1910 Glamorgan County Council election

The 1910 Glamorgan County Council election was the eighth contest for seats on this local authority in south Wales. It was preceded by the 1907 election and followed by the 1913 election.

Overview of the Result

edit

As in most parts of Wales, the Liberal Party was once again triumphant and won a majority of the seats. The Conservatives made a further advance in the western part of the county where they also held on in a number of industrial wards where the influence of paternalism remained strong. A more striking factor was the advance of Labour candidates in several areas and there were also a number of Liberal members who were returned under a 'progressive' banner with support from the labour movement.

Boundary Changes

edit

There were numerous boundary changes resulting from the secession of Merthyr Tydfil from Glamorgan to create a new County Borough.[1] There were boundary changes at Maesteg, leading to the creation of a second seat.[2]

Retiring Aldermen

edit

All eleven retiring aldermen were Liberals, or Lib-Lab members as the Conservatives and their allies had been denied any seats on the aldermanic bench since 1901.

Contested Elections

edit

Most seats were contested. In the western part of the county, industrialists standing as Conservatives continued to hold their found in some wards.[3]

Aberdare, Mountain Ash and Merthyr districts

edit

There were only two contested elections in the Aberdare district, and both were again more personal than political.

Bridgend and Maesteg districts

edit

There were a number of contested elections in this area.

Swansea, Pontardawe and Port Talbot districts

edit

In these areas the Conservatives again performed well, mainly at the expense of the Liberals.

Results

edit
Aberaman 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Luther Davies* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

J.M. Smith held on to the seat he had held since 1889, increasing his majority over Labour. The result was said to have been greeted by a large crowd.[4]

Aberavon 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Morgan Smith* 729
Labour Josiah Charles 337
Majority 392
Independent hold Swing

Abercynon

edit

Boundary Change. The Labour candidate had entered the fray at the last moment causing a three-cornered contest in this new ward.[5]

Abercynon 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dr Isaac Llewelyn Morris* 709
Liberal James Evans 508
Labour W.H. May 461
Majority 201
Liberal hold Swing
Aberdare Town 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Hughes* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Bargoed

edit
Bargoed 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev D.L. Evans 729
Labour Walter Lewis 611
Majority 118
Liberal gain from Independent Swing
Barry 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev D.H. Williams 899
Conservative F.P. Jones-Lloyd 629
Majority 270
Liberal hold Swing

Barry Dock

edit
Barry Dock 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Jones* 888
Conservative F.T. Moesford 311
Majority 577
Liberal win (new seat)

In a contest between two Liberals, John Howell, first elected in 1895, was defeated by Gwilym Treharne who had opposed him on several occasions in the past.

Blaengwawr 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gwilym Alexander Treharne 696
Liberal John Howell* 624
Majority 72
Liberal hold Swing

Randall was again returned unopposed, with the Liberals deciding not to oppose him.

Bridgend 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Morgan Randall* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing
Briton Ferry 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Gwynn* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
Caeharris 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Edward Pritchard Martin unopposed
Cadoxton 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gwyn Morris 729
Liberal P.J. O' Donnell* 492
Majority 237
Liberal hold Swing

Boundary Change. The previous Caerphilly division was divided.

Caerphilly 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Howells 778
Independent Liberal Josiah Morgan 641
Majority 137
Liberal win (new seat)
Cilfynydd 1901
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal W.R. Davies* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
Coedffranc 1901
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Howell unopposed
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
Coity 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Evans* 571
Liberal Rev H. Eynon Lewis 286
Liberal hold Swing

The sitting member, a timber merchant at Pendoylan, who had captured the seat three years previously, was now returned unopposed.

Cowbridge 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas William David* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Cwmavon

edit

Henry Davies held on to the seat he won in 1907.

Cwmavon 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Henry Davies* 747
Liberal Moses Thomas 433
Majority 314
Labour hold Swing
Cyfarthfa 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Lib-Lab Thomas Thomas* 515
Liberal Thomas Davies 266
Majority
Lib-Lab gain from Liberal Swing
Cymmer 1901
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Morgan Williams* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

The sitting member had held the seat for many years and was again returned.

