1931 Carmarthenshire County Council election
Welsh local election
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An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1931.[1] It was preceded by the 1928 election and followed by the 1934 election.
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All 53 seats to Carmarthenshire County Council 27 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Overview of the result
The Independent group remained the majority grouping on the Council. In the Llanelli area the potential for Labour to win further ground was complicated by the appearance of Communist Party candidates.
Boundary changes
There was one boundary change, namely the division of the existing Llandybie ward into two divisions, each of which was won by Labour.
Results
Only a minority of the 53 divisions were contested. 53 councillors were elected.
Ward results
Abergwili
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Ammanford
Bettws
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | John Phillips* | 1,379 | |||
| Independent | D.M. Richards | 800 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Caio
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Isaac Williams* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Katherine Isobel Harries | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Lewis David Thomas* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | H.S. Holmes* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William Price Williams* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Cenarth
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Ellenora James* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Cilycwm
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Ivor Elystan Campbell-Davys* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Conwil
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Thomas Jones* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Kidwelly
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Alfred Stephens* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Laugharne
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Thomas Stephen Thomas* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanarthney
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Stephens* | 1,561 | |||
| Labour | Thomas Thomas | 604 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanboidy
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | C. Vaughan* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandebie North
Boundary Change
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Gwilym R. Thomas | 552 | |||
| Independent | David O. Davies | 403 | |||
| Independent | Frederick Davies | 225 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Llandebie South
Boundary Change
Llandilo Rural
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Evan Davies* | 560 | |||
| Independent | John Henry James | 424 | |||
| Independent | Owen Jones | 169 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandilo Urban
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Lord Dynevor* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandovery
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Harry Vaughan Watkins* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandyssilio
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Edward James* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanedy
Llanegwad
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William David Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 1
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Daniel Roberts* | 1,047 | |||
| Labour | S.T. Vicary | 257 | |||
| Communist | A. Evans | 51 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 2
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Brinley R. Jones* | 488 | |||
| Independent | James Jones | 371 | |||
| Labour | John Roberts | 323 | |||
| Independent | Elizabeth Thomas | 49 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 3
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Joseph Roberts* | 521 | |||
| Labour | Percy M. Evans | 252 | |||
| Communist | Brin Jones | 55 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 4
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W.T. Morris* | 670 | |||
| Labour | Thomas Charles | 624 | |||
| Communist | William Morris | 50 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 5
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Gwen Trubshaw* | 621 | |||
| Labour | Mary M. Griffiths | 174 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 6
Llanelly Division 7
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W. Powell Rees* | 806 | |||
| Labour | David John | 184 | |||
| Communist | Henry Jones | 16 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 8
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | H.W. Bowen | 515 | |||
| Independent | William Davies* | 377 | |||
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 28 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Rural, Berwick
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Harry | 999 | |||
| Labour | J.R. Jones* | 680 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Rural, Hengoed
Joe Howells stood as an Independent against the official Labour candidate and won by a very narrow margin.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Joseph Howells* | 436 | |||
| Independent | D.J. Stone | 420 | |||
| Labour | John Harris | 398 | |||
| Communist | Arthur Evans | 11 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W.J. Evans* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | E. Haydn Davies* | 709 | |||
| Independent | Mary P.A.E. Mansell | 171 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangadock
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | R.E. Williams* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangeler
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Henry Jones | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangendeirne
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | James Jenkins* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangennech
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | D.J. Davies | 570 | |||
| Independent | David J. Jones* | 548 | |||
| Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Llangunnor
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William Edwards* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanon
Llansawel
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Evan Harris* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanstephan
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | T.Ll. Haries | 369 | |||
| Independent | John James Bowen* | 355 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanybyther
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Evan Morgan Evans | 562 | |||
| Independent | W. James Williams* | 527 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Myddfai
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Pembrey North
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Gomer Evans | 1.095 | |||
| Independent | David Evans* | 455 | |||
| Communist | Brin Jones | 79 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Pembrey South
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | John Henry Williams* | 994 | |||
| Independent | Daniel Davies | 293 | |||
| Communist | Henry Jones | 22 | |||
| Majority | |||||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Quarter Bach
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | William Jones* | 886 | |||
| Independent | Gomer Harries | 680 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Rhydcymmerai
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Gwendoline Lloyd-Price* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
St Clears
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Joseph David Rees* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
St Ishmael
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Walter Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Trelech
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Lewis L. Bowen* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Whitland
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Thomas Lewis Phillips* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Election of aldermen
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. Eight were retiring aldermen (some of whom had not fought an election for many years) while Joseph Roberts had been re-elected in Llanelly Division 3.[2]
- T.R. Jones, Cross Hall
- James Phillips, St Clears
- Philip Phillips, Pencraig
- W.R. Rogers, Closyfran
- Rev William Thomas, Llanboidy
- David Davies, Rhyblid
- John Thomas, Llanelli
- Joseph Roberts, Llanelli
- W.N.Jones, Ammanford
In addition, W.D. Davies, recently re-elected unopposed for the Llanegwad division, was elevated to the aldermanic bench following the death of L.N. Powell.[2]
By-elections 1931-1934
1931 Llanegwad by-election
A by-election was scheduled for March 1931 following the elevation of W.D. Davies to the aldermanic bench. B. Davies of Glancothi was elected unopposed in his place.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | B. Davies | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
1931 Llanelly Division 3 by-election
A by-election was held in April due to the elevation of Joseph Roberts to the aldermanic bench. Strong objections were raised in the local press to the prospect of several Independent candidates contesting the vacancy,[4] and these fears were realised when Labour candidate Percy Evans headed the poll with around a third of the votes cast.[5] Gomer Thomas, chosen as an official candidate by the Ratepayers' Association, polled only 89 votes.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Percy M. Evans | 389 | |||
| Independent | D. Haddon Jones | 296 | |||
| Independent | James Jones | 248 | |||
| Independent | Gomer Thomas | 89 | |||
| Independent | Elizabeth Thomas | 10 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
1932 Llandissilio by-election
A by-election was held in December 1932 following the elevation of Edward James to the aldermanic bench. Henry Morris, a mamber of Whitland RDC for 28 years, was elected by a narrow majority[6]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Henry Morris | 285 | |||
| Independent | Rev W.S. Thomas | 269 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||