1937 Carmarthenshire County Council election

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1937 Carmarthenshire County Council election
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  1934
1946  

All 57 seats to Carmarthenshire County Council
29 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Party Liberal Conservative Labour
Seats won0/570/570/57

 Fourth partyFifth party
 
Party Independent Liberal Unionist
Seats won0/570/57

Council control after election

TBD

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1937. It was preceded by the 1934 election. Due to the Second World War no elections were held in 1940 and 1943 therefore the 1937 election was followed by the 1946 election.

Contents

Overview of the result

As in all previous inter-war elections, the Independent group won a majority of the seats and this majority was bolstered by holding the majority of the aldermanic seats also. By 1937 the Labour Party held almost all the seats in the industrial eastern part of the county.

Boundary changes

There were a number of boundary changes at this election. In Carmarthen town the boundaries were redrawn, reducing the number of wards from four to three. In Llanelli, in contrast, the number of wards were increased from eight to nine following a similar process. An additional ward was also created in Ammanford and new wards at Pontyberem and Trimsaran. [1]

Other wards were renamed or had their boundaries slightly altered.

Candidates

Around half the wards were uncontested, mainly in the rural areas. At Kidwelly, Sir Alfred Stephens, a member of the Council since 1898 (apart from a short interval between 1907 and 1910) decided to retire. [2]

Outcome

A similar number of contests took place compared with 1934. This included contests in rural areas between rival Independent candidates. Overall, Labour gained four seats, including three of the newly created wards. [1]

In the Llanelli area, six Labour candidates were returned unopposed including for the new Llanelly Division 7 and Pontyberem wards. [3] The owner of the Llanelly Star, Brinley Jones, was defeated by a Labour candidate, and Labour gained another seat in Burry Port. In Llanelly Ward 3, Haddon Jones was displaced by another Independent, Jim Jones, while in Ward 4, Martin Edwards, a member of Llanelly Borough Council won the seat previously held by the late Tom Charles. [3] In Ward 8, W. Powell Rees, who had lost his borough council seat to Communist Brin James in 1935, now faced the same oppoenent in the county election. On this occasion, however, Rees won very comfortably. Much attention was also focused on Lady Howard Stepney's successful campaign in Pembrey ward. [3]

Ward results

Abergwili

Abergwili 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent David Davies*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Ammanford No.1

Boundary Change.

Ammanford No.1 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Harriesunopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Ammanford No.2

Boundary Change.

Ammanford No.2 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Frank Davies*708
Independent David Jones487
Labour win (new seat)

Berwick

Berwick 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour T.S. Bowen*unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Burry Port

Boundary Change.

Burry Port 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W.D. Jenkins993
Independent F.J. Morgan672
Labour win (new seat)

Caio

Caio 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Thomas Davies438
Independent Isaac Williams*297
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Division 1

Carmarthen Division 1 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent William Jones*unopposed
Independent win (new seat)

Carmarthen Division 2

Carmarthen Division 2 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent H.S. Holmes*unopposed
Independent win (new seat)

Carmarthen Division 3

Carmarthen Division 3 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent J. Ithel P. Thomas*unopposed
Independent win (new seat)

Cenarth

Cenarth 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Ellenora James*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Ivor Elystan Campbell Davys*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Conwil

Conwil 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent J.J. Evans*523
Independent J.W.L. Harries222
Independent hold Swing

Cwmamman

Cwmamman 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent John Phillips*1,068
Independent D.M. Richards735
Independent hold Swing

Hengoed

Hengoed 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Joseph Howells*unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Amos Jones708
Independent H.J. Owen378
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Laugharne

Laugharne 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent S.B. Williams*612
Labour Owen Williams197
Independent hold Swing

Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. Edgar Lewis*unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Benjamin Salmon*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandebie North

Llandebie North 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent David O. Davies702
Labour Gwilym R. Thomas*666
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Llandebie South

Llandebie South 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D.B. Lewis*unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Evan Davies*708
Independent J.W. Nicholas660
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Benjamin Hughes*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandovery

Llandovery 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Harry Vaughan Watkins*586
Labour James James220
Independent hold Swing

Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Henry Morris*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanedy

Llanedy 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Thomas William Morgan*unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Griffith Evans*576
Independent Wynne Davies265
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 1

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 1 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Daniel Roberts*1,141
Ind. Labour Party J.G. Davies465
Independent win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 2

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 2 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W.T. Griffiths565
Independent Brinley R. Jones*486
Labour win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 3

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 3 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent James Jones400
Labour C.R. Rees309
Independent D. Haddon Jones*252
Majority
Independent win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 4

