User talk:KingFonoti

ABOUT FONOTI IN ANCIENT HISTORY OF SAMOA:

'''King Fonoti Tupu Tafa’ifa of Samoa since 1690. '''

One of the early kings of Samoa was Tuia’ana Tupufia Faumuina. He had three children. The sons were named from the eldest was Fonoti and Va’afusuaga, and the daughter was named Samala’ulu. They are Known commonly in traditions of Samoa as ‘The Three of Faumuina’. Each child was by a different mother so that after the death of their father they individually contended for the Four Sided kingship. This is how the traditional name “Tupufia” started, and was only referring to this family of Tuia'ana Faumuina. “Tupufia” means the rest of this family are Kings! in the 1660's

Va’afusuaga Tole’afoa and sister Samala’ulu had joined up to opnose the claim of there brother Fonoti to the Kingship. When Fonoti found that his brother and sister had gained many followers he went to Leulumoega where the dispute was being fought and sought the assistance of the High Chiefs and leading orators of other districts. He then waged war against his kin “The Paegauo War” for the Papas to proclaim Tafa’ifa Kingship, and was successful and was ultimately proclaimed King Fonoti Tafa’ifa of Samoa. In our traditions this war is known as “the war between Samala’ulu and Fonoti”. “The Paegauo War” or “The War of the Tupufia”. King Fonoti conferred many honours upon those chiefs and Districts that had fought for him and such honours and privileges are honoured by the “Tumua and Pule” down to the present time. ["Tumua" - Tuia'ana and Tuiatua. "Pule" - Tamasoali'i and Gatoaitele.]

Itu Malo o le Vaa-o-fonoti with a district of its own was one of the rewards conferred upon Faleapuna, Safanua and Fagaloa, for the part they had played in the dispute and for contending with Manono, Sapapali’i and Saleaumua in the fighting that took part on the sea. Fonoti also conferred honours on Tofaeono, Aiono, Misa and the privilege of receiving food on Faleata. Fonoti also granted Ulualofaiga complete power over Fagaloa District and in addition he gave Ulualofaiga the village of Amanave in Tutuila. This village is controlled in this manner right down to the present day and the authority as recognised by the American Government. The title Vaa-o-fonoti was also given to Ulualofaiga by Fonoti as a name for his war canoe and this title distinguishes the District down to the present day. It was him Fonoti sought assistance when he defeated Samala’ulu for Kingship of Samoa. There were also conferred many other rewards too numerous to mention. King Fonoti was the only King Tafa`ifa and the last Tafa`ifa King since the 1600`s after Queen Salamasina Tafa`ifa in the late 1500`s. And there was no other war or recorded in history by anyone raised against King Fonoti Tafa`ifa nor it`s title`s lineage right down to the present time to have claim the four Papas!

NOTE: King Fonoti held all 4 Titles: Tuia'ana - Tuiatua - Tamasoali'i - Gatoaitele.

ABOUT FONOTI IN POLITICAL HISTORY OF SAMOA:

'''J.B. Fonoti. The leader of ‘The Fono a Faipule’ of Samoa from 1939 to 1947. And was also a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1948 to 1951 and 1954 to 1957.'''

J.B. Fonoti (Fonoti Ioane Brown) Paramount Title Fonoti of Lotofaga. He Was Mata’utia John Brown Fonoti of Lotofaga and Lalovaea. Born 17 Feb 1901 and died 9 Oct 1974. He was educated at Marist Brothers School from 1908 to 1913. He worked with Westbrook and Burns Philip as a Salesman, and he became an entrepreneur himself and was the first Samoan successful businessman to distinguish himself in this field. He owned many successful companies, and was also became the most successful planters and cattlemen.

He owned a Bakery in Matatufu, A trading vessel called ‘Star Of The Sea’ and was engaged in Agricultural Development in Lotofaga. (In time he became The Most Successful of Planters and Cattlemen). He Established the First Primary School at Lotofaga which taught Agricultural Subjects. J.B. Fonoti Set up: The Samoa Traders Ltd.; The Mulifanua Trading Ltd.; and JB Fonoti Ltd. He also opened a Supermarket including a Bakery with delivery for Aleipata district and Lotofaga district Atua from his property in Lotofaga. He also operates a petrol station on that premises as well.

'''The Petition By Leader J.B. Fonoti In 1944 To The United Nations Approval on the 13th December 1946: '''

While engaged to all Business Activities, J.B. Fonoti was also a Successful Politician. He was the leader of ‘The Fono a Faipule’ of Samoa from 1939 to 1947. And was also a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1948 to 1951 and 1954 to 1957. When the New Zealand Governor-General Sir. Cyril Newall and New Zealand Prime Minister Mr. Peter Fraser visited Samoa in 1944, leader J.B. Fonoti presented directly a Petition for Self-Government in Samoa. While welcoming, leader J.B. Fonoti and on behalf of the Fono of Faipule, expressed solid criticism of New Zealand policy.

