Portrait of Western Samoa

Portrait of Western Samoa is a radio programme produced to mark Western Samoa's independence from New Zealand on 01 Jan 1962.

An unidentified male broadcaster gives a brief history of Samoa and New Zealand's relationship and explains Kenneth Funnell of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service recently visited Samoa and presents a programme of recordings he made there.

Kenneth Funnell introduces actuality recorded in Samoa, including singing and a description of village life in Lalomalava, Savai'i.
An interview with local matai of Lalomalava, Va'aelua Eti [?] talking about importance of religion and role of matai in Samoan life.

At Lalomalava School, an unidentified senior New Zealand school inspector talks to local school children, testing their English.

Interview with Hon. Malietoa Tanumafili II [one of Samoa's four paramount chiefs and joint head of state after independence] about the role of matai.
A description of the Upolu landscape; the problem of over-population and expanding the economy.

Interview with Fred Betham, Samoa's Minister of Finance, about the problem of over-population and ways of expanding the Samoan economy.
Bay Parum [?] Director of Agriculture, talks about improving productivity of traditional Samoan crops.
Herman Thompson, secretary of the Copra Board, talks about the need to increase copra production, which is being held back by the system of land tenure.
Local businessman Oigan Paul [?] talks about the problem of getting outside investment in Samoa
Lee Howell, editor of The Samoa Bulletin newspaper, talks about developing a tourism industry, which in the past has been opposed by Samoan leaders.
An excerpt is read from the statement by Samoan members of the New Zealand delegation to the United Nations Trusteeship Council in 1958.

Last May, the U.N. supervised a plebiscite on independence and the proposed Samoan constitution. Under the constitution, only matai can be elected to the assembly. But some young Samoans are growing impatient with this system of all power being held by matai only.

Dr John Bradshaw, principal of the L.M.S. Theological College, is interviewed about the breakdown of the matai system in some areas, such as northern Upolu, compared to other areas, such as Savai'i and conflict between traditional and modern ways of living.

Kenneth Funnell says Samoans he spoke too seem calm and not over-excited about the prospect of independence.
Bob Rankin, editor of the Samoana newspaper, is interviewed about the prospects for independent Samoa.

There will be two heads of state, Hon. Malietoa Tanumafili II and Hon. Tupua Tamasese [Mea'ole], who is interviewed briefly about his hopes for independence.