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.

Overview of the Result[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Party Unopposed Returns
Conservative 8
Labour 10
Liberal 12
Independent 0
Liberal-Labour 1

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Aberaman[edit]

Aberaman 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Lewis Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Aberavon[edit]

Aberavon 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Rees 1,016
Conservative John Morgan Smith** 1,010
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Abercynon[edit]

Abercynon 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dr I. Llewelyn Morris* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Aberdare Town[edit]

Aberdare Town 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Thomas* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Bargoed[edit]

Bargoed 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev D. Leyshon Evans* 1,460
Labour Morgan Jones 1,146
Majority 314
Liberal hold Swing

Barry[edit]

Barry 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev D.H. Williams** 901
Labour Dr C.E.G. Sixsmith 406
Majority 495
Liberal hold Swing

Barry Dock[edit]

Barry Dock 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal W.M. Davies* 774
Labour Rev Ingli James 268
Majority 506
Liberal hold Swing

Blaengwawr[edit]

Blaengwawr 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gwilym Alexander Treharne* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Bridgend[edit]

Bridgend 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Morgan Randall* Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Briton Ferry[edit]

Briton Ferry 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Branch 1,063
Liberal James Morris 987
Majority 76
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Cadoxton[edit]

Cadoxton 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J.R. Llewellyn* Unopposed
Majority
Conservative hold Swing

Caerphilly[edit]

Caerphilly 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Howells* 1,304
Labour Claude Denscombe 896
Majority 408
Liberal hold Swing

Cilfynydd[edit]

Cilfynydd 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Daniel Rees 1,294
Liberal J.E. Brooks 689
Majority 685
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc[edit]

Coedffranc 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dr W.D. Lewis Jones 936
Labour T.W. Davies* 689
Labour John Rees 430
Majority 247
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Coity[edit]

Coity 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.A. Howell 1,242
Liberal John Rees* 395
Majority 847
Independent gain from Liberal Swing

Cowbridge[edit]

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

Cwm Aber[edit]

Cwm Aber 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hubert Jenkins* Unopposed
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Cwmavon[edit]

Cwmavon 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Jones Edwards 1,135
Conservative John Hanbury 563
Independent Yilliam McNeil 289
Majority 572
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Cymmer[edit]

Cymmer 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Watts-Morgan* 1,343
Independent D. Roberts Powell 301
Majority 1,042
Labour hold Swing

Dinas Powys[edit]

Dinas Powys 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claude D. Thompson* Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Dulais Valley[edit]

Dulais Valley 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Daniels* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Ferndale[edit]

Ferndale 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Davies Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Gadlys[edit]

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

Gadlys 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev T. Madoc Jeffreys 841
Liberal T. Walter Williams* 272
Majority 569
Liberal hold Swing

Garw Valley[edit]

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

Glyncorrwg[edit]

Glyncorrwg 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jenkins* Unopposed
Labour hold

Gower[edit]

Gower 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.H. Davies 1,126
Independent George E. Gordon* 586
Majority 540
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Hengoed[edit]

Hengoed 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edward Richards* 1,343
Conservative William James Price 615
Majority 728
Liberal hold Swing

Hopkinstown[edit]

Hopkinstown 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E.H. Fleming** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Kibbor[edit]

Kibbor 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative H. Spence Thomas Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Llandaff[edit]

Llandaff 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Forrest Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Llandeilo Talybont[edit]

Llandeilo Talybont 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Geoffrey Williams 850
Independent Albert Morgan 554
Majority 296
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Llanfabon[edit]

Llanfabon 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative H.E. Morgan Lindsay 997
Labour David Bouldin 559
Majority 348
Conservative win (new seat)

Llantrisant[edit]

Llantrisant 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Jenkins 733
Labour Tom Young 711
Liberal George Thomas Davies* 581
Majority 22
Conservative win (new seat)

Llwydcoed[edit]

Llwydcoed 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Morgan Llewellyn unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llwynypia[edit]

Llwynypia 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Hammond Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Loughor[edit]

Loughor 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Albert Harding Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon[edit]

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

Maesteg, East and West[edit]

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

Mountain Ash[edit]

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

Mountain Ash 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Jones** Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Neath (North)[edit]

Neath (North) 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive David Griffith Davies 494
Liberal J. Morris 365
Independent Rev Degwell Thomas 296
Majority 129
Progressive hold Swing

Neath (South)[edit]

