1937 Carmarthenshire County Council election

1937 Carmarthenshire County Council election

← 1934
1946 →

All 57 seats to Carmarthenshire County Council
29 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Liberal Conservative Labour
Seats won 0/57 0/57 0/57

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Party Independent Liberal Unionist
Seats won 0/57 0/57

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.

Overview of the result

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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

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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

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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]

Contested elections

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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]

Summary of results

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53 councillors were elected.

Ward results

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Abergwili

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Abergwili 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Davies* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Ammanford No.1

[edit]

Boundary Change.

Ammanford No.1 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Harries unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Ammanford No.2

[edit]

Boundary Change.

Ammanford No.2 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Davies* 708
Independent David Jones 487
Labour win (new seat)

Berwick

[edit]
Berwick 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour T.S. Bowen* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Burry Port

[edit]

Boundary Change.

Burry Port 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.D. Jenkins 993
Independent F.J. Morgan 672
Labour win (new seat)

Caio

[edit]
Caio 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas Davies 438
Independent Isaac Williams* 297
Independent hold Swing
Carmarthen Division 1 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Jones* unopposed
Independent win (new seat)

Carmarthen Division 2

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

Carmarthen Division 3

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

Cenarth

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Cenarth 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ellenora James* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Cilycwm

[edit]
Cilycwm 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ivor Elystan Campbell Davys* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Conwil

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Conwil 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent J.J. Evans* 523
Independent J.W.L. Harries 222
Independent hold Swing

Cwmamman

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Cwmamman 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Phillips* 1,068
Independent D.M. Richards 735
Independent hold Swing

Hengoed

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Hengoed 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Howells* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Kidwelly

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Kidwelly 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Amos Jones 708
Independent H.J. Owen 378
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Laugharne

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Laugharne 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent S.B. Williams* 612
Labour Owen Williams 197
Independent hold Swing

Llanarthney

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Llanarthney 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Edgar Lewis* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanboidy

[edit]
Llanboidy 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Benjamin Salmon* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandebie North

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Llandebie North 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David O. Davies 702
Labour Gwilym R. Thomas* 666
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Llandebie South

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Llandebie South 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D.B. Lewis* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llandilo Rural

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Llandilo Rural 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Evan Davies* 708
Independent J.W. Nicholas 660
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llandilo Urban

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Llandilo Urban 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Benjamin Hughes* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandovery

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Llandovery 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Harry Vaughan Watkins* 586
Labour James James 220
Independent hold Swing

Llandyssilio

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Llandyssilio 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Henry Morris* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanedy

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Llanedy 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas William Morgan* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanegwad

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Llanegwad 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Griffith Evans* 576
Independent Wynne Davies 265
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 1

[edit]

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 1 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Daniel Roberts* 1,141
Ind. Labour Party J.G. Davies 465
Independent win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 2

[edit]

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 2 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.T. Griffiths 565
Independent Brinley R. Jones* 486
Labour win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 3

[edit]

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 3 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent James Jones 400
Labour C.R. Rees 309
Independent D. Haddon Jones* 252
Majority
Independent win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 4

[edit]

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 4 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Martin L. Edwards 598
Labour D.J. Charles 512
Majority
Independent win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 5

[edit]

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 5 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Gwen Trubshaw* 666
Communist E.F. Seaward 25
Majority
Independent win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 6

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Boundary Change

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

Llanelly Division 7

[edit]

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 7 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J. Llewellyn Evans unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 8

[edit]

Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 8 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W. Powell Rees* 857
Communist Brin James 212
Independent win (new seat)

Llanelly Division 9

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Boundary Change

Llanelly Division 8 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent A.H. Olive* 1,077
Labour R.S. Beynon 191
Independent win (new seat)

Llanfihangel Aberbythick

[edit]
Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.J. Evans* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

[edit]
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent E. Haydn Davies* 612
Independent E.J. Lewis 298
Independent hold Swing

Llangadock

[edit]
Llangadock 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.T. Morgan 536
Independent R.E. Williams* 493
Independent hold Swing

Llangeler

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Llangeler 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent R.G. Owen* 851
Independent Thomas Jones 431
Independent hold Swing

Llangendeirne

[edit]
Llangendeirne 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent James Jenkins* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llangennech

[edit]
Llangennech 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D.J. Davies* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llangunnor

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Llangunnor 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Edwards* 528
Independent J.J. Bowen 384
Independent hold Swing

Llanon

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Llanon 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rees Morgan* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llansawel

[edit]
Llansawel 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Morgan unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanstephan

[edit]
Llanstephan 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent T.Ll. Haries* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanybyther

[edit]
Llanybyther 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Benjamin Edward Davies 585
Independent W. James Williams* 529
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Myddfai

[edit]
Myddfai 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.R. Clement* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pembrey

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Boundary Change

Pembrey 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Lady Howard Stepney 799
Labour J.J. Davies 586
Independent win (new seat)

Pontyberem

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Boundary Change

Pontyberem 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David John Jones unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Quarter Bach

[edit]
Quarter Bach 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Watkin Davies unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Rhydcymmerai

[edit]
Rhydcymmerai 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Clears

[edit]
St Clears 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Joseph David Rees* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Ishmael

[edit]
St Ishmael 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent E.H. Stephens* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Trelech

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Trelech 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Lewis L. Bowen* 525
Independent J.E. Jones 295
Independent hold Swing

Trimsaran

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Boundary Change

Trimsaran 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gomer Evans* unopposed
Labour win (new seat)

Westfa and Glyn

[edit]
Westfa and Glyn 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Emrys Aubrey* 1,256
Independent Labour I.J. Haries 428
Labour hold Swing

Whitland

[edit]
Whitland 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas Lewis Phillips* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Election of aldermen

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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.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "County Council Election. New Constitution of Bigger Body. Independents Lose One Seat: Labour Gain Four". Welshman. 12 March 193. p. 6. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  2. ^ "36 Years' Public Service. Sir Alfred Stephens Leaves County Council". Welshman. 5 March 193. p. 6. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  3. ^ "County Aldermen Re-Elected". Llanelly Star. 20 March 1937. p. 5. Retrieved 12 September 2024.