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 edit
Labour's comfortable majority on the council, including the aldermanic bench, remained unchanged.
Boundary changes edit
There were no boundary changes at this election.
Candidates edit
A significant number of Labour candidates were returned unopposed. A number of long-standing members stood down including the Reverend William Saunders, who was not selected as a Labour candidate and Gwilym Davies (Dulais Valley).
There was significant Communist opposition, particularly in the Rhondda where Labour had only narrowly retained the Rhondda West constituency at the previous year's General Election.
In Neath, it was originally reposed that long-serving councillor D.G. Davies, who had been a member of the county council with a few breaks for twenty-five years, would stand again.[1] However, he ultimately stood down.
Nine of the retiring aldermen sought re-election, the exceptions being the Rev William Saunders and Edgar Chappell.
Outcome edit
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]
In the Neath area, Labour retained four seats but at Coedffranc the sitting member D.T. Jenkins was defeated by Communist Alun Thomas, a member of the Neath Rural council since 1937.[4]
Results edit
Aberaman edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Florence Rose Davies** | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Aberavon edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Edward Lewis Hare* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Abercynon edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Joseph Dicks** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Aberdare Town edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Alwyn John | 1,292 | |||
Labour | Tom Williams | 977 | |||
Independent | Henry Cohen | 242 | |||
Majority | 315 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Bargoed edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William John Kedward* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Barry edit
Dudley Howe had previously represented Cadoxton and gained the neighbouring Barry ward from Labour. However, Labour won Cadoxton for the first time against the new candidate.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Dudley Thomas Howe* | 2,304 | |||
Labour | W. East* | 2,004 | |||
Majority | 300 | ||||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Barry Dock edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Dorothy Rees** | 1,965 | |||
Independent | G. Edward Smith | 1,762 | |||
Majority | 203 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Blaengwawr edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William J. Edwards* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Bridgend edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William W. Phillips* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Briton Ferry edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | George Gethin* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Cadoxton edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Digby Smith | 1,499 | |||
Independent | A.L. Davies | 1,158 | |||
Majority | 341 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Caerphilly edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Evan Phillips* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Cilfynydd edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Edryd Lewis | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Coedffranc edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Communist | Alun Thomas | 2,055 | |||
Labour | D.T. Jenkins* | 1,938 | |||
Independent | Bessie Davies | 1,286 | |||
Plaid Cymru | Noah Williams | 84 | |||
Majority | 117 | ||||
Communist gain from Labour | Swing |
Cowbridge edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | P. John Smith | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Cwm Aber edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev David M. Jones* | Unopposed | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Cwmavon edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Jones Edwards* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Cymmer edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John James Garwood* | 1,167 | |||
Independent | Evan Thomas | 485 | |||
Majority | 682 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Dinas Powys edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Ivor Broadbent Thomas* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Dulais Valley edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | George Adams | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ferndale edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alfred Evans* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Gadlys edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Phillips* | 1,802 | |||
Labour | David Idris Bruton | 796 | |||
Majority | 1,006 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Garw Valley edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Charles Gunter* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Glyncorrwg edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sir William Jenkins** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold |
Gower edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Fredrick William Davies | 2,083 | |||
Labour | Stanley Jones | 1,480 | |||
Majority | 603 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Hengoed edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Thomas Evans** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Hopkinstown edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Tom Waite | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Kibbor edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Edgar L. Chappell | 1,769 | |||
Independent | John Kane | 1,400 | |||
Majority | 369 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Castell Coch edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Sir Lewis Lougher* | 1,458 | |||
Labour | Edward Harry Follis | 606 | |||
Majority | 852 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandeilo Talybont edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Caradoc Jones** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanfabon edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Bowen** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llwydcoed edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Martha Emma Jones* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llwynypia edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Philip Haines Rowlands* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Loughor edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David John Davies | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Evans** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold |
Maesteg, East and West edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Tom Jenkins* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Mountain Ash edit
