1913–1939 Llanelly Borough Council elections

Llanelly Borough Council was created in 1913 when the existing Llanelly Urban District Council was granted full borough status.

1913 Llanelly Borough Council election

The first election for the newly incorporated borough of Llanelly was held on 3 November 1913. All the seats were contested with the majority of the members of the former Urban District Council being elected. Apart from the nine candidates nominated by the Labour Association - three in each ward - the election was said to have been fought on non-political and non-sectarian lines, with the majority of the aspirants standing as Independents.^[1]

Ward One

Ward One 1913
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	W.H. Samuel*	897
Independent	Joseph Roberts	865
Independent	Roland T. Thomas*	827
Independent	Gwilym R. Price*	824
Independent	David Jennings	779
Labour	John Simlett*	632
Independent	W.E. Clements	628
Independent	James Hansard	593
Labour	William Vivian	560
Independent	W.T. Davies	534
Independent	William Davies	447

Ward Two

Ward Two 1913
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	D.J. Davies*	1,048
Independent	E. Willis Jones*	1,009
Independent	Thomas Jones*	984
Independent	W.B. Jones*	939
Independent	D.R. Jones	888
Independent	T. Hay Samuel	742
Independent	Dan Williams	687
Independent	J. Thomas	674
Labour	G.H. Stacey	664
Independent	D. Davies	540
Labour	Sam Jones	530
Independent	J. Lewis Phillips	424
Labour	T.H. Evans	366

Ward Three

Ward Three 1913
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Herbert D. Rees*	601
Independent	W.P. Rees	538
Labour	Nathan Griffiths*	444
Independent	J.W. Thomas	432
Independent	J.L. Jones	347
Labour	John Hughes	345
Independent	Owen Jones	342
Labour	Morgan Morgan*	332
Independent	W.M. Davies*	325
Independent	S.H. Bevan	295

By-elections

At the inaugural statutory meeting of the new council on Monday, 10 N0vember, presided over by the new mayor, Sir Stafford Howard,^[2] six aldermen were elected (two from each ward) resulting in by-elections for the remaining six seats on the council. D. James Davies, John Simlett and Herbert Rees were elected aldermen for six years, and Joseph Roberts, Bramwell Jones and Nathan Griffiths for three years.

The by-elections were held on 25 November, with five of the seats being won by Independent candidates.^[3]

Ward One by-election (two seats)

Ward One by-election 1913
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W.E. Clement	800
Independent	W.T. Davies	699
Labour	William Vivian	661
Labour	P. Williams	276

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two by-elections 1913
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	D. Williams	622
Independent	John Thomas	599
Labour	G.H. Stacey	564
Independent	D. Davies	541
Independent	J. Lewis Phillips	293
Independent	T. Harris	163
Independent	J. Davies	125

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three by-elections 1913
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Morgan Morgan	400
Independent	William Davies	339
Labour	Owen Jones	322
Independent	H. Williams	297
Independent	W. Davies	285

1919 Llanelly Borough Council election

In the first post-war election, Labour candidates won four of the six seats, three of which were gains from Independent candidates.^[4] The Llanelly Mercury expressed the hope that the infusion of new blood would lead to an improvement in the govrnamce of the town.^[5]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1919
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Evan Roberts	1,068
Independent	Martin R. Richards*	979
Independent	Frank J. Rees*	945
Labour	David Williams	744
Independent	John Llewellyn	405
Independent	John Marker	409
Independent	Alicia Phillips	321

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1919
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Thomas Charles	1,779
Discharged Soldiers and Sailors	Capt. J. Evans	1,491
Labour	Thomas Davies	1,267
Independent	W.T. Morris	667

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1919
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Owen Jones	873
Labour	H. Steve Davies	781
Independent	William Davies*	653
Independent	J.W. Thomas*	258

1921 Llanelly Borough Council election

Independent candidates won five of the six seats, including William Davies, who regained the seat he lost in 1919..^[6] The Labour Association was criticised for running a slate of candidates and creating costs to the ratepayers.^[7]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1921
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	David Jennings	1,878
Independent	Frank J. Rees*	1,809
Labour	Mrs Elias Davies	581
Independent	T.L. Stewart	401
Independent	Llew Arthur	354

