1934 Neath Rural District Council election

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An election to the Neath Rural District Council in Wales was held in March 1934. It was preceded by the 1931 election and was followed by the 1937 election. [1]

Contents

Overview of the results

Labour won control of the authority for the first time, winning sixteen seats as opposed to thirteen for the Independents.

Boundary changes

Ystradfellte ward was removed to Breconshire, reducing the number of councillors from 31 to 29. [2] This rural ward had long been represented by Independent councillors who were usually returned unopposed.

Candidates

All seats were contested apart from Tonmawr, where the longest serving Labour member, William Jones, was returned unopposed, and Clyne, which was also taken without opposition by Labour. Most of the other seats saw Labour candidates face Independent nominees, with a small number of Independent Labour and Communist candidates. [2]

Outcome

Having won a majority for the first time, Labour councillors moved swiftly to impose their authority. Independent councillors had for the past six years denied Labour any significant roles within the council, so this was taken as a reason for Labour to reverse this position. William Jones, Tonmawr, the senior Labour councillor on the authority, who had been proposed many times as chairman, without success, was elected by fifteen votes to thirteen, with John James of Crynant elected vice-chairman by a similar margin. [3]

Ward Results

Baglan Higher (one seat)

Baglan Higher 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Jones*Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Blaengwrach (one seat)

Blaengwrach 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Albert Vowles 226
Independent Rosser Jenkins*134
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Blaenrhonddan (three seats)

Blaenrhonddan 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J.T. Evans* 975
Independent Edward Bowen 641
Independent Llew Jones* 514
Labour William R. Griffiths472
Labour Albert John374
Independent John Morgan349
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Clyne (one seat)

Clyne 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Charles R. KimberUnopposed
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc (five seats)

Coedffranc 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Ogley Lewis David* 1,881
Independent Isaac David 1,831
Independent Amy Jones* 1,830
Labour David Jenkins* 1,739
Labour Mary Elizabeth Davies* 1,378
Independent Thomas Lloyd*1,239
Independent W.T.A. Macamara906
Labour David Thomas891
Labour Thomas Lovering802
Labour Isaac William Evans599
Independent Mary Jane Reid593
Independent Labour Philip Evans393
Independent John Harris Evans359
Independent Labour Christopher Jones328
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Dyffryn Clydach (two seats)

Dyffryn Clydach 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Joseph Thomas* 353
Independent David Williams 330
Independent Labour Percy Cantle285
Labour A.T. Rogers237
Independent Labour Ben Jones233
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward (one seat)

Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent David Jeffreys* 367
Labour Jenkin Morgan263
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward (one seat)

Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John James* 605
Independent J.T. Lewis293
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward (two seats)

Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour George Jones* 697
Independent W.P. Harries 539
Labour George Adams436
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Dulais Lower (one seat)

Dulais Lower 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J.S. George 169
Independent Morgan Thomas Richards 109
Independent Llewellyn Davies104
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Michaelstone Higher (one seat)

Michaelstone Higher 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W.J. Lewis* 305
Independent H.W. Crouch147
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Neath Higher (three seats)

Neath Higher 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Morgan Morgan* 925
Independent David Arthur* 878
Labour Cliff Protheroe* 863
Labour R.H. Taylor654
Communist E. Williams247
Communist W.J. Jones90
Communist T. Williams89
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Neath Lower (one seat)

Neath Lower 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Samuel Burnard* 174
Independent T.D. Herbert90
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward (one seat)

Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Trevor Lewis* 351
Independent R.H. Snook52
Communist Edward Sherlock23
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Resolven Ward (two seats)

Resolven, Resolven Ward 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent D.J.Evans* 657
Labour Fred Thomas* 651
Independent Benjamin Jones474
Labour R. Geary349
Independent A. Howell121
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Rhigos Ward (two seats)

Resolven, Rhigos Ward 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent R.M. Smith* 348
Independent James Evans* 338
Labour T. Williams268
Communist R.J. Douglas66
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Resolven, Tonna Ward (one seat)

Resolven, Tonna Ward 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent W.G. Harrington* 386
Labour William Thomas301
Majority
Independent hold Swing

References

  1. "Neath Rural Election Results. Socialists Win Through". Neath Guardian. 29 March 1934. p. 8. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Neath Rural "General" Election. Socialists Fight for Majority". Neath Guardian. 16 March 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  3. "Neath Socialiats Use Their Majority. Tonmawr Man New Chairman of R.D.C." Neath Guardian. 20 April 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 5 December 2022.