1919 Glamorgan County Council election

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The tenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1919. It was preceded by the 1913 election and followed by the 1922 election.

Contents

Overview of the Result

In this first post-war election a significant advance was made by the Labour Party, which captured a number of seats, and established a comfortable majority on the Council for the first time. [1]

Boundary Changes

A number of boundary changes had taken place since the previous election. The extension of the Swansea Borough boundary caused the disappearance of the Llansamlet, Morriston, Sketty, and Oystermouth divisions which were no longer part of the county. Four new divisions were created in other parts of the county. The old Margam division was divided into two (Margam East and Port Talbot West), and the Llantrisant division was likewise divided into two new wards, namely Gilfach Goch and Tonyrefail. Llantwit Fardre, a new division was also created at Hopkinstown, Pontypridd and the old Aber division was divided into the Cwm Aber and Llanfabon divisions. [2] The number of wards remained at 66.

Candidates

38 of the 66 councilors were returned unopposed. [3]

PartyUnopposed Returns
Conservative8
Labour10
Liberal12
Independent0
Liberal-Labour1

Most of the re-elected Conservatives represented wards on the outskirts of Cardiff and in the Vale of Glamorgan. Labour candidates were returned unopposed in a number of the mining valleys although sitting Liberals were also unopposed in some of these localities.

Of the eleven retiring aldermen, seven sought re-election to the Council. Three of these namely E.H. Fleming (Lab, Hopkinstown), William Jones (Lab, Mountain Ash) and William Llewellyn (Lib, Ogmore Vale) were returned unopposed.

Contested Elections

Many of the contested elections resulted in the decision of the Labour Party to run more candidates than ever before. The distribution of these candidates was not uniform, with candidates being run in all Rhondda wards bar two (where two long-serving Liberals went unopposed). In contrast there was only one contested elections in the Aberdare district, and this was more personal than political. [4] Despite the Labour advance at district level in the pre-war period they fielded no candidates.

Outcome

A number of seats changed hands as Labour captured twelve seats and lost only one. Most attention focused on the defeat of two members who had served since 1889, namely Alderman J.M. Smith (Aberavon) and Alderman W.H. Mathias (Rhondda) lost to Labour challengers, but Labour victories occurred in most parts of the county . [5] A third retiring alderman, Evan Davies (Lib, Maesteg) was also defeated while the Rev D.H. Williams (Lib, Barry) sought off a Labour challenger.

Results

Aberaman

Aberaman 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Thomas LewisUnopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Aberavon

Aberavon 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David Rees1,016
Conservative John Morgan Smith**1,010
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Abercynon

Abercynon 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Dr I. Llewelyn Morris*Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Aberdare Town

Aberdare Town 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William Thomas*Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Bargoed

Bargoed 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Rev D. Leyshon Evans* 1,460
Labour Morgan Jones 1,146
Majority314
Liberal hold Swing

Barry

Barry 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Rev D.H. Williams** 901
Labour Dr C.E.G. Sixsmith406
Majority495
Liberal hold Swing

Barry Dock

Barry Dock 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal W.M. Davies* 774
Labour Rev Ingli James268
Majority506
Liberal hold Swing

Blaengwawr

Blaengwawr 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Gwilym Alexander Treharne*Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Bridgend

Bridgend 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Morgan Randall*Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Briton Ferry

Briton Ferry 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Joseph Branch 1,063
Liberal James Morris987
Majority76
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Cadoxton

Cadoxton 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J.R. Llewellyn*Unopposed
Majority
Conservative hold Swing

Caerphilly

Caerphilly 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Joseph Howells* 1,304
Labour Claude Denscombe896
Majority408
Liberal hold Swing

Cilfynydd

Cilfynydd 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Daniel Rees 1,294
Liberal J.E. Brooks689
Majority685
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc

Coedffranc 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Dr W.D. Lewis Jones 936
Labour T.W. Davies*689
Labour John Rees430
Majority247
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Coity

Coity 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent W.A. Howell 1,242
Liberal John Rees*395
Majority847
Independent gain from Liberal Swing

Cowbridge

Cowbridge 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Colonel H.R. Homfray*
Labour Kenneth James
Majority
Conservative hold Swing

Cwm Aber

Cwm Aber 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Hubert Jenkins*Unopposed
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Cwmavon

Cwmavon 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Jones Edwards 1,135
Conservative John Hanbury563
Independent Yilliam McNeil289
Majority572
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Cymmer

Cymmer 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David Watts-Morgan* 1,343
Independent D. Roberts Powell301
Majority1,042
Labour hold Swing

Dinas Powys

Dinas Powys 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Claude D. Thompson*Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Dulais Valley

Dulais Valley 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Daniel Daniels*Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Ferndale