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1921
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	E. Willis Jones*	2,061
Independent	T. Hay Samuel*	1,644
Labour	Tom Harries	859
Independent	G.W. Dillon	712

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1921
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	William Davies	1,268
Labour	John Hughes*	923
Independent	Thomas Morgan	673
Independent	David John	516

1922 Llanelly Borough Council election

Only one of the three wards was contested at this election, which was overshadowed by the ongoing General Election.^[8]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1922
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Evan Roberts*	Unopposed
	Independent	Martin R. Richards*	Unopposed

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1922
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Thomas Charles*	Unopposed
	Independent	J. Evans*	Unopposed

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1922
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	H. Steve Davies*	1,094
Labour	Owen Jones*	1,021
Independent	David Harries	843

1923 Llanelly Borough Council election

The Labour Party launched a campaign to improve their position on the authority and this led to a more politiciced campoagn than in previous years. Aldermen also stood down but the death of D. James Davies, former owner of the South Wales Press, left one vacancy.^[9] However, only two of the six Labour candidates were elected.^[10]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1923
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Joseph Roberts**	1,634
Independent	W.E. Clement*	1,362
Labour	Tom Hughes	878
Independent	R.J. Edmunds	800
Labour	T.D. Phillips	623

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1923
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W.T. Morris	2,021
Labour	James Davies*	1,709
Labour	Elias Davies*	1,637

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1923
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W. Powell Rees*	1,803
Labour	Morgan Morgan	901
Labour	Stanley Davies	825

1924 Llanelly Borough Council election

The contest, held at the same time as a General Election campaign, resulted in Labour losing one seat.^[11]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1924
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Frank J. Rees*	2,223
Independent	David Jennings*	1,919
Labour	R. Phillips	860

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1924
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	T. Hay Samuel*	1,909
Labour	Elias Davies*	1,739
Labour	Ben Griffiths	1,275

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1924
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	William Davies*	1,247
Independent	Theo Jenkins	973
Labour	John Hughes*	873
Labour	J.J. Winter	552

1925 Llanelly Borough Council election

All three wards wre contested and local press coverage focused on the more radical elements within the Labour campaign with Enoch Collins being described as an avowed Communist.^[12] Th outcome was a net loss of one Labour seat.^[13] While Labour held both setas in Ward Three the more moderate Tom Charles was ousted in Ward Two. Press attention locally focused on the defeat of Neft and Collins in Ward One while it was claimed that Charles would have held his seat had he stood as an Independent.

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1925
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Daniel Roberts*	2,277
Independent	Martin R. Richards*	2,120
Labour	R. Neft	603
Labour	Enoch Collins	532

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1925
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Jack Evans*	1,987
Independent	W.E. Davies	1,823
Labour	Thomas Charles*	1,547
Labour	Ben Griffiths	1,185

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1925
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	H. Steve Davies*	1,209
Labour	Owen Jones*	1,146
Independent	Alban Evans	663

1926 Llanelly Borough Council election

All three wards were keenly contested and the Labour Party launched a campaign to improve their position on the authority and this led to a more politiciced campaign than in previous years. Aldermen also stood down, including the retiring mayor, J.L. Jones.^[14] Much to the surprise of the local press, Labour won four of the six seats with two retiring aldermen and W.T. Morris, a sitting county councillor, among those defeated. J.L. Jones, first elected in 1910, finished at the foot of the poll. There was criticism of Indepdnents for fielding too many candidates and allowing Labour candidates to be elected on a split vote.^[15] The practice of expecting retiring aldermen to seek election in competition with retiring councillors was also questioned.

