Arthur Williams (Samoan politician) explained

Arthur Williams
Office:Member of the Legislative Council
Term:1924–1929
Death Date:3 October 1953
Death Place:Apia, Western Samoa
Profession:Plumber

Arthur Williams (died 3 October 1953) was an Australian-born Western Samoan plumber and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council between 1924 and 1929.

Biography

Born in Australia, as a teenager Williams ran away to Fiji, where he worked as a chauffeur for the government.[1] In 1915 he visited Western Samoa and decided to remain in the territory permanently.[1] He subsequently set up a plumbing and tinsmith business in 1917,[2] [3] [4] and married Telesia Tuala in July 1919.[5] He was a freemason and a founding member of the Calliope masonic lodge, as well as being an officer in the Grand Lodge of New Zealand.[2]

When a partially-elected Legislative Council was established, Williams contested the first elections in 1924, and was one of three people elected to the council.[6] Like the other two, Olaf Frederick Nelson and George Westbrook, he was a member of the anti-colonial Mau movement.[7] He was subsequently re-elected in the 1926 elections.[8] However, in the 1929 elections he finished last out of four candidates and lost his seat.[9] He ran unsuccessfully again in the 1941 elections.[10]

He died at Apia Government Hospital on 3 October 1953.[2]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.thecoconet.tv/know-your-roots/tales-of-time/tales-of-time-williams-family-1/ Tales of Time: Williams Family
  2. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-325569772/view?partId=nla.obj-325675973#page/n127/mode/1up/ Mr. Arthur Williams
  3. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19170505.2.8.1 A. Williams
  4. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19170519.2.19.1 A. Williams
  5. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19190726.2.16 Local and General
  6. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19240208.2.17 Local and General
  7. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19271227.2.125 Samoan deportations
  8. Lauofo Meti (2002) Samoa: The Making of the Constitution, National University of Samoa, p19
  9. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19291115.2.9 Local and General
  10. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-314874485/view?partId=nla.obj-314899962#page/n9/mode/1up/ Samoan Council Election