# 1970 Solomon Islands general election

General elections were held in the Solomon Islands in May and June 1970, the first to the new Governing Council. Most candidates ran as independents.

## Background

The new Governing Council consisted of seventeen elected members (increased from fourteen in the Legislative Council), six civil servants (down from twelve) and three ex officio members, the first time a Solomon Islands legislature had an elected majority. The Council was to be chaired by the High Commissioner.
Rather than introducing cabinet government, the new constitution provided for government by committee, which was deemed more in line with Melanesian culture of reaching agreement by consensus rather than majority vote. The Governing Council had five committees, which were responsible for Communications and Works, Education and Social Welfare, Finance, Health and Internal Affairs, and Natural Resources.

## Results

| Constituency | Candidate | Votes | % | Notes |
| Central Malaita | Jonathan Fiifii'i | 613 | 36.47 | Elected |
| Central Malaita | Daniel Foasifobae | 442 | 26.29 | |
| Central Malaita | Peter Taloni | 284 | 16.89 | Unseated |
| Central Malaita | Nelson Kifo | 173 | 10.29 |
| Central Malaita | Calisto Kobiloko | 169 | 10.05 |
| Central Malaita | Total | 1,681 | 100 |
| Choiseul/Shortlands | Remesio Eresi | 778 | 36.36 | Elected |
| Choiseul/Shortlands | Binet Gadebeta | 520 | 24.30 | |
| Choiseul/Shortlands | Moses Puibangara Pitakaka | 506 | 23.64 | |
| Choiseul/Shortlands | John Macdonald | 173 | 8.08 | |
| Choiseul/Shortlands | Jason Dorovolomo | 163 | 7.62 | |
| Choiseul/Shortlands | Total | 2,140 | 100 | |
| East Guadalcanal | Leone Laku | 442 | 37.94 | Re-elected |
| East Guadalcanal | Joseph Bryan | 422 | 36.22 | |
| East Guadalcanal | Joel Kikolo | 146 | 12.53 | |
| East Guadalcanal | David Valusa | 89 | 7.64 | |
| East Guadalcanal | William Norman Tasker | 66 | 5.67 | |
| East Guadalcanal | Total | 1,165 | 100 | |
| Eastern Outer Islands | David Dawea Taukalo | | | Elected by electoral college |
| Eastern Outer Islands | P Bagira | | | |
| Eastern Outer Islands | TAC Hepwerth | | | |
| Eastern Outer Islands | Jason Melake | | | |
| Eastern Outer Islands | Total | | | |
| Honiara | Peter Salaka | 874 | 57.92 | Elected |
| Honiara | Peter Kenilorea | 327 | 21.67 | |
| Honiara | Peter Smith | 308 | 20.41 | |
| Honiara | Total | 1,509 | 100 | |
| Makira | Solomon Mamaloni | 1,286 | 46.95 | Elected |
| Makira | Geoffrey Kuper | 1,280 | 46.73 | |
| Makira | Nathaniel Rahumae Waena | 173 | 6.32 | |
| Makira | Total | 2,739 | 100 | |
| New Georgia | Samuel Kuku | 1,154 | 55.37 | Elected |
| New Georgia | Frank Wickham | 624 | 29.94 | |
| New Georgia | George Pina Lilo | 247 | 11.85 | |
| New Georgia | Aaron Ben | 59 | 2.83 | |
| New Georgia | Total | 2,084 | 100 | |
| Ngella/Savo/Russells | Edmond Kiva | 1,054 | 55.50 | Elected |
| Ngella/Savo/Russells | Cecil Wilson Maneau | 456 | 24.01 | |
| Ngella/Savo/Russells | Silas Niavuni | 213 | 11.22 |
| Ngella/Savo/Russells | John Plant Hoka | 176 | 9.27 | Unseated |
| Ngella/Savo/Russells | Total | 1,899 | 100 |
| North Central Malaita | Peter Kerr Thompson | 1,441 | 71.23 | Re-elected |
| North Central Malaita | John Maetia Kaliuae | 582 | 28.77 | |
| North Central Malaita | Total | 2,023 | 100 | |
| North East Malaita | Mariano Kelesi | 899 | 66.74 | Re-elected |
| North East Malaita | Dudley Kiriau | 448 | 33.26 | |
| North East Malaita | Total | 1,347 | 100 | |
| North Malaita | Clement Kiriau Ofai | 657 | 59.35 | Re-elected |
| North Malaita | Jotham Ausuta | 450 | 40.65 | |
| North Malaita | Total | 1,107 | 100 | |
| Santa Isabel | Willie Betu | 1,423 | 72.53 | Re-elected |
| Santa Isabel | Daniel Denys Maile | 539 | 27.47 | |
| Santa Isabel | Total | 1,962 | 100 | |
| South Central Malaita | David Kausimae | 1,552 | 91.08 | Re-elected |
| South Central Malaita | Eliel Ahikau | 152 | 8.92 | |
| South Central Malaita | Total | 1,704 | 100 | |
| South Guadalcanal | George Pugeva | — | — | Elected unopposed |
| South Malaita | Anthony Saru | 544 | 41.24 | Elected |
| South Malaita | Aziel Laealaha | 489 | 37.07 | |
| South Malaita | George Garnet | 286 | 21.68 | |
| South Malaita | Total | 1,319 | 100 | |
| Vella Lavella/Kolombangara | Gordon Siama | 938 | 45.51 | Elected |
| Vella Lavella/Kolombangara | Belshazzar Gina | 507 | 24.60 | |
| Vella Lavella/Kolombangara | Bruce Ragoso | 380 | 18.44 | |
| Vella Lavella/Kolombangara | George Talasasa | 236 | 11.45 | |
| Vella Lavella/Kolombangara | Total | 2,061 | 100 | |
| West Guadalcanal | Alfred Maeke | 465 | 31.61 | Elected |
| West Guadalcanal | Bara Buchanan | 345 | 23.45 | |
| West Guadalcanal | David Thuguvoda | 337 | 22.91 | |
| West Guadalcanal | Matthew Belamataga | 324 | 22.03 | |
| West Guadalcanal | Total | 1,471 | 100 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 51,904 | | |
| Source: Social Science Research Network, Election Passport |||||