Ferndale 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John DaviesUnopposed
Labour hold Swing

Gadlys

The sitting member was heavily defeated by the minister of Tabernacle, Aberdare. [6]

Gadlys 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Rev T. Madoc Jeffreys841
Liberal T. Walter Williams*272
Majority569
Liberal hold Swing

Garw Valley

Garw Valley 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Lib-Lab Rev William Saunders*Unopposed
Majority
Lib-Lab hold Swing

Glyncorrwg

Glyncorrwg 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Jenkins* Unopposed
Labour hold

Gower

Gower 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W.H. Davies 1,126
Independent George E. Gordon*586
Majority540
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Hengoed

Hengoed 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Edward Richards* 1,343
Conservative William James Price615
Majority728
Liberal hold Swing

Hopkinstown

Hopkinstown 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour E.H. Fleming**Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Kibbor

Kibbor 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative H. Spence ThomasUnopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Llandaff

Llandaff 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative William ForrestUnopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Llandeilo Talybont

Llandeilo Talybont 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David Geoffrey Williams 850
Independent Albert Morgan554
Majority296
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Llanfabon

Llanfabon 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative H.E. Morgan Lindsay 997
Labour David Bouldin559
Majority348
Conservative win (new seat)

Llantrisant

Llantrisant 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Thomas Jenkins 733
Labour Tom Young711
Liberal George Thomas Davies*581
Majority22
Conservative win (new seat)

Llwydcoed

Llwydcoed 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William Morgan Llewellyn unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llwynypia

Llwynypia 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John HammondUnopposed
Labour hold Swing

Loughor

Loughor 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Albert HardingUnopposed
Independent hold Swing

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Evans*Unopposed
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Maesteg, East and West

Maesteg East and West 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Edwin Barnett 1,852
Liberal Evan E. Davies**769
Majority1,063
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Mountain Ash

Lord Aberdare was initially nominated but withdrew, allowing retiring alderman William Jones to be returned unopposed. [7]

Mountain Ash 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William Jones**Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Neath (North)

Neath (North) 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive David Griffith Davies 494
Liberal J. Morris365
Independent Rev Degwell Thomas296
Majority129
Progressive hold Swing

Neath (South)

Neath (South) 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Frederick William Gibbins* Unopposed
Liberal hold

Newcastle

Newcastle 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Edward H. Mole 1,613
Conservative William H.C. Llewellyn*1,040
Majority573
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Ogmore Valley

Ogmore Valley 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William Llewellyn**Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Penarth North

Penarth North 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Walter HallettUnopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Penarth South

Penarth South 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Samuel Thomas*Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Penrhiwceiber

Penrhiwceiber 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Dr. Ben Phillips-Jones*Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Pentre

Pentre 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Thomas Alfred ThomasUnopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Pontardawe

Pontardawe 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David Daniel Davies* 1,008
Progressive F.R. Phillips699
Independent Labour David Lewis375
Majority309
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot East

Port Talbot East 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Thomas 787
Labour William Lewis446
Labour win (new seat)

Port Talbot West

Port Talbot West 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Llewelyn David* 986
Labour Thomas Griffiths446
Independent win (new seat)

Porthcawl

Porthcawl 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive Thomas G. Jones 953
Labour Jenkin Jones659
Conservative J.I.D. Nicholl557
Majority294
Progressive gain from Liberal Swing

Pontlottyn

Alderman William Williams withdrew in favour of sitting councillor William Hammond. [7]

Pontlottyn 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William HammondUnopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Pontypridd

Pontypridd 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ben Davies 1,008
Liberal Hopkin Morgan*999
Majority9
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Penygraig

Penygraig 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David BowenUnopposed
Labour hold Swing

Porth

Porth 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William EvansUnopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Swansea Valley

Swansea Valley 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive Richard Thomas 1,157
Labour J.L. Rees1,074
Independent R.A. Jones269
Majority
Progressive hold Swing

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch

The Liberal candidate had sought to withdraw before polling day but missed the deadline and his name was therefore included on the ballot. [7]

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Arthur Jones 834
Independent William Evans772
Liberal David Naunton Morgan19
Majority62
Labour win (new seat)

Trealaw

The sitting member, David Charles Evans, licensed victualler, withdrew, allowing the Labour candidate to be returned unopposed. [7]

Trealaw 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Enoch TreharneUnopposed
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Treforest

Treforest 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W.H. May 1,194
Conservative Dr W. Miles828
Majority366
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Treherbert

Treherbert 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David Edward WilliamsUnopposed
Labour hold Swing

Treorchy

Long-serving councillor, Thomas Jones, was defeated and W.P. Thomas withdrew before the poll. [7]

