McKay Family Collection
In 1933 Mac McKay was appointed to the senior post of Secretary for Native Affairs ( later renamed ‘ Samoan Affairs ’), whose department looked after relations with the Samoan population , including the fonos of Faipule . In this role he became a member of the Land and Titles Commission . Mr McKay ’ s enjoyment in mixing with Samoans was given full play in this role , and he undertook a regular malaga , touring Upolu and Savai ’ i to get feedback from local communities .
This image and the next few were taken during Mac ’ s first malaga to the Fagaloa district in 1933 . In this photograph he is sitting on the running board of his car at Falefa with Le Mamea Matatumua Ata , his translator and , according to McKay ’ s photo album , his “ life-long friend .” Though Mac could speak Samoan well and was schooled on the fa ’ alupega of the villages he visited , protocol required that he used a translator while on official business . His friend Matatumua went on in later years to become one of the framers of the Constitution of Samoa and was awarded the OBE .
| To Walk Under Palm Trees - The Germans in Samoa : Snapshots from Albums | Tony Brunt
184