### Appointed members

| Position | Position | Member |
| Ex officio | Acting Chief Secretary | R. Davies |
| Ex officio | Attorney-General | D.R. Davis |
| Ex officio | Financial Secretary | J. H. Smith |
| Official | Commissioner of Labour | B.C. Wilmot |
| Official | Commissioner of Lands and Surveys | J.B. Twomney |
| Official | Director of Agriculture | F.M. Spenser |
| Official | Director of Education | A.G.H. House |
| Official | Director of Medical Services | J.D. Macgregor |
| Official | Director of Public Works | W.A. Wood |
| Source: Solomons Encyclopaedia |||

## Aftermath

The newly elected Council met for the first time on 15 July. Gordon Siama was appointed chair of the Communications and Works committee, Willie Betu became chair of the Education and Social Welfare committee, Tom Russell (Financial Secretary) became chair of the Finance committee, Roy Davies was appointed chair of the Health and Internal Affairs committee, and David Kausimae became chair of the Natural Resources committee.
Joseph Bryan, who lost by 20 votes in East Guadalcanal, lodged a petition against the election results, claiming that the votes cast at two polling stations had been rejected as they contained markings that could identify the voter. The High Court heard the petition on 10 August; with the Returning Officer and winning candidate Leone Laku failing to lodge objections, the court annulled the result and ordered a by-election to be held. The by-election took place on 10 October, with Bryan winning with 977 votes; Laku finished second with 362.
In 1971 Silas Sitai was appointed 'shadow chairman', becoming the first Speaker of the legislature.