Cultural expert slams Field for gifts tradition

A Samoan cultural expert has slammed Taito Phillip Field for at times accepting money in a tradition known as lafo in his role as an MP.

Noel Ingram, QC, said in his report that Mr Field had confirmed the practice of lafo in his office. On occasions elderly Samoans might throw a $10 or $20 note to one of his secretaries as they left his office.

Mr Field told him that his office usually refused the gifts, but sometimes the donor would take the rejection as an insult and walk out.

If the money was accepted a receipt was issued.

Dr Ingram emphasised that he made no findings against Mr Field but the adverse perception which might attach to the practice of lafo, when the gift was received by a minister of the Crown, could be something for Parliament to address.

Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday said the Labour leadership and parliamentary whips would work on issues raised, including the adverse perception about lafo.

Pa'u Tafa Mulitalo, a lecturer at Massey University, said that under no circumstances should an MP accept cash.

"It should never be encouraged because the perception may portray quite a different story."

Mr Mulitalo said he used to work as a probation officer and families would often offer gifts.

It would have been "completely unethical" and unprofessional for him to accept.

"I'd say, 'I am sorry not to accept this but thank you for being generous', and they would say that was okay."

In Samoa the Government was cracking down on politicians taking lafo, especially around election time when they were forbidden to give or receive gifts, including food and drink. "It is regarded as part of corruption."

Mr Mulitalo said there were Samoan MPs who had lost their seats for such activity and five cases were before the courts after this year's elections.

Mr Field had acknowledged to Dr Ingram that on occasions the gifts were significant.

In such instances he would ask the donor to give the money to charity, as he did in the case of a $500 gift.

In response to Herald inquiries, the two other Pacific Labour MPs, Luamanuvao Winnie Laban and Mark Gosche, said they were aware of the practice of lafo and responded to it in accordance with parliamentary guidelines.

However, the Office of the Clerk told the Herald there were no such guidelines for MPs.

In a joint statement the MPs and Mr Field said they understood the Prime Minister had referred the practice to the Cabinet Office and they supported that decision.