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1926
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	J.H. Williams*	1,480
Labour	John Hughes	1,413
Independent	R.P. Thomas**	1,311
Independent	W.E. Clement*	1,045

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1926
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Tom Charles	2,085
Independent	Jack Auckland	1,437
Independent	W.H. Charles	1,338
Independent	W.T. Morris*	981

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1926
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Morgan Morgan	1,094
Labour	Stanley Davies*	1,013
Independent	W.J. Davies	687
Independent	Tom Morgan	600
Independent	J.L. Jones**	592

By-elections

At the statutory meeting on 9 November, David Jennings (Ind), T. Hay Samuel (Ind) and Morgan Morgan (Lab) were elected aldermen, causing by-elections in each ward. ^[16] The Independents won two of these but the ex-mayor was again defeated in Ward Three.^[17]

Ward 1 by-election (one seat)

Ward 1 by-election 1926
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	R.P. Thomas
	Labour	W.L. Rees

Ward 2 by-election (one seat)

Ward 2 by-election 1926
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	W.H. Charles
	Labour	D. James Davies
	Independent	T. Griffiths

Ward 3 by-election (one seat)

Ward 3 by-election 1926
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	H.W. Bowen	976
	Independent	J.L. Jones	581

1927 Llanelly Borough Council election

Coverage prior to the election suggested that the Labour Association washopeful of winning at least three seats. However, Labour lost the one seat that they held as the Independnets won all six seats. Roland Thomas, who briefly lost his seat the previous year, was among those re-elected.^[18]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1927
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Frank J. Rees*	2,370
Independent	Roland P. Thomas*	1,897
Labour	W.L. Rees	1,090

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1927
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W.H. Charles*	1,872
Independent	John Williams	1,697
Labour	Elias Davies*	1,598
Labour	D. James Davies	1,371

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1927
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Theo Jenkins*	1,319
Independent	William Davies*	1,081
Labour	W. Jones	705
Labour	Alf Davies	597

1928 Llanelly Borough Council election

All three wards were contested. In Ward One, the two retiring Independent members faced a number of opponents including former Labour councillor Elias Davies and two Independents, Tom Hughes and William Vivian, who had links to the labour movement. In Ward Two,, the two retiring members who had both served since 1919 were opposed by Labour candidates who included the Divisional party's local organizer, Douglas Hughes. Finally, in Ward Three, Labour was defending oth seats but a string Independent challenge was mounted. A self-appointed 'Ratepayers Association' formally supported five non-Labour candidates..^[19] Independents held five seats while in Ward 3, Owen Jones, a Labour councillor for nine years, lost his seat to another Labour candidate.^[20]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1928
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Martin R. Richards*	2,122
Independent	Daniel Roberts*	1,957
Labour	Elias Davies	945
Independent	Tom Hughes	855
Independent	William Vivian	838
Labour	Harry Rees	591
Communist	Enoch Collins	96
Communist	Harry Jones	80

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1928
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W.E. Davies	2,449
Independent	Jack Evans*	2,432
Labour	John Hughes	1,377
Labour	Douglas Hughes	1,341

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1928
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W.J. Davies	1,101
Labour	D. Grant Evans	1,092
Labour	Owen Jones*	1,085
Communist	Bryn Jones	113

1929 Llanelly Borough Council election

In addition to the six councillors, three aldermen stood down. However, Joseph Roberts and E. Willis Jones, both of whom had been members of the authority since Llanelli obtained borough status in 1913, chose to stand down..^[21] At the election, Elias Davies regained the seat he lost two years previously (having unsuccessfully contested Ward One in 1928) while in Ward Three, Labour councillor Stanley Davies lost at the expense of retiring aldermen, W. Powell Rees. Former Labour councillor Owen Jones, now running as an Independent, was unsuccessful.^[22]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1929
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	J.H. Williams*	1,625
Labour	John Hughes*	1,507
Independent	William Vivian	1,215
Independent	D. Haddon Jones	1,006
Communist	Enoch Collins	61

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1929
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Tom Charles*	2,167
Labour	Elias Davies	1,779
Independent	Jack Auckland*	1,579
Communist	Bryn James	109

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1929
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W. Powell Rees**	1,369
Labour	H.W. Bowen*	1,173
Labour	Stanley Davies*	929
Independent	Owen Jones	613
Communist	Harry Jones	64

By-elections

At the statutory meeting, Martin R. Richards, Jack Evans and William Davies (all Independents) were appointed aldermen. Coverage of the by-elections highlighted the failure of Independents to rally around a single candidate.^[23] Labour won two of the wards and came within a small margin of winning all three.^[24]

Ward 1 by-election (one seat)

