1907 Carmarthenshire County Council election

1907 Carmarthenshire County Council election

← 1904
1910 →

All 70 seats to Carmarthenshire County Council
36 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Liberal Conservative Labour
Last election 59/68 7/68 0/68
Seats before 59/68 7/68 1/68
Seats won 55/70 6/70 3/70
Councillors 38 6 3
Aldermen 17 0 0
Seats +/– Decrease4 Decrease1 Increase3

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Party Liberal Unionist Independent
Last election 2/68 0/68
Seats before 2/68 0/68
Seats won 0/70 1/70
Councillors 0 6
Aldermen 0 0
Seats +/– Decrease2 Increase6

Council control after election

Liberal
Liberal Party

The seventh election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1907.[1] It was preceded by the 1904 election and followed by the 1910 election.

Overview of the result

[edit]

The Conservatives made a conscious attempt to contest far more seats than at recent elections in an election dominated by ongoing disputes over disestablishment. However, the Liberals retained a strong majority and many sitting members were returned unopposed.[2]

Boundary changes

[edit]

There were minor boundary changes leading to the creation of two additional wards, namely Ammanford and Llandissilio. The new Ammanford ward, which comprised the urban district of Ammanford was created by the division of the Bettws Ward into two.[3] Significant population growth had taken place in the eastern part of the county as a result of the growth of the anthracite coal trade but demands for further additional wards to be formed in the Llanelli district were rejected. The second new ward was at Llandissilio in the western part of the county, on the Pembrokeshire border. It was formed out of portions of the existing Whitland and Llanboidy wards.[3] There was less unanimity in favour of the new Llandissilio ward than was the case at Ammanford, and there were suggestions that an additional rural ward was being created to counterbalance the new industrial ward at Ammanford. A proposal for a third new ward, at Newchurch on the outskirts of Carmarthen was rejected in due course.

As a result of these boundary changes, the Council included 53 elected members as opposed to 51 previously. The number of aldermen remained at 17.

Retiring aldermen

[edit]

The aldermen who retired at the election were

  • John Bevan,
  • Joseph Joseph,
  • Sir Lewis Morris,
  • Daniel Stephens,
  • H J Thomas,
  • Thomas Watkins,
  • Joseph Mayberry,
  • Augustus Brigstocke,

Candidates

[edit]

Eighteen wards were contested, compared with only six in 1904.

Four of those elected at the first election in 1889, and who had served continuously since then, sought re-election. Earl Cawdor, Sir James Drummond, C.E. Morris and D,C. Parry (Llanelli) were all returned unopposed.[2]

Outcome

[edit]

While a small number of wards were hotly contested and the Conservatives made a small number of gains, their attempt to change the political composition of the council was unsuccessful.

In Llanarthney, a determined attempt was made to unseat Henry Jones-Davies, with allegations that the Conservative David Farr Davies, a colliery manager, was supported by some labour figures.[1]

Ward results

[edit]

Abergwili

[edit]
Abergwili 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Lloyd* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Ammanford

[edit]

New ward. Boundary change.

Ammanford 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Col. David Morris 349
Liberal D.J. Jones 281
Majority
Liberal win (new seat)

Bettws

[edit]

Boundary change

Bettws 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tom Morris 349
Liberal William Thomas 121
Majority
Labour win (new seat)

Caio

[edit]
Caio 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir James Hills-Johnes 234
Liberal T. Francis Jones* 182
Majority
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

[edit]

Brigstocke contested previous elections as a Conservative.

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent T.E. Brigstocke* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

[edit]
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev Andrew Fuller-Mills* 247
Thomas Parke Jones 71
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

[edit]
Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Lewis* 161
Conservative P.R. Lewis 144
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

[edit]
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Professor D.E. Jones* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Cenarth

[edit]
Cenarth 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev D.D. Walters unopposed
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing

Cilycwm

[edit]
Cilycwm 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Williams unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Conwil

[edit]
Conwil 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Jones* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Kidwelly

[edit]
Kidwelly 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Samuel H. Anthony 283
Conservative Alfred Stephens* 263
Majority
Conservative hold Swing

Laugharne

[edit]
Laugharne 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W.H. Dempster 189
Liberal John D. Morse 187
Majority 2
Conservative hold Swing

Llanarthney

[edit]
Llanarthney 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Jones-Davies* 313
Independent David Farr-Davies 261
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Llanboidy

[edit]
Llanboidy 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Evans unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llandebie

[edit]
Llandebie 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Davies* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llandilo Rural

[edit]
Llandilo Rural 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal L.N. Powell unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llandilo Urban

[edit]

Gwynne Hughes had now returned to the Liberal fold.