Dinas Powys 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Henry Jones* 527
Liberal D.R. Morgan 405
Majority 122
Conservative hold Swing
Dowlais 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Davies* 410
Liberal D. Jenkins 397
Majority 13
Conservative hold Swing
Dulais Valley 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Daniels 679
Liberal 'Ll.D. Howell* 378
Labour George Jones 185
Liberal hold Swing
Ferndale 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Samuel* 1,224
Conservative E. Nelmes 546
Majority 678
Liberal hold Swing

Gadlys

edit

Following the recent death of Griffith George, a fellow Liberal was elected in his place. There was no Labour candidate.

Gadlys 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal T. Walter Williams 838
Liberal William Thomas Harris 136
Majority 702
Liberal hold Swing
Garw Valley 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Thomas* Unopposed N/A N/A

Gellifaelog

edit
Gellifaelog
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Evan Lewis* unopposed
Gelligaer 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Evan Thomas 739
Conservative D.S. Jones* 494
Majority 245
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
Glyncorrwg 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jenkins* unopposed
Gower 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent George E. Gordon* 561
Labour W.H. Davies 496

Hengoed

edit

In this new ward, long-serving alderman David Prosser was defeated.

Hengoed 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.D. Lloyd 616
Liberal David Prosser** 315

Henry Lewis again returned after many years.

Kibbor 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Lewis* 1,035
Liberal D. Morgan Rees 379
Majority 656
Conservative hold Swing

Robert Forrest held the seat comfortably.

Llandaff 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Forrest* 969
Liberal William Evans 544

Llandeilo Talybont

edit

First elected in 1889, Rees Harries was again returned by a substantial majority.

Llandeilo Talybont 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Harries** 764
Liberal J.R. Watkins 218
Majority 546
Liberal hold Swing

Llansamlet

edit
Llansamlet 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Jordan* unopposed

Llantrisant

edit
Llantrisant 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J. Blandy Jenkins* unopposed
Llwydcoed 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Llewellyn* unopposed

Llwynypia and Clydach

edit

James Evans, grocer, elected following Richard Lewis's election as alderman in 1901, was returned unopposed.

Llwynypia and Clydach 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Evans* unopposed

John Glasbrook was elected unopposed following the retirement of Sir John Llewelyn.

Loughor and Penderry 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Glasbrook unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon

edit

Vernon Hartshorn, miners agent was returned by a huge majority

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Vernon Hartshorn 933
Liberal John Roderick 171

Maesteg, East and West

edit

This was a repeat of the contest three years previously with the same result.

Maesteg East and West 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Evan E. Davies 1,067
J.P. Gibbon 776

Margam

edit

Following the retirement of the Liberal member, the son of the former Independent councillor, defeated in 1904, won a narrow victory over Labour.

Margam 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Llewelyn David 973
Labour Rees Llewellyn 941
Majority 32
Independent gain from Liberal Swing
Merthyr Town 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal D.D. Jones 663
Conservative Dan Thomas 297
Majority 366
Liberal hold Swing

Merthyr Vale

edit
Merthyr Vale 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Prosser* 880
Liberal Rowland Evans 729
Majority 151
Liberal hold Swing

Morriston

edit
Morriston 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
William John Percy Player unopposed
Swing
Mountain Ash 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Jones* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
Neath (North) 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Hopkin Morgan* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
Neath (South) 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frederick William Gibbins* Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal hold

T.J. Hughes, vice-chairman of the county council was returned unopposed.

Newcastle 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal T.J. Hughes** unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

The ward was renamed Porthcawl. In a close contest a prominent Liberal defeated the former Conservative councillor.

Ogmore 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev W.J. Phillips 573
Conservative J.D.I. Nicholl 502
Liberal hold Swing

Ogmore Valley

edit

Alderman William Llewellyn was again returned unopposed.

Ogmore Valley 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Llewellyn** unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
Oystermouth 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative T.W. James* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Penarth North

edit
Penarth North 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rev E.S. Roberts 387
Liberal Jenkin Llewellyn 385
Majority 2
Conservative hold Swing

Penarth South

edit
Penarth South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Frederick Henry Jotham unopposed

Penrhiwceiber

edit
Penrhiwceiber 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dr. Ben Phillips Jones unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

E.T. Davies, auctioneer, had been elected at a by-election following Elias Henry Davies's appointment as alderman in 1902. He was now returned unopposed.