Ward 1 by-election 1929
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	William Vivian	1,076
Labour	Percy M. Evans	1,060
Independent	D. Haddon Jones	688
Independent	Tom Hughes	434

Ward 2 by-election (one seat)

Ward 2 by-election 1929
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	D. James Davies	1,464
	Independent	Jack Auckland	1,282

Ward 3 by-election (one seat)

Ward 3 by-election 1929
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	F. Stanley Davies	1,127
	Independent	Owen Jones	489

1930 Llanelly Borough Council election

Independent candidates won all seats in an election dominated by a dispute over the purchase of the tramway company by the borough council, a proposal supported by Labour councillors.^[25]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1930
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Frank J. Rees*	2,471
Independent	Roland P. Thomas*	2,230
Labour	Percy M. Evans	1,612
Labour	S. Vicary	1,031

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1930
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W.H. Charles*	1,875
Independent	Joseph Preece	1,658
Labour	John Hughes	1,508
Labour	J.G. Davies	1,348
Communist	Brin James	218

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1930
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Theo Jenkins*	1,314
Independent	Robert Richards	1,252
Labour	Stanley Davies*	994
Labour	T. Colvin	518
Communist	J. Cowern	45
Communist	Arthur Evans	26

1931 Llanelly Borough Council election

The election wa fought in the immediate aftermath of the 1931 General Election when Dr J.H. Williams had once again been returned as Labour member for the Llanelli constituency following a straight fight with a 'National' candidate, Frank J. Rees (a member of the borough council). Twenty candidates contested the three wards, including a full slate of Communist candidates for the first time (although the party had failed to raise a deposit to contest the recent General Election).^[26] A heavy poll saw five Independents returned, including a gain from Labour in Ward Two. In Ward One, the sitting Independents polled stronlgly and held off thechallenge of Labour, including Percy Evans, who had been returned to Carmarthenshire County Council at a by-election earlier in the year following a split in the Labour vote.^[27]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1931
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	William Vivian*	3,052
Independent	Daniel Roberts*	2,298
Labour	Percy M. Evans	1,533
Labour	John Davies	891
Communist	Arthur Evans	194
Communist	E. Leyshon	131

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1931
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W.E. Davies	2,238
Independent	Martin L. Edwards	1,712
Labour	D. James Davies*	1,712
Labour	William Willams	1,673
Communist	Bryn James	333
Communist	E.E. Seward	172

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1931
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	D. Grant Evans*	1,162
Independent	W.J. Davies*	920
Labour	George Davies	784
Independent	Owen Jones	598
Independent	Mrs L.C. Jonathan	496
Independent	F. Howells	447
Communist	Enoch Collins	116
Communist	Harry Jones	52

1932 Llanelly Borough Council election

The annual eleection was characterised by multiple candidates in all three wards. The Labour vote was threatened by challenge not only of Communist candidates but also ILP candidates who included some former prominent Labour figures such as Percy Evans, a county councillor, and D. James Davies, a former borough councillor. In Ward 2, three Independent candidates stood, which raised fears of a split vote before the election.^[28] In addition to the six councillors, three aldermen came to the end of their term and sought re-election.

In Ward One, retiring alderman David Jennings and sitting member J.H. Williams were returned, with retiring labour member John Hughes losing his seat. His defeat was attributed, in part, to the intervention of an ILP candidate. There had been an expectation that the sitting Labour members in Ward Two would be threatened by the ILP, but they withstood this challenge as well as that of the Independents candidates. These included T. Hay Samuel, the outgoing mayor, a member of the council since its formation in 1913, and retiring alderman; and also W.T.Morris, a sitting County councillor seeking to regain the seat on the borough council that he lost some years previously. The Independents were more successful in Ward Three, where both Labour candidates, including retiring alderman Morgan Morgan, were defeated.^[29]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1932
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	J.H. Williams*	1,995
Independent	David Jennings**	1,840
Labour	John Hughes*	1,637
Ind. Labour Party	J.G. Davies	386
Communist	Bryn James	331
Ind. Labour Party	Robert J. Rees	301
Communist	Arthur Evans	298

