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 edit
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 edit
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.
Other wards were renamed or had their boundaries slightly altered.
Unopposed returns edit
Around half the wards were uncontested, mainly in the rural areas.
Contested elections edit
A similar number of contests took place compared with 1934. This included contests in rural areas between rival Independent candidates.
Summary of results edit
53 councillors were elected.
Ward results edit
Abergwili edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Ammanford No.1 edit
Boundary Change.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | John Harries | unopposed | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Ammanford No.2 edit
Boundary Change.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Frank Davies* | 708 | |||
| Independent | David Jones | 487 | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Berwick edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | T.S. Bowen* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Burry Port edit
Boundary Change.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | W.D. Jenkins | 993 | |||
| Independent | F.J. Morgan | 672 | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Caio edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Thomas Davies | 438 | |||
| Independent | Isaac Williams* | 297 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Carmarthen Division 1 edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William Jones* | unopposed | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Carmarthen Division 2 edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | H.S. Holmes* | unopposed | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Carmarthen Division 3 edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | J. Ithel P. Thomas* | unopposed | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Cenarth edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Ellenora James* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Cilycwm edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Ivor Elystan Campbell Davys* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Conwil edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | J.J. Evans* | 523 | |||
| Independent | J.W.L. Harries | 222 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Cwmamman edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | John Phillips* | 1,068 | |||
| Independent | D.M. Richards | 735 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Hengoed edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Joseph Howells* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Kidwelly edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | J. Amos Jones | 708 | |||
| Independent | H.J. Owen | 378 | |||
| Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Laugharne edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | S.B. Williams* | 612 | |||
| Labour | Owen Williams | 197 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanarthney edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | W. Edgar Lewis* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanboidy edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Benjamin Salmon* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandebie North edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David O. Davies | 702 | |||
| Labour | Gwilym R. Thomas* | 666 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
Llandebie South edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | D.B. Lewis* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llandilo Rural edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Evan Davies* | 708 | |||
| Independent | J.W. Nicholas | 660 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandilo Urban edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Benjamin Hughes* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandovery edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Harry Vaughan Watkins* | 586 | |||
| Labour | James James | 220 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandyssilio edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Henry Morris* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanedy edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Thomas William Morgan* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanegwad edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Griffith Evans* | 576 | |||
| Independent | Wynne Davies | 265 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 1 edit
Boundary Change
| 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
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | W.T. Griffiths | 565 | |||
| Independent | Brinley R. Jones* | 486 | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 3 edit
Boundary Change
| 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
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Martin L. Edwards | 598 | |||
| Labour | D.J. Charles | 512 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 5 edit
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Gwen Trubshaw* | 666 | |||
| Communist | E.F. Seaward | 25 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 6 edit
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | W. Douglas Hughes* | unopposed | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 7 edit
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans | unopposed | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 8 edit
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W. Powell Rees* | 857 | |||
| Communist | Brin James | 212 | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Llanelly Division 9 edit
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | A.H. Olive* | 1,077 | |||
| Labour | R.S. Beynon | 191 | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Llanfihangel Aberbythick edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W.J. Evans* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | E. Haydn Davies* | 612 | |||
| Independent | E.J. Lewis | 298 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangadock edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W.T. Morgan | 536 | |||
| Independent | R.E. Williams* | 493 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangeler edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | R.G. Owen* | 851 | |||
| Independent | Thomas Jones | 431 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangendeirne edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | James Jenkins* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangennech edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | D.J. Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llangunnor edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William Edwards* | 528 | |||
| Independent | J.J. Bowen | 384 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanon edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Rees Morgan* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llansawel edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | John Morgan | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanstephan edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | T.Ll. Haries* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanybyther edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies | 585 | |||
| Independent | W. James Williams* | 529 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Myddfai edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W.R. Clement* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Pembrey edit
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Stepney | 799 | |||
| Labour | J.J. Davies | 586 | |||
| Independent win (new seat) | |||||
Pontyberem edit
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | David John Jones | unopposed | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Quarter Bach edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | William Watkin Davies | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Rhydcymmerai edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Thomas* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
St Clears edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Joseph David Rees* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
St Ishmael edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | E.H. Stephens* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Trelech edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Lewis L. Bowen* | 525 | |||
| Independent | J.E. Jones | 295 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Trimsaran edit
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Gomer Evans* | unopposed | |||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Westfa and Glyn edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Emrys Aubrey* | 1,256 | |||
| Independent Labour | I.J. Haries | 428 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Whitland edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Thomas Lewis Phillips* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Election of aldermen edit
In addition to the 53 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 nine aldermen were elected (with the number of votes in each case).