Pentre 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal E.T. Davies 996
Liberal J.B. Price 476
Liberal hold Swing
Penydarren
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Davies* 516
Conservative T.E. Morgan 270
Majority 146
Pontardawe 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frank W. Gilbertson* 922
Labour Johnny James 710
Majority 212
Conservative hold Swing

Plymouth

edit
Plymouth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry W. Lewis* 603
Conservative A. Daniel 440
Pontlottyn 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Williams 563
Liberal J. E. Jones 372
Majority 200
Liberal hold Swing
Pontypridd 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E.H. Fleming 602
Liberal James Roberts* 398
Conservative H.M. Gregory 383
Majority 204
Labour gain from Liberal Swing

Penygraig appears to be a new ward.

Penygraig 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Lloyd unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Porth

edit
Porth and Penygraig 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Evans 920
Labour John Hughes 411
Majority 509
Liberal hold Swing
Resolven 1901
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Evans** unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
Sketty 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev John Davies 355
Labour Thomas Hopkins 300
Liberal hold Swing

Swansea Valley

edit
Swansea Valley 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal E. Lewis* 825
Liberal Dr J. Jones 364
Majority 461
Liberal hold Swing
Treforest 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Samuel Evans 671
Liberal James Roberts* 614
Majority 57

Enoch Davies, returned in 1901 following William Morgan's re-election as alderman, was elected unopposed.

Treherbert 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Enoch Davies* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Treorchy

edit

Thomas Jones, Co-operative stores manager, was returned unopposed.

Treorchy 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Jones* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Trealaw and Tonypandy

edit

D.W. Davies, the member since 1898, was returned unopposed for the second successive election.

Tonypandy 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal D.W. Davies* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Tylorstown and Ynyshir

edit

Sitting councillor Dr T.H. Morris stood down to allow Alderman W.H. Mathias to be returned unopposed.

Tylorstown and Ynyshir 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal W.H. Mathias** unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Ystalyfera

edit
Ystalyfera 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Griffiths 528
Liberal Edgar Rees 308
Liberal D.W. Davies 38
Majority 220
Labour hold Swing

Clifford Cory, the member since 1892, was once again returned unopposed.

Ystrad 1904
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Clifford John Cory* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Election of Aldermen

edit

In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Boundary changes following the secession of Merthyr kept the number of councillors at 66 through the creation of additional wards. The number of aldermen therefore remained unchanged. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1910 election, there were twelve Aldermanic vacancies rather than eleven owing to the resignation of John Davies, an alderman elected for a Merthyr ward.

The following aldermen were appointed by the newly elected council.

elected for six years Thomas, W. M. David G. h- Fleming, Rhys 11 airies, Dd. Hughes G. J. Hughes, W. Jones, J. Jordan, Rhys Llew- ellyn, W. Llewellyn, W. H. Matthews, W. M. Williams, and Rev. D. H. Williams.

elected for three years

By-Elections

edit

Aberdare Town by-election

edit

William Thomas, High Constable of Miskin Higher, who had been nominated at the initial election but agreed to withdraw to prevent a split in the Liberal ranks was now returned unopposed.[6]

Aberdare Town by-election 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Thomas unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llwydcoed by-election

edit

Harris, elected when Llewellyn was initially made an alderman, was again returned.[6]

Llwydcoed by-election 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal M.J. Harris* unopposed

References

edit
  1. ^ "Elections in the Counties. Polling Results in Glamorgan". Weekly Mail. 12 March 1910. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  2. ^ "County Council Elections". Glamorgan Gazette. 25 February 1910. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Glamorgan County Council. List of Nominations Sent In". South Wales Daily Post. 1 March 1910. Retrieved 18 June 2014.. All nominations in the western part of the county re available in this source.
  4. ^ "Glamorgan County Council. Result of Monday's Elections". Cambrian. 11 March 1910. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  5. ^ "County Council Elections". Aberdare Leader. 12 March 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Glamorgan County Council. Aberdare Unopposed Returns". Aberdare Leader. 9 April 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 23 December 2015.

Bibliography

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