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1932
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Tom Charles*	1,499
Labour	Elias Davies	1,278
Ind. Labour Party	Percy M. Evans	1,118
Independent	W.T. Morris	1,100
Independent	T. Hay Samuel**	1,066
Ind. Labour Party	D. James Davies	859
Independent	Tom Jeffreys	685
Communist	Enoch Collins	342
Communist	E.E. Seaward	121

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1932
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W. Powell Rees*	1,592
Independent	A.H. Olive*	1,339
Labour	H.W. Bowen*	951
Labour	Morgan Morgan**	854
Communist	E. Leyshon	327
Independent	F. Howells	326
Communist	Tom Colvin	166

By-elections

At the statutory meeting, Frank J. Rees (Ind), Tom Charles (Lab) and Theo Jenkins (Ins) wee elected aldermen.^[30] As was the case three years previously, concern was expressed about a split Independent vote in Ward Two as both candidates who unsuccessfully fought three weeks earlier again stood for the single seat.^[31] W.T. Morris withdrew before the poll but Hay Samuel and the official Labour candidate were defeated by the ILP. Labour won the other two seats as ex-councillors defeated at the fist election were successful at their second attempt.^[32]

Ward 1 by-election (one seat)

Ward 1 by-election 1932
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	John Hughes*	1,427
Ind. Labour Party	James G. Davies	248
Communist	Bryn James	90

Ward 2 by-election (one seat)

Ward 2 by-election 1932
	Candidate	Votes
Ind. Labour Party	Percy M. Evans	1,172
Independent	T. Hay Samuel*	883
Labour	John Hughes	853
Communist	Enoch Collins	50

Ward 3 by-election (one seat)

Ward 3 by-election 1932
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	H.W. Bowen*	1,079
Independent	Fred Howells	591
Communist	E. Leyshon	164

1933 Llanelly Borough Council election

The election resulted in Labour gaining one seat from the Indepedendents.^[33] This was in Ward Two, where Douglas Hughes, a county councillor since 1931, took a seat despite the Labour vote being split by the intervention of the ILP. In Ward One, Mervyn Paton, clerk to Kidwelly Borough Council, took a seat at the expense of Roland Thomas, a long-serving member who was also a leading figure in the Welsh Rugby Union. There was an increase in the Communist vote in all three wards.

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1933
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Mervyn D.J. Paton	1,838
Labour	John Hughes*	1,837
Independent	Roland P. Thomas	1,470
Ind. Labour Party	James G. Davies	651
Communist	Brin James	536

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1933
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	W. Douglas Hughes	1,495
Independent	W.H. Charles*	1,339
Ind. Labour Party	D. James Davies	1,254
Labour	Ben Griffiths	1,012
Independent	Joseph Preece*	893
Communist	Enoch Collins	422

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1933
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	H.W. Bowen*	1,197
Independent	Robert Richards*	1,105
Independent	Dr L.C. Edwards	894
Communist	E. Leyshon	497

1934 Llanelly Borough Council election

Eight seats were contested, as opposed to the usual three, following the resignation of Jack Evans and the death of Frank J. Rees. J.H. Williams and Elias Davies had been elevated to the aldermanic bench to fill the two vacancies resulting in three seats being cacant in Wards One and Two. The outstanding feature was the surprise election of Ernest Leyshon, the Communist candidate, in Ward Three, although his success at the Harbour Trust election in September had indicated a further increase in support for the Communists. Elsewhere, Roland Thomas was elected to fill the vacancy in Ward One following his defeat the previous year.^[34]

Ward One (three seats)

Ward One 1934
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Daniel Roberts*	2,151
Independent	William Vivian*	2,005
Independent	Roland P. Thomas	1,871
Labour	Joseph Howells	1,046
Communist	Bryn James	887
Labour	J. Williams	838
Labour	H. Rees	797
Ind. Labour Party	J.G. Davies	438
Communist	Arthur Evans	319
Ind. Labour Party	E. Jones	285

Ward Two (three seats)

Ward Two 1934
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W.E. Davies*	1,816
Independent	Martin L. Edwards*	1,622
Labour	Daniel Rees	1,612
Labour	William Williams	1,484
Ind. Labour Party	D. James Davies	1,346
Independent	Mrs Daisy Lewis	1,207
Labour	T.H. Jenkins	816
Communist	Enoch Collins	625
Communist	H. Jones	246