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 4 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Martin L. Edwards598
Labour D.J. Charles512
Majority
Independent win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 5

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 5 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Gwen Trubshaw*666
Communist E.F. Seaward25
Majority
Independent win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 6

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 6 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. Douglas Hughes*unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 7

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 7 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour J. Llewellyn Evansunopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 8

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 8 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent W. Powell Rees*857
Communist Brin James212
Independent win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 9

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 8 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent A.H. Olive*1,077
Labour R.S. Beynon191
Independent win (new seat)

Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent W.J. Evans*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent E. Haydn Davies*612
Independent E.J. Lewis298
Independent hold Swing

Llangadock

Llangadock 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent W.T. Morgan536
Independent R.E. Williams*493
Independent hold Swing

Llangeler

Llangeler 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent R.G. Owen*851
Independent Thomas Jones431
Independent hold Swing

Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent James Jenkins*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llangennech

Llangennech 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour D.J. Davies*unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent William Edwards*528
Independent J.J. Bowen384
Independent hold Swing

Llanon

Llanon 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Rees Morgan*unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llansawel

Llansawel 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent John Morganunopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent T.Ll. Haries*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Benjamin Edward Davies585
Independent W. James Williams*529
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Myddfai

Myddfai 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent W.R. Clement*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pembrey

Boundary Change

Pembrey 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Lady Howard Stepney 799
Labour J.J. Davies586
Independent win (new seat)

Pontyberem

Boundary Change

Pontyberem 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David John Jonesunopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1934
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Watkin Daviesunopposed
Labour hold Swing

Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent David Thomas*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Clears

St Clears 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Joseph David Rees*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Ishmael

St Ishmael 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent E.H. Stephens*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Trelech

Trelech 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Lewis L. Bowen*525
Independent J.E. Jones295
Independent hold Swing

Trimsaran

Boundary Change

Trimsaran 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Gomer Evans*unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Westfa and Glyn

Westfa and Glyn 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Emrys Aubrey*1,256
Independent Labour I.J. Haries428
Labour hold Swing

Whitland

Whitland 1937
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Thomas Lewis Phillips*unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Election of aldermen

In addition to the 57 councillors the council included an aldermanic bench amounting to a third of the number of elected councillors. Following the creation of additional wards an extra aldermanic seat was created. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term.

Following the elections the ten retiring aldermen were re-elected and Gwendoline Trubshaw, the new chairman of the Council, elected to the additional aldermanic seat created as a result of redistribution. [4]

By-elections 1937-46

1937 Llanelly Division 5 by-election

A by-election was held in May due to the elevation of Gwendoline Trubshaw, the current chair of Carmarthenshire County Council, to the aldermanic bench. The Labour candidate secured a narrow victory over a former long-serving member of the Llanelly Borough Council. [5]

Llanelly Division 3 by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Daniel Ll. Richards 286
Independent T. Hay Samuel245

1938 Llanelly Division 8 by-election

A by-election was held in May due to the elevation of W. Powell Rees to the aldermanic bench following the death of Alderman Joseph Roberts. The Rev. Waldo Roberts, minister of Bethel Baptist Chapel was returned unopposed. [6] He had previously served on Boards of Guardians at Neath and Holyhead.

Llanelly Division 8 by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Rev F. Waldo RobertsUnopposed

1939 Llanelly Division 8 by-election

Having servved as a county councillor for less than a year, the Rev. Waldo Roberts died in April 1939. [7] At the by-election, Fred Howells held the seat for the Independents. [8]

Llanelly Division 8 by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Fred Howells 446
Labour T.M. Price215

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References

  1. 1 2 "County Council Election. New Constitution of Bigger Body. Independents Lose One Seat: Labour Gain Four". Welshman. 12 March 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  2. "36 Years' Public Service. Sir Alfred Stephens Leaves County Council". Welshman. 5 March 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Surprises in County Council Elections. Two Independents Lose their Seats". Llanelly Star. 6 March 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  4. "County Aldermen Re-Elected". Llanelly Star. 20 March 1937. p. 5. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  5. "Socialist Wins Division 5 Bye-Election. 41 Votes Majority Over Former Mayor". Llanelly Star. 8 May 1937. p. 1.
  6. "Unopposed Return of Bethel Pastor to County Council". Llanelly Star. 21 May 1938. p. 3.
  7. "Death of Rev. Waldo Roberts. Bethel Pastor's Interest in Public Affairs". Llanelly Star. 29 April 1939. p. 1. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  8. "County Council By-Election". Llanelly Star. 29 July 1939. p. 1. Retrieved 9 December 2024.