Neath (South) 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frederick William Gibbins* Unopposed
Liberal hold

Newcastle[edit]

Newcastle 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edward H. Mole 1,613
Conservative William H.C. Llewellyn* 1,040
Majority 573
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Ogmore Valley[edit]

Ogmore Valley 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Llewellyn** Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Penarth North[edit]

Penarth North 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Hallett Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Penarth South[edit]

Penarth South 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Samuel Thomas* Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Penrhiwceiber[edit]

Penrhiwceiber 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dr. Ben Phillips-Jones* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Pentre[edit]

Pentre 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Alfred Thomas Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Pontardawe[edit]

Pontardawe 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Daniel Davies* 1,008
Progressive F.R. Phillips 699
Independent Labour David Lewis 375
Majority 309
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot East[edit]

Port Talbot East 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Thomas 787
Labour William Lewis 446
Labour win (new seat)

Port Talbot West[edit]

Port Talbot West 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Llewelyn David* 986
Labour Thomas Griffiths 446
Independent win (new seat)

Porthcawl[edit]

Porthcawl 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Thomas G. Jones 953
Labour Jenkin Jones 659
Conservative J.I.D. Nicholl 557
Majority 294
Progressive gain from Liberal Swing

Pontlottyn[edit]

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

Pontlottyn 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Hammond Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Pontypridd[edit]

Pontypridd 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ben Davies 1,008
Liberal Hopkin Morgan* 999
Majority 9
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Penygraig[edit]

Penygraig 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Bowen Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Porth[edit]

Porth 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Evans Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Swansea Valley[edit]

Swansea Valley 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Richard Thomas 1,157
Labour J.L. Rees 1,074
Independent R.A. Jones 269
Majority
Progressive hold Swing

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch[edit]

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
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Arthur Jones 834
Independent William Evans 772
Liberal David Naunton Morgan 19
Majority 62
Labour win (new seat)

Trealaw[edit]

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

Trealaw 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Enoch Treharne Unopposed
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Treforest[edit]

Treforest 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.H. May 1,194
Conservative Dr W. Miles 828
Majority 366
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Treherbert[edit]

Treherbert 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Edward Williams Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Treorchy[edit]

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

Treorchy 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rhys Evans 2,309
Liberal Thomas Jones* 1,708
Majority 501
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Tylorstown[edit]

Tylorstown 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Lewis* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Vale of Neath[edit]

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

Ynyshir[edit]

Ynyshir 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Dolling 1,501
Liberal W.H. Mathias** 1,317
Majority 184
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Ystalyfera[edit]

Ystalyfera 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Daniel T. Jones 1,112
Liberal D.W. Davies* 986
Majority 126
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Ystrad[edit]

Ystrad 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dr W.E. Thomas Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Election of Aldermen[edit]

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:

  • E.H. Fleming (Lab, Hopkinstown)
  • William Jones (Lib, Mountain Ash)
  • William Llewellyn (Lib, Ogmore Vale)
  • Rev D.H. Williams (Lib, Barry)

In addition, the following eight new aldermen were elected:

  • Llewellyn David (Ind, Port Talbot)
  • Daniel Daniels (Lib, Dulais Valley)
  • W.H. Davies (Lab, Gower)
  • Joseph Howells (Lib, Caerphilly)
  • Hubert Jenkins (Lab, Cwm Aber) - elected alderman for three years
  • William Jenkins (Lab, Glyncorrwg)
  • David Lewis (Lab, Tylorstown)
  • William Thomas (Lib, Aberdare)

By-elections[edit]

Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.

Aberdare[edit]

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

Aberdare by-election 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frederick William Mander Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Barry by-election[edit]

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
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J.C. Finch 1,174
Liberal J. Lowden 1,014
Majority 170
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Caerphilly by-election[edit]

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

Caerphilly by-election 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Edwards 1,525
Labour Claude Denscombe 1,134
Majority 391
Conservative hold Swing

Gower by-election[edit]

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

Gower by-election 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Bevan 779
Liberal Daniel Williams 702
Majority 77
Labour hold Swing

Hopkinstown by-election[edit]

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
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Tristram 1,555
Liberal Hugh Bramwell 1,043
Majority 512
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot West by-election[edit]

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
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Edward Lowther 1,048
Labour Thomas Griffiths 921
Majority 127
Independent hold Swing

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b c d e "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. ^ a b "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[edit]

  • Williams, Chris (1996). Democratic Rhondda: Politics and society 1885-1951. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
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