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1934
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	D. Grant Evans*	1,185
Communist	Ernest Leyshon	1,112
Independent	W.J. Davies*	726
Independent	W.J. Thomas	645
Labour	G. Every	517

1935 Llanelly Borough Council election

In addition to the six councillors, three aldermen retired leaving a potential nine retiring members competing for six seats. However, following previous concersn about a split Independent votes, Roland P. Thomas (Ward One) and William Davies (Ward Three) decided not to seek re-election and wait for the forthcoming by-elections.

In both Wards One and Two, the Independnet candidates prevailed, with Alderman Elias Davies, only elevayed to the aldermanic bench the previous year, losing his seat. Retiring ILP member Percy Evans was also defeated. Ward Three, however, saw a huge surprise when W. Powell Rees, a borough councillor for twenty years and a serving county councillor, being comfortably defeated by the Communist candidate Brinley James.^[35]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1935
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	David Jennings*	2,272
Independent	Martin R. Richards**	2,180
Labour	H. Percy Rees	1,343
Communist	Enoch Collins	1,016

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1935
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Daniel Rees*	1,737
Independent	W.E. Phillips	1,641
Labour	Elias Davies**	1,605
Independent	G.F. Austin	1,341
Ind. Labour Party	D. James Davies	905
Ind. Labour Party	Percy M. Evans*	773

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1935
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	A.H. Olive*	1,565
Communist	Brinley James	1,373
Independent	W. Powell Rees**	1,192
Labour	Glyn Every	786

By-elections

At the statutory meeting, Dan Roberts (Ind), W.E. Davies (Ind) and H.W. Bowen (Lab) were elected aldermen.^[36] A further vacancy in Ward Three was created by the death the previous month of the Labour councillor, D. Grant Evans.^[37]

Much attention focused on Ward Three, where the Communists sought further success but they fell short by 32 votes behind ex-Alderman William Davies and Labour candidate John Griffiths. In Wards One and Two, old members regained seats as the Communists did not contest.^[38] Roland Thomas, first elected to the former Urban District Council in 1911, was again returned.

Ward 1 by-election (one seat)

Ward 1 by-election 1935
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Roland P. Thomas*	1,738
	Labour	H. Percy Rees	1,082

Ward 2 by-election (one seat)

Ward 2 by-election 1935
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Elias Davies	1,602
Ind. Labour Party	D. James Davies	833
Independent	John Zammit	665

Ward 3 by-election (one seat)

Ward 3 by-election 1935
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	William Davies**	1,013
Labour	John Griffiths	947
Communist	Enoch Collins	932
Independent	W.J. Davies	771
Labour	George Davies	420
Independent	J. Bradbury	133

1936 Llanelly Borough Council election

Two sitting members were defeated but the overall composition of the Council remained unchanged.^[39]

Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1936
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Dr H.D. Llewellyn	2,232
Independent	Mervyn D.J. Paton*	2,141
Labour	John Hughes*	1,308
Labour	J. Llewellyn Evans	1,163

Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1936
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	W. Douglas Hughes*	1,865
Labour	D.J. Joseph	1,695
Independent	W.H. Charles*	1,579
Independent	Mrs Daisy Lewis	1,259

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1936
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	J. Griffiths*	1,257
Independent	A.G. Brown	717
Communist	Enoch Collins	541
Labour	H. Heath	518
Independent	P.W. Beynon	380
Independent	J. Bradbury	93

1937 Llanelly Borough Council election

Eight seats were contested, as opposed to the usual three, following the resignation of Jack Evans and the death of Frank J. Rees. J.H. Williams and Elias Davies had been elevated to the aldermanic bench to fill the two vacancies resulting in three seats being cacant in Wards One and Two. The outstanding feature was the surprise election of Ernest Leyshon, the Communist candidate, in Ward Three, although his success at the Harbour Trust election in September had indicated a further increase in support for the Communists. Elsewhere, Roland Thomas was elected to fill the vacancy in Ward One following his defeat the previous year.^[34]

Ward One (three seats)