Demands were made in direct by leader J.B. Fonoti a firm request for Self-Government in Samoa, included: 1. The association with the administration of Samoa representatives to deliberate with Fonoti on ‘All Government Matters, 2. The appointment of Samoans as head of the Native Affairs Department, 3. For a Department of Agriculture to be established, 4. Promotions of Samoans through out the Public Service to more senior posts, 5. For the training overseas of the Ablest Samoan Youths for further Education, 6. And For Limiting the Term of Expatriates to Three Years and No more than Six years.

'''“The Trusteeship Agreement for Western Samoa was submitted and approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation on the 13 December 1946!” Its details belong to the history of self-government in Samoa. “Samoa’s Freedom From New Zealand Was Issued And Confirmed!”'''

Several important, though uncomplicated, decisions were made by New Zealand straight away. In particular: 1. A Scholarship Scheme to inaugurated to enable some of the Ablest Samoa Children to go to New Zealand for further Education, 2. A new appointment was made to the Office Of Administration. “This was not an easy position for the New Zealand Government to fill”.

J.B. Fonoti included 5 members of ‘Fono of Faipule’ had a trip to New Zealand 1955 to pick up the Mace for the Parliament house of Samoa (a potent symbol in the United Kingdom of the British partnership of the Queen in Parliament). In 1954 J.B. Fonoti become Minister of Health and Agriculture until health forced his Retirement in year 1957. J.B. Fonoti was the founder of ‘The Democratic Party’ after the year 1951 elections; even thou the Party died, its Ideals have lived on in the form of demand for Universal Surfrage with Matai Candidacy, the replacement of ‘The Fono a Faipule’ and ‘The Legislative Assembly’ - by ‘One Body’.

J.B. Fonoti was always fought for the rights of modern Samoans for their right to dissent and to hold peaceful rallies. Of him, Professor Davidson describes him in his book ‘Samoa mo Samoa’, “Hes a man of drive and considerable shrewdness”. In 1935, J. B. Fonoti became the representative leader for the ‘MAU’ for Lotofaga district, Lepa and Falealili. Until he was made the representative leader of Lotofaga district for the ‘MAU Committee’ of Vaimoso, Faleata in 1942. J.B. Fonoti was one of the ‘first directors’ of the ‘Bank of Samoa’ from year 1959 to 1962. J.B. Fonoti was also one of the foundation members of ‘The Copra Board’. Three times J.B. Fonoti was a member of Parliamentary delegations to New Zealand. J.B. Fonoti started a scholarship fund raising and donated funds of his own towards it for sending The First Group of Samoan Scholarship Students to New Zealand. Prime Minister Mr. Fraser recognized it and Fraser then with approval to profits made from ‘The New Zealand Reparation Estates in Samoa’ to be used and funded also on other things for improvement like, the local hospitals, roads etc.

J.B. Fonoti achieved many goals within his lifetime. Believed to be the most generous and respectful person in Samoa in his days. J.B. Fonoti was very generous in every way in numerous of things for his District of Lotofaga, the community, the Government and for his country of Samoa. The Paramount Title Fonoti of Lotofaga; J.B. Fonoti also individually owned up to 8,000 acres of Land in Lotofaga district. (Including his land of ‘Oliula’). '''J.B. Fonoti was married to his wife Luisa Tuala Manulesa in 1923 and have 13 Children. J.B. Fonoti died on the 9th October1974 and was buried at his land of ‘Oliula’ in Lotofaga. J.B. Fonoti is a descendant of King Fonoti Tafa’ifa of Samoa.'''

The official Website about Fonoti: www.fonoti.tribalpages.com _

THE PETITION FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT IN SAMOA BY THE SAMOAN LEADER OF FONO OF FAIPULE OF SAMOA HON J.B. FONOTI IN 1944:

- Trusteeship in Action. - NZ PM to Administrator, 7 Jan 1942. - Report of United Nations Mission 1947.

(Samoa Independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship.)

TEXT: There was, then, in Western Samoa from 1942 onwards a growing and audible demand for self-government, a demand by no means silenced by New Zealand paternalism. In 1944 that which had long been familiar to experts was made explicit. In June of that year the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, paid his third visit to the territory, and Samoan spokesman, while welcoming him on behalf of the Fono of Faipule, expressed solid criticism of New Zealand policy. J.B. FONOTI: '''“The Samoans, said J.B. Fonoti, had been denied even that element of self-government which had been established in Tonga and Fiji and in Eastern Samoa. The terms of the mandate have imposed on New Zealand the solemn duty of educating the Samoans to self-government and the terms of the Atlantic Charter express the same aim for the small nations of the world. Thirty years have passed since New Zealand took over Western Samoa and we are appreciably no nearer this goal. We wish to assure your Excellency that the Samoan people are loyal to the Union Jack, His Majesty the King and the British Empire, but after thirty years of New Zealand administration during which our justified aspirations were ignored and our requests for improvements were rejected, we have lost confidence in the trusteeship of New Zealand which has shown a lack of interest in the territory and treated its people as stepchildren. In the Governor’s phrase, - a nettle is appearing”.'''