Llandilo Urban 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J.W. Gwynne Hughes* unopposed
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing

Llandovery

[edit]
Llandovery 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J.R. James* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llandyssilio

[edit]

Boundary Change

Llandyssilio 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Benjamin John unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)

Llanedy

[edit]
Llanedy 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Ll. Thomas* 340
Liberal Griffith V. Davies 205
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Llanegwad

[edit]
Llanegwad 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Delme Davies-Evans 266
Liberal T. Lewis 224
Majority 42
Independent gain from Liberal Swing

Llanelly Division 1

[edit]

Griffiths described himself as an Unionist in 1904

Llanelly Division 1 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W. Griffiths unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 2

[edit]
Llanelly Division 2 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Simlett unopposed
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Llanelly Division 3

[edit]
Llanelly Division 3 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William David* 260
Labour Colwyn Morgan 53
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Division 4

[edit]
Llanelly Division 4 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Thomas* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Division 5

[edit]
Llanelly Division 5 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal D.C. Parry* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Division 6

[edit]
Llanelly Division 6 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Roberts* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 7

[edit]
Llanelly Division 7 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent R.A. Nevill unopposed
Independent gain from Liberal Swing

Llanelly Division 8

[edit]
Llanelly Division 8 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Williams* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Rural, Berwick

[edit]
Llanelly Rural, Berwick 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Harry 199
Liberal H.J. Hopkins 161
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

[edit]
Llanelly Rural, Hengoed 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal W.B. Jones unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn

[edit]
Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev Benjamin Humphreys unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanfihangel Aberbythick

[edit]
Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Earl Cawdor* Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

[edit]

The sitting member was elected on the casting vote of the returning officer.[1]

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Barrett* 206
Conservative Thomas Rees Jones 206
Majority 0
Liberal hold Swing

Llangadock

[edit]
Llangadock 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mervyn Lloyd Peel 245
Liberal William Davies* 235
Majority 10
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Llangeler

[edit]
Llangeler 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Colonel W.P. Lewes* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Llangendeirne

[edit]
Llangendeirne 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev R.H. Jones 237
Independent Thomas Davies 175
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Llangennech

[edit]
Llangennech 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Thomas* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llangunnor

[edit]
Llangunnor 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal C.E. Morris* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanon

[edit]
Llanon 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Greville* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llansawel

[edit]
Llansawel 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir J.H.W. Drummond, Bart.* Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold

Llanstephan

[edit]
Llanstephan 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Johns* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llanybyther

[edit]

Williams had been elected as a Conservative in 1904.

Llanybyther 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Williams 234
Liberal hold Swing

Mothvey

[edit]
Mothvey 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Davies* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Pembrey North

[edit]
Pembrey North 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev J.H. Rees* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Pembrey South

[edit]
Pembrey South 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent George Eynon Bowen 368
Liberal Richard Thomas Hammond* 296
Majority
Independent gain from Liberal Swing

Quarter Bach

[edit]
Quarter Bach 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal W.J. Williams 389
Liberal Gwilym Vaughan 277
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Rhydcymmerai

[edit]
Rhydcymmerai 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Benjamin Evans* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

St Clears

[edit]
St Clears 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Phillips* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

St Ishmael

[edit]
St Ishmael 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Lloyd Thomas* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Trelech

[edit]
Trelech 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Thomas* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Whitland

[edit]
Whitland 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Dr R.L. Thomas 226
Liberal John Scourfield* 167
Majority
Independent gain from Liberal Swing

Election of aldermen

[edit]

In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following eight aldermen were elected (with the number of votes in each case).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Carmarthenshire County Council Elections. Clerical Attack Ends in a Fiasco". Carmarthen Weekly Reporter (supplement). 15 March 1907. p. 1. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  2. ^ a b "County Council Nominations". Carmarthen Weekly Reporter (supplement). 8 March 1907. p. 1. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b "County Council Electoral Divisions". Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 22 June 1906. p. 3. Retrieved 13 October 2015.