Ward One 1937
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Daniel Roberts*	2,151
Independent	William Vivian*	2,005
Independent	Roland P. Thomas	1,871
Labour	Joseph Howells	1,046
Communist	Bryn James	887
Labour	J. Williams	838
Labour	H. Rees	797
Ind. Labour Party	J.G. Davies	438
Communist	Arthur Evans	319
Ind. Labour Party	E. Jones	285

Ward Two (three seats)

Ward Two 1937
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	W.E. Davies*	1,816
Independent	Martin L. Edwards*	1,622
Labour	Daniel Rees	1,612
Labour	William Williams	1,484
Ind. Labour Party	D. James Davies	1,346
Independent	Mrs Daisy Lewis	1,207
Labour	T.H. Jenkins	816
Communist	Enoch Collins	625
Communist	H. Jones	246

Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1937
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	D. Grant Evans*	1,185
Communist	Ernest Leyshon	1,112
Independent	W.J. Davies*	726
Independent	W.J. Thomas	645
Labour	G. Every	517

References

^ "Town Council Elections". Welshman. 7 November 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
^ "A Red Letter Day. Llanelli's First Corporation Meets for the First Time". Llanelly Star. 15 November 1913. p. 3. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
^ "Council Elections. Results of Contests in South Wales". Western Mail. 25 November 1913. p. 6. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
^ "Election Results". Llanelly Mercury. 6 November 1919.
^ "Editorial". Llanelly Mercury. 6 November 1919.
^ "Results". Llanelly Mercury. 3 November 1921.
^ "Editorial". Llanelly Mercury. 27 October 1921.
^ "Borough Election Results". Llanelly Mercury. 9 November 1922.
^ "Municipal Elections". Llanelly Mercury. 11 October 1923.
^ "Municipal Elections". Llanelly Mercury. 8 November 1923.
^ "Municipal Elections". Llanelly Mercury. 6 November 1924.
^ "Borough Council Elections". Llanelly Star. 24 October 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
^ "Election Results". Western Mail. 3 November 1925. p. 8. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
^ "Monday's Election. Keen Contest in All Wards". Llanelly Star. 30 October 1926. p. 1. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
^ "Election Afterthoughts. Lessons for the Anti-Socialists". Llanelly Star. 6 November 1926. p. 3. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
^ "Sentinel's Gossip". Llanelly Star. 13 November 1926. p. 3. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
^ "The Bye-Elections. Ex-Mayor's Second Defeat". Llanelly Star. 4 December 1926. p. 7. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
^ "Socialists Routed. One Independent Gain in Local Elections". Llanelly Star. 5 November 1927. p. 6.
^ "The Men to Vote For. Candidates who will Honour their Promises". Llanelly Star. 27 October 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
^ "Socialists Staggered. Independents Indiminishable. Communists Comatose". Llanelly Star. 3 November 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
^ "Elections and Retirements (editorial)". Llanelly Star. 30 October 1926. p. 1,5. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
^ "Election Afterthoughts. Lessons for the Anti-Socialists". Llanelly Star. 2 November 1926. p. 1. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
^ "The Bye-Election. Danger of Too Many Independents in Ward 1". Llanelly Star. 23 November 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
^ "The Bye-Election. Labour All But Gain Three Seats". Llanelly Star. 30 November 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
^ "Labour's Hopes Crushed. Independents Capture All Seats". Llanelly Star. 8 November 1930. p. 2. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
^ "Monday's Elections. A Plethora of Candidates". Llanelly Star. 31 October 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
^ "Labour Lose a Seat. Independent Gain in Ward II". Llanelly Star. 7 November 1931. p. 3. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
^ "Too Many Independent Candidates (editorial". Llanelly Star. 22 October 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
^ "One New Member for the Council Chamber". Llanelly Star. 5 November 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
^ "New Mayor on Many Topics". Llanelly Star. 12 November 1932. p. 9. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
^ "Eleven Candidates Seek Three Seats. Split Votes Again in Council Bye-elections". Llanelly Star. 19 November 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
^ "Socialists Regain Lost Seats. Llanelly Results in Bye-election". Llanelly Star. 3 December 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
^ "Two New Members for Council Chamber. Socialists Win a Seat from Independents". Llanelly Star. 4 November 1933. p. 7. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
^ ^a ^b "First Communist Councillor. Surprise Success in the Election". Llanelly Star. 3 November 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
^ "Ward 3 Election Shock. Mr Powell Rees Out". Llanelly Star. 2 November 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
^ "The New Aldermen". Llanelly Star. 9 November 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
^ "Choir Sings Hymns at Graveside. Burial of Councillor Grant Evans". Llanelly Star. 19 October 1935. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
^ "Communists Snubbed. Ward Three Victory They Didn't Get". Llanelly Star. 30 November 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
^ "Two New Members for Council Chamber. Socialists Win a Seat from Independents". Llanelly Star. 4 November 1936. p. 7. Retrieved 21 November 2024.

