1946 Glamorgan County Council election

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The seventeenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1946. It was preceded by the 1937 election and the 1940 and 1943 elections were postponed due to the Second World War. It was followed by the 1949 election.

Overview[]

Labour's comfortable majority on the council, including the aldermanic bench, remained unchanged.

Boundary changes[]

There were no boundary changes at this election.

Candidates[]

Many candidates were returned unopposed.[1]

Contested elections[]

Labour contested almost every seat on the council, with a significant proportion of candidates returned unopposed.

Of the eleven aldermen retiring at the end of their sixth year term, nine sought re-election while Rev William Saunders, a member for over thirty years, was deselected.

Outcome[]

Labour retained their majority. In the Rhondda Valley, Labour withstood a Communist challenge[2] This was the first county election for nine years as polling was reported as heavy in a number of wards, including the two contested wards at Pontypridd.[3]

Results[]

Aberaman[]

Aberaman 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Florence Rose Davies**
Labour hold Swing

Aberavon[]

Aberavon 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edward Lewis Hare* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Abercynon[]

Abercynon 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Dicks** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Aberdare Town[]

Aberdare Town 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas Alwyn John 1,292
Labour Tom Williams 977
Independent Henry Cohen 242
Majority 315
Independent hold Swing

Bargoed[]

Bargoed 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William John Kedward* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Barry[]

Dudley Howe had previously represented Cadoxton and gained the neighbouring Barry ward from Laour. However, Labour won Cadoxton for the first time against the new candidate.

Barry 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Dudley Thomas Howe* 2,304
Labour W. East* 2,004
Majority 300
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Barry Dock[]

Barry Dock 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dorothy Rees** 1,965
Independent G. Edward Smith 1,762
Majority 203
Labour hold Swing

Blaengwawr[]

Blaengwawr 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William J. Edwards* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Bridgend[]

Bridgend 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William W. Phillips* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Briton Ferry[]

Briton Ferry 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Gethin* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Cadoxton[]

Cadoxton 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Digby Smith 1,499
Independent A.L. Davies 1,158
Majority 341
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Caerphilly[]

Caerphilly 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Evan Phillips* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Cilfynydd[]

Cilfynydd 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Edryd Lewis Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc[]

Coedffranc 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour D.T. Jenkins 2,916
Independent Isaac David 1,798
Majority 1,118
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Cowbridge[]

Cowbridge 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour P. John Smith Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Cwm Aber[]

Cwm Aber 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rev David M. Jones* Unopposed
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Cwmavon[]

Cwmavon 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Jones Edwards* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Cymmer[]

Cymmer 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John James Garwood* 1,167
Independent Evan Thomas 485
Majority 682
Labour hold Swing

Dinas Powys[]

Dinas Powys 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ivor Broadbent Thomas* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Dulais Valley[]

Dulais Valley 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwilym Davies* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ferndale[]

Ferndale 1934
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alfred Evans* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Gadlys[]

Gadlys 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas Phillips* 1,802
Labour David Idris Bruton 796
Majority 1,006
Independent hold Swing

Garw Valley[]

Garw Valley 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Gunter* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Glyncorrwg[]

Glyncorrwg 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sir William Jenkins** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Gower[]

Gower 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Fredrick William Davies 2,083
Labour Stanley Jones 1,480
Majority 603
Independent hold Swing

Hengoed[]

Hengoed 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Loveday* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Hopkinstown[]

Hopkinstown 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tom Waite Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Kibbor[]

Kibbor 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Edgar L. Chappell 1,769
Independent John Kane 1,400
Majority 369
Independent hold Swing

Castell Coch[]

Castell Coch 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Sir Lewis Lougher* 1,458
Labour Edward Harry Follis 606
Majority 852
Independent hold Swing

Llandeilo Talybont[]

Llandeilo Talybont 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Caradoc Jones** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanfabon[]

Llanfabon 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Bowen** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llwydcoed[]

Llwydcoed 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Martha Emma Jones* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llwynypia[]

Llwynypia 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Philip Haines Rowlands* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Loughor[]

Loughor 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David John Davies Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon[]

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Evans** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Maesteg, East and West[]

Maesteg East and West 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tom Jenkins* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Mountain Ash[]

The sitting member, the Hon. John Bruce (Ind) stood down and Labour gained the seat without a contest.[1]

Mountain Ash 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Justin Lewis Unopposed
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Neath (North)[]

Neath (North) 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Griffith Davies* 1,336
Labour J.W. Morgan 1,042
Majority 294
Independent hold Swing

Neath (South)[]

Neath (South) 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour C.P. Huins 1,679
Independent Col. R.G. Llewellyn 912
Majority 767
Labour hold Swing

Newcastle[]

Newcastle 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rev Horatio R. Protheroe* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ogmore Valley[]

Ogmore Valley 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Communist Frederick Arthur Llewellyn* 1,963
Labour Stanley James Moore 833
Majority 1,130
Communist hold Swing

Penarth North[]

Penarth North 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour H.J. Cook 1,001
Independent F.R. Cratchley 801
Majority 200
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Penarth South[]

Penarth South 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent D.B. Jones Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pencoed[]

Pencoed 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mervyn W. Paine* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Penrhiwceiber[]

Penrhiwceiber 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John William Bath* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Pentre[]

Pentre 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Glyn L. Wales 2,530
Labour Glyn Evans 978
Communist Thomas Evans 414
Majority 1,552
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Pontardawe[]