Treorchy 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Rhys Evans 2,309
Liberal Thomas Jones*1,708
Majority501
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Tylorstown

Tylorstown 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David Lewis*Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Vale of Neath

Vale of Neath 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Rev Aneurin Davies 1,768
Conservative Col. J. Edwards-Vaughan*1,267
Majority
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing

Ynyshir

Ynyshir 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour George Dolling 1,501
Liberal W.H. Mathias**1,317
Majority184
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Ystalyfera

Ystalyfera 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Daniel T. Jones 1,112
Liberal D.W. Davies*986
Majority126
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Ystrad

Ystrad 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Dr W.E. ThomasUnopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Election of Aldermen

In addition to the elected councillors the County Council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1919 election, there were twelve aldermanic vacancies, following the resignation of Alderman J.E. Evans. [8]

It was initially resolved to re-elect the four retiring aldermen who had been successful at the recent election, namely:

In addition, the following eight new aldermen were elected:

By-elections

Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.

Aberdare

Retired grocer F.W. Mander was returned unopposed following William Thomas's election as alderman. [9]

Aberdare by-election 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Frederick William ManderUnopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Barry by-election

The by-election at Barry was caused by the re-election of the Rev, D.H. Williams as alderman. John Lowden, who had held the seat for fifteen years and had stood down in favour of D.H. Williams at the recent election, was defeated by a Labour candidate. [10]

Barry by-election 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J.C. Finch 1,174
Liberal J. Lowden1,014
Majority170
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Caerphilly by-election

A Conservative replaced a Liberal at this by-election. [11]

Caerphilly by-election 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Thomas Edwards 1,525
Labour Claude Denscombe1,134
Majority391
Conservative hold Swing

Gower by-election

Farmer Charles Bevan of Port Eynon held the seat for Labour following W.H. Davies's appointment as alderman. [9]

Gower by-election 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Charles Bevan 779
Liberal Daniel Williams702
Majority77
Labour hold Swing

Hopkinstown by-election

The successful candidate, John Tristram, was an engine driver on the Taff Vale Railway and the local secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen. [12]

Hopkinstown by-election 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Tristram 1,555
Liberal Hugh Bramwell1,043
Majority512
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot West by-election

Edward Lowther, general manager of the Port Talbot Railway and Docks company chosen as joint Conservative and Liberal candidate defeated Thomas Griffiths (Lab). [13]

Port Talbot West by-election 1919
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Edward Lowther 1,048
Labour Thomas Griffiths921
Majority127
Independent hold Swing

Notes

    Related Research Articles

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    The 1913 Glamorgan County Council election was the ninth contest for seats on this local authority in south Wales. It was preceded by the 1910 election and followed, due to the First World War, by the 1919 election.

    The 1922 Glamorgan County Council election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1922. It was preceded by the 1919 election and followed by the 1925 election.

    The twelfth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1925. It was preceded by the 1922 election and followed by the 1928 election.

    The thirteenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1928. It was preceded by the 1925 election and followed by the 1931 election.

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    The fifteenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1934. It was preceded by the 1931 election and followed by the 1937 election.

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    The seventeenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1946. It was preceded by the 1937 election and the 1940 and 1943 elections were postponed due to the Second World War. It was followed by the 1949 election.

    The eighteenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in April 1949. It was preceded by the 1946 election and followed by the 1952 election.

    References

    1. ↑ "Labour's Good Day. Election Surprises in Glamorgan". Western Mail. 4 March 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    2. ↑ "Council Elections. The Nominations for Glamorgan". Western Mail. 25 February 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    3. ↑ "Some Surprises. Glamorgan Council Elections". Cambria Daily Leader. 4 March 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
    4. ↑ "County Council Elections". Aberdare Leader. 1 March 1919. p. 8. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    5. ↑ "Glamorgan's New Council. Labour Gains at the Liberal Expense". Western Mail. 5 March 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
    6. ↑ "County Council Election". Aberdare Leader. 8 March 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    7. 1 2 3 4 5 "County Council Elections". Western Mail. 26 February 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
    8. ↑ "New Aldermen. Changes in Glamorgan Council". Western Mail. 14 March 1919. p. 4. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
    9. 1 2 "New County Councillors". Western Mail. 1 April 1919. p. 7. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    10. ↑ "Labour Achievement. Prominent Barry Educationalist Defeated in Bye-Election". Western Mail. 14 April 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
    11. ↑ "New County Councillor". Western Mail. 16 April 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
    12. ↑ "Rhondda Bye-Election. New Labour Member for Glamorgan County Council". Western Mail. 19 April 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
    13. ↑ "Election Results". Western Mail. 7 April 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 3 February 2021.

    Bibliography

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