In the month that followed, political activity continued, and the Faipule (J.B. Fonoti) formed a standing committee to keep in touch with the workings of the administration: move with sinister precedents. In the view of an experienced observer it was “not far removed from the formation of another Mau”. By this time, however, it was known that the Prime Minister himself was about to visit the mandated territory. He was known to have a keen personal interest in its administration, of which since 1940 he had been the ministerial head; but the tremendous pressure of war issues during the ensuing years had kept his main attention elsewhere. In 1944, as the war situation eased and as politics in Western Samoa grew more tense, he carried out a long-deferred intention to discuss the matter on the spot with those most concerned. This Visit of the Prime Minister Peter Fraser to Western Samoa And His Discussions With A Special ‘Fono’ in December - “Proved A Crucial Event in New Zealand’s Relations With The Samoans And In The Evolution of New Zealand’s Conception of Trusteeship.”

In the first place, the Samoans formulated their political demands for themselves, as well as for the New Zealand Government, with unmistakable clarity. The Faipule (J.B. Fonoti) presented to the Prime Minister a list of remits, most of which were detailed and aimed at progressive displacement of Europeans by Samoans in administration, but which was headed by a firm request for self-government after the war. J.B. FONOTI: '''“The Samoan spokesman, J.B. Fonoti, told Mr. Fraser frankly that he was “quite convinced that the Samoans are able to have their own government at the present time’. The only obstacle that we think is in the way is the communication with other countries. We are quite able to run our own affairs in Samoa; but obstacles had always been put in the way of such overseas contacts. ‘As regards the government of the people and preservation of the peace, many years ago the Samoans had their own forms of government before the Europeans set up government in this country, he said. These governments functioned very successfully, except when Europeans interfered’. Moreover, at that time the Samoans had no education whatever, nowadays they have a fair amount of education, they have a very good understanding of affairs and they are quite able to control their own government.” '''

NOTE: J.B. Fonoti was the Leader of “The Fono of Faipule” of Samoa from 1939 to 1947. And was also a Member of “The Legislative Assembly” from 1948 to 1951 and 1954 to 1957.

ALSO NOTE: The Trusteeship Agreement for Western Samoa was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 13th December 1946! - Its details belong to the history of “Self-Government in Samoa”.

THE PETITION DETAILS: The Trusteeship Agreement for Western Samoa was Submitted and Approved by The General Assembly of The United Nations Organisation on the 13th of December in 1946! It’s Details Belong To The History Of “SELF-GOVERNMENT” IN SAMOA.

“DEMANDS WERE MADE IN DIRECT BY SAMOAN LEADER J.B. FONOTI INCLUDED: 1. THE ASSOCIATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF SAMOA REPRESENTATIVES TO DELIBERATE WITH FONOTI ON ‘ALL GOVERNMENT MATTERS’, 2. THE APPOINTMENT OF SAMOANS AS HEAD OF THE NATIVE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, 3. AND OF A DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO BE ESTABLISHED, 4. PROMOTION OF SAMOANS THROUGHOUT THE PUBLIC SERVICE TO MORE SENIOR POSTS, 5. AND FOR THE TRAINING OVERSEAS OF THE ABLEST SAMOAN YOUTHS FOR FURTHER EDUCATION, 6. FURTHER MORE FOR NEW ZEALAND EXPATRIATE OFFICERS INDIVIDUALS SHOULD NOT NORMALLY BE PERMITTED TO REMAIN IN SAMOA MORE THAN THREE YEARS AND THAT NONE SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO REMAIN MORE THAN SIX.”

“SEVERAL IMPORTANT, THOUGH UNCOMPLICATED, DECISIONS WERE MADE BY NEW ZEALAND STRAIGHT AWAY IN PARTICULAR, 1. A SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME TO INAUGURATED TO ENABLE SOME OF THE ABLEST SAMOAN CHILDREN TO GO TO NEW ZEALAND FOR FURTHER EDUCATION. 2. AND A NEW APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION.” – THIS WAS NOT AN EASY POSITION FOR THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT TO FILL.

THE PETITION BY THE SAMOAN LEADER OF ‘FONO OF FAIPULE’ J.B. FONOTI IN 1944, NEW ZEALAND TO REPORT TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AND THE UNITED NATIONS APPROVAL FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT IN SAMOA WAS ISSUED ON 13TH DECEMBER 1946! “SAMOA’S FREEDOM FROM NEW ZEALAND ISSUED AND CONFIRMED!”

J.B. Fonoti Is A Descendant Of King Fonoti Tafa’ifa Of Samoa.

The official Website on history of Fonoti: www.fonoti.tribalpages.com or www.chrisb1967.wordpress.com