Pontardawe 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Daniel Davies** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Pontyclun[]

Pontyclun 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Theo Griffiths Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot East[]

Port Talbot East 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Thomas** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot West[]

Port Talbot West 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Llewelyn David* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Porthcawl[]

Porthcawl 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.A. Howell* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pontlottyn[]

Pontlottyn 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.A. Hancock* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Pontypridd Town[]

Pontypridd Town 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ivor M. Jenkins 1,458
Independent Cyril R. Morgan 1,450
Majority 308
Labour hold Swing

Penygraig[]

Penygraig 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas Churchill* 2,148
Independent William John Gribble 981
Majority 1,267
Labour hold Swing

Porth[]

Porth 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas Griffiths 976
Independent Daniel Jones* 974
Communist Murray Williams 868
Majority 2
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Swansea Valley[]

Swansea Valley 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Jenkins*
Labour hold Swing

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch[]

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas Rogers* 1,484
Communist David John Griffiths 711
Independent Harold Whitton Davies 584
Independent Evan Jones 97
Majority 773
Labour hold Swing

Trealaw[]

Trealaw 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Communist Lewis Jones 1,945
Labour Richard Jones 1,315
Majority 630
Communist hold Swing

Treforest[]

Treforest 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur W. Harris 2,507
Independent Ceiriog Williams 1,029
Majority 1,478
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Treherbert[]

Treherbert 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Llewellyn* 3,345
Communist George Thomas 1,964
Majority 1,391
Labour hold Swing

Treorchy[]

Treorchy 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rhys Evans** 4,401
Communist Ivor Williams 1,077
Majority 3,324
Labour hold Swing

Tylorstown[]

Tylorstown 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Llewellyn Jones 1,984
Communist Frederick J. Morton 942
Majority 1,042
Labour hold Swing

Vale of Neath[]

Vale of Neath 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William A. Betty* 2,557
Plaid Cymru Oliver J. Evans 1,083
Independent J.W. Davies 659
Majority 1,474
Labour hold Swing

Ynyshir[]

Ynyshir 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ivor Jones 1,855
Independent Morgan Benjamin 1,418
Majority 437
Labour hold Swing

Ystalyfera[]

Ystalyfera 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alice Williams* 2,051
Plaid Cymru Wynne Samuel 873
Majority 1,176
Labour hold Swing

Ystrad[]

Ystrad 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sidney Cadogan** 1,931
Communist Annie Powell 1,189
Independent Thomas Aldridge 853
Majority 742
Labour hold Swing

Election of Aldermen[]

In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1946 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies, all of which all of which were filled by Labour nominees despite the protestations of their opponents.[4]

The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:

  • Sidney Cadogan (Lab, Rhondda)
  • W.H. Davies (Lab, Gower)
  • Alfred Evans (Lab, Rhondda)
  • Rhys Evans (Lab, Treorchy)
  • Tom Evans (Lab, Pengam)
  • Daniel T. Jones (Lab, Ystalyfera)
  • W. Arthur Jones (Lab, Tonyrefail)
  • Evan Phillips (Lab, Caerphilly)
  • Rev W. Degwel Thomas (Lab, Neath)

The following new aldermen were elected:

  • H.J. Cook (Lab, Penarth)
  • Mervyn Payne (Lab, Pencoed)

By-elections[]

Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.

Aberaman by-election[]

Aberaman by-election 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sydney Herbert Stephens*
Labour hold Swing

Abercynon by-election[]

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Barry Dock by-election[]

Labour lost the by-election held following the re-election of Dorothy Rees to the aldermanic bench.[5] The Labour candidate had been elected following Rees's original election as alderman three years previously and at the recent election had unsuccessfully contested the neighbouring Barry ward.

Barry Dock by-election 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent J. Edward Smith 2,080
Labour W. East* 1,783
Majority 297
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Glyncorrwg by-election[]

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Hopkinstown by-election[]

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llandeilo Talybont by-election[]

Llandeilo Talybont
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Llewellyn Davies 1,501
Labour J. Powell 1,378
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Llanfabon by-election[]

Llanfabon by-election 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Herbert Davies 1,387
Independent Rev. Henry Withers 798
Majority 589
Labour hold Swing

Maesteg by-election[]

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Pontardawe by-election[]

Pontardawe by-election 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Williams Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot by-election[]

Joe Brown, former agent to Ramsay Macdonald when he was MP for Aberavon, failed to gain the Labour nomination and ran as an Independent.[6]

Port Talbot by-election 1947
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Llewellyn Heycock 1,817
Independent Joseph A. Brown 1,248
Majority 569
Labour hold Swing

Tylorstown by-election[]

Tylorstown by-election 1947
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Mardy Evans* 1,977
Communist George Edward Maslin 584
Independent David John 284
Majority 1,393
Labour hold Swing

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Nominations for County Council Elections. Many Unopposed Returns in Glamorgan and Gwent". Western Mail. 16 February 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Communist Fare Badly in the Rhondda". Western Mail. 9 March 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  3. ^ "County Election Results". Pontypridd Observer. 9 March 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Seniority Ignored in Selection of Chairman". Western Mail. 15 March 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  5. ^ "County Council By-Elections". Western Mail. 20 April 1937. p. 10. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Councillor J.A. Brown Leaves Labour Party". Port Talbot Guardian. 14 April 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 20 April 2021.

Bibliography[]

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