[W_7-11-13_results-1] "Town Council Elections". Welshman. 7 November 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 1 October 2024.

[LS_15-11-13_inaugural_meeting-2] "A Red Letter Day. Llanelli's First Corporation Meets for the First Time". Llanelly Star. 15 November 1913. p. 3. Retrieved 2 October 2024.

[WM_25-1--13_results-3] "Council Elections. Results of Contests in South Wales". Western Mail. 25 November 1913. p. 6. Retrieved 2 October 2024.

[LM_6-11-19_edit-4] "Election Results". Llanelly Mercury. 6 November 1919.

[LM_6-11-19_results-5] "Editorial". Llanelly Mercury. 6 November 1919.

[LM_3-11-21-6] "Results". Llanelly Mercury. 3 November 1921.

[LM_27-10-21_edit-7] "Editorial". Llanelly Mercury. 27 October 1921.

[LM_9-11-22-8] "Borough Election Results". Llanelly Mercury. 9 November 1922.

[LM_11-10-23-9] "Municipal Elections". Llanelly Mercury. 11 October 1923.

[LM_8-11-23-10] "Municipal Elections". Llanelly Mercury. 8 November 1923.

[LM_6-11-24-11] "Municipal Elections". Llanelly Mercury. 6 November 1924.

[LS_25-10-25-12] "Borough Council Elections". Llanelly Star. 24 October 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 20 September 2024.

[WM_res_3-11-25-13] "Election Results". Western Mail. 3 November 1925. p. 8. Retrieved 20 September 2024.

[LS_30-10-26-14] "Monday's Election. Keen Contest in All Wards". Llanelly Star. 30 October 1926. p. 1. Retrieved 24 September 2024.

[LS_6-11-26-15] "Election Afterthoughts. Lessons for the Anti-Socialists". Llanelly Star. 6 November 1926. p. 3. Retrieved 24 September 2024.

[LS_13-11-26-16] "Sentinel's Gossip". Llanelly Star. 13 November 1926. p. 3. Retrieved 24 September 2024.

[LS_4-12-26-17] "The Bye-Elections. Ex-Mayor's Second Defeat". Llanelly Star. 4 December 1926. p. 7. Retrieved 25 September 2024.

[LS_5-11-27-18] "Socialists Routed. One Independent Gain in Local Elections". Llanelly Star. 5 November 1927. p. 6.

[LS_27-10-28-19] "The Men to Vote For. Candidates who will Honour their Promises". Llanelly Star. 27 October 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2024.

[LS_3-11-28-20] "Socialists Staggered. Independents Indiminishable. Communists Comatose". Llanelly Star. 3 November 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2024.

[LS_26-10-29-21] "Elections and Retirements (editorial)". Llanelly Star. 30 October 1926. p. 1,5. Retrieved 21 October 2024.

[LS_2-11-29-22] "Election Afterthoughts. Lessons for the Anti-Socialists". Llanelly Star. 2 November 1926. p. 1. Retrieved 21 October 2024.

[LS_23-11-29_edit-23] "The Bye-Election. Danger of Too Many Independents in Ward 1". Llanelly Star. 23 November 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 22 October 2024.

[LS_30-11-29-24] "The Bye-Election. Labour All But Gain Three Seats". Llanelly Star. 30 November 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 22 October 2024.

[LS_8-11-30-25] "Labour's Hopes Crushed