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Government of Western Samoa Report of the Commission to Inquire into and Report upon the Organization of District and Village Government in Western Samoa

Appendix B—Form of Questionnaire Used in Meetings with the Ali‘i and Faipule

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Appendix B—Form of Questionnaire Used in Meetings with the Ali‘i and Faipule

The Questionnaire was twice revised during our earlier malaga. As we found the need to reframe questions, or to add new ones, during our visits, we did so orally, and then met later to discuss the necessary changes in the written questionnaire. The Questionnaire printed here is the third and final form used.

Questionnaire

1.

Name of village:

2.

Population (1945 census)—

(a)

Total:

(e)

Number of matai:

(i)

Number of taulele‘a:

3.

Title and village of Faipule:

4.

Pulenu‘u:

5.

Number of cases heard by Land and Titles Court (1945–50):

6.
(a)

Number of churches:

(e)

Number of adherents of each:

7.

Senior schools—

(a)

Government:

(e)

Mission:

8.

District hospital:

9.

Number of trading stations:

10.
(a)

What is the present number of Matai?

(e)

What is the present number of taulele‘a?

11.
(a)

How many titles are there which are not held at present?

(e)

Are any titles mentioned in the fa‘alupega not held at present?

(i)

Are any families at present without a matai?

12.
(a)

Are there any matal of the village residing elsewhere? (e) Where are they residing?

(i)

For what reason are they residing away from the village?

13.
(a)

How many taulele‘a of the village are residing away from the village?

(e)

For what reason are they residing away from the village?

14.
(a)

How many men belonging to other villages are residing in the village?

(e)

For what purposes are they residing in the village?

15.
(a)

Are any of the matai faifeau, traders, members of the Public Service, &c.?

(e)

Do they take part in village affairs?

16.
(a)

When do the ali‘i and faipule hold their regular meetings?

(e)

Do they often hold additional meetings for special purposes, and, if so, for what purposes?

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17.
(a)

Is the village divided into sections, or sub-villages?

(e)

If so, do the sections possess separate fono and what functions do they perform?

18.

If there are separate fono for the village sections, what functions are performed by the fono of the whole village?

19.
(a)

What functions are performed by the fono of the district?

(e)

Does the district fono meet at regular intervals or only when special circumstances arise?

20.

By what means does the village provide for—

(a)

Care and development of land and plantations and control of insect pests and diseases?

(e)

Cleanliness of the village, hygiene and sanitation?

(i)

Control of animals?

(o)

Provision, maintenance, and use of cemeteries, boats, roads, tracks, fences, and water-supplies?

21.
(a)

Is there a village committee?

(e)

What are its functions:

(i)

What is its membership?

22.
(a)

How does the village provide for the control of the taulele‘a and of persons not normally resident in the village?

(e)

Who leads the taulele‘a in work that they undertake for the whole village?

(i)

Is the leader of the taulele‘a in such work called before the fono to discuss it?

23.

Has the village any regulation regarding—

(a)

The use of insulting, provocative, or offensive language?

(e)

The imposition of a curfew?

24.

What method is used to raise money for district or village purposes?

25.

On what new subjects has the fono made regulations during the past five years?

26.
(a)

What is the general procedure in regard to the making and promulgating of regulations?

(e)

Are they generally discussed at more than one meeting before being approved?

27.
(a)

What action is taken by the district when a village refuses to comply with district decisions?

(e)

Has there been any instance in this district of a village being so penalized in recent years?

(i)

Is payment required before the village is readmitted to district affairs?

28.
(a)

What steps are taken by a village when it decides to seek exclusion from district affairs?

(e)

Is a payment made before the village re-enters district affairs?

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29.
(a)

Does the village have close connections with the ali‘i and faipule of any neighbouring villages, and, if so, what villages?

(e)

Does it co-operate with other villages in the control of any joint services, such as a water-supply or a district school?

(i)

How does it co-operate, do all the ali‘i and faipule of the villages concerned hold a joint meeting?

(o)

How does it co-operate with them in regard to the election of a faipule, or recommendations for fa‘amasino and pulefa‘atoaga?

(u)

How does it co-operate with them in the organization of a reception for a High Commissioner's malaga party, or other groups of distinguished visitors?

30.
(a)

Is there a women's committee in the village?

(e)

What is its relation to the fono, when village matters concerning the women's committee come up for discussion?

31.

Does the women's committee possess its own fale?

32.

What work does the women's committee do concerning the following—

(a)

Caring for the sick?

(e)

Hygiene and sanitation?

(i)

Inspection of houses?

(o)

Public functions, such as church affairs and reception of visitors?

33.
(a)

Is there a district health committee in this district?

(e)

What connection does the village have with it?

(i)

What work does the committee perform?

34.

Does any one attend the fono, apart from the ali‘i and faipule, either regularly or occasionally—

(a)

The faifeau?

(e)

An S.M.P.?

(i)

A local trader?

(o)

A teacher?

35.
(a)

For what types of offences have the ali‘i and faipule imposed punishments during the past two years?

(e)

Is there a written record kept of all judgments and of all penalties imposed?

36.

What procedure is adopted in considering offences, if the suspected offender is a matai of the village—

(a)

Is he present during discussion of his alleged offence?

(e)

Is he allowed to state his own version of the facts?

(i)

How is the case against him presented?

(o)

How is the amount of the penalty decided?

37.

What procedure is adopted in considering offences, if the suspected offender is a taule‘ale‘a of the village?

38.

What procedure is adopted in considering offences, if the suspected offender is a woman?

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39.
(a)

Do the people generally accept the penalties imposed by the ali‘i and faipule and pay the fines?

(e)

If they do not pay them, what action is taken?

40.
(a)

For what types of offence, and in what circumstances, is a family punished, rather than an individual?

(e)

What forms of punishment have been imposed on a family during the past two years?

41.

What types of offences does the village consider should be punished—

(a)

By banishment from the village?

(e)

By exclusion from village activities?

42.
(a)

How are the proceeds of fines distributed?

(e)

Who is responsible for distributing such proceeds of fines?

43.
(a)

What duties are performed by the pulenu‘u, apart from acting as a means of communication between the Government and the ali‘i and faipule?

(e)

In what ways do the ali‘i and faipule consider the duties of the pulenu‘u might be extended?

44.
(a)

How frequently does the pulefa‘atoaga visit the village?

(e)

What form of inspection of plantations does he carry out?

45.
(a)

What cases have been tried by the Fa‘amasino Itumalo during the past five years affecting the village or any of its people?

(e)

Are there any other circumstances in which the village has asked for the help of the Fa‘amasino Itumalo?

46.

Has the village sufficient land for its present needs?

47.
(a)

Has the village any lands known as communal lands?

(e)

How are they cultivated?

48.
(a)

Has the village found the radio an effective means of receiving Government information?

(e)

Is the village radio receiver always turned on at the time notices are given out?

(i)

Has the village ever missed any important radio announcement intended for it?