The sitting member, the Hon. John Bruce (Ind) stood down and Labour gained the seat without a contest.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Justin Lewis | Unopposed | |||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Neath (North) edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | W.K. Owen | 1,445 | |||
Labour | Edgar Owen | 991 | |||
Majority | 454 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Neath (South) edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev W. Degwel Thomas** | 1,484 | |||
Independent | Katie Davies | 1,035 | |||
Majority | 449 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Newcastle edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev Horatio R. Protheroe* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ogmore Valley edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Communist | Frederick Arthur Llewellyn* | 1,963 | |||
Labour | Stanley James Moore | 833 | |||
Majority | 1,130 | ||||
Communist hold | Swing |
Penarth North edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | H.J. Cook | 1,001 | |||
Independent | F.R. Cratchley | 801 | |||
Majority | 200 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Penarth South edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | D.B. Jones | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Pencoed edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mervyn W. Paine* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Penrhiwceiber edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John William Bath* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Pentre edit
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 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Daniel Davies** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Pontyclun edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Theo Griffiths | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Port Talbot East edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Thomas** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Port Talbot West edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Llewelyn David* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Porthcawl edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | W.A. Howell* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Pontlottyn edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W.A. Hancock* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Pontypridd Town edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Ivor M. Jenkins | 1,458 | |||
Independent | Cyril R. Morgan | 1,450 | |||
Majority | 308 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Penygraig edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Thomas Churchill* | 2,148 | |||
Independent | William John Gribble | 981 | |||
Majority | 1,267 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Porth edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Thomas Griffiths | 976 | |||
Independent | Daniel Jones* | 974 | |||
Communist | Murray Williams | 868 | |||
Majority | 2 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Swansea Valley edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Jenkins* | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch edit
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 edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Communist | Lewis Jones | 1,945 | |||
Labour | Richard Jones | 1,315 | |||
Majority | 630 | ||||
Communist hold | Swing |
Treforest edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Arthur W. Harris | 2,507 | |||
Independent | Ceiriog Williams | 1,029 | |||
Majority | 1,478 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Treherbert edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Llewellyn* | 3,345 | |||
Communist | George Thomas | 1,964 | |||
Majority | 1,391 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Treorchy edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rhys Evans** | 4,401 | |||
Communist | Ivor Williams | 1,077 | |||
Majority | 3,324 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Tylorstown edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Llewellyn Jones | 1,984 | |||
Communist | Frederick J. Morton | 942 | |||
Majority | 1,042 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Vale of Neath edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William A. Betty* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ynyshir edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Ivor Jones | 1,855 | |||
Independent | Morgan Benjamin | 1,418 | |||
Majority | 437 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ystalyfera edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alice Williams* | 2,051 | |||
Plaid Cymru | Wynne Samuel | 873 | |||
Majority | 1,176 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ystrad edit
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 edit
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.[5] Rhys Evans was the longest serving alderman, having first been elected in 1922.
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
- Sidney Cadogan (Lab, Ystrad)
- W.H. Davies (Lab, Gower)
- Alfred Evans (Lab, Ferndale)
- 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 edit
Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen. At Neath, Charles P. Huins held his seat with a majority whip exceeded that gained by Alderman Degwel Thomas at the triennial election.[6]
Aberaman by-election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sydney Herbert Stephens* | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Neath South by-election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Charles P. Huins | 1,571 | |||
Independent | John Walter Jones | 896 | |||
Majority | 675 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanfabon by-election edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Charles Herbert Davies | 1,387 | |||
Independent | Rev. Henry Withers | 798 | |||
Majority | 589 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Tylorstown by-election edit
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 edit
- ^ "County Council Election Prospects". Neath Guardian. 15 February 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Communist Fare Badly in the Rhondda". Western Mail. 9 March 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "County Election Results". Pontypridd Observer. 9 March 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ "Communist Wins at Skewen. Surprise Election Result". Neath Guardian. 15 March 1946. p. 6. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Seniority Ignored in Selection of Chairman". Western Mail. 15 March 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "South Ward By-Election Result". Neath Guardian. 19 April 1946. p. 8. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
Bibliography edit
- Williams, Chris (1996). Democratic Rhondda: Politics and society 1885-1951. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.