman Alfred Smyth and Charles Dawson, the territory's only private doctor. Cobcroft was supported by the Planters' Association. Results Smyth (82 votes) and Carruthers (65 votes) were elected,Samoan News New Zealand Herald, 30 November 1935 with Cobcroft, who finished last of the four candidates with fewer than 50 votes, surprisingly unseated. Aftermath Following the Goodwill Mission by the New Zealand government in 1936, the number of nominated Samoan members was increased from two to four. Tuala Tulo and Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole were appointed in addition to Malietoa Tanumafili I and Mata'afa Muliufi, taking their seats in December that year.Lauofo Meti (2002) Samoa: The Making of the Constitution, National University of Samoa, p21 Malietoa resigned from the Council in July 1937 to become a Fautua. He was replaced by Namulauulu Tivoli. References Western Samoa Category:1935 in Western Samoa Trust Territory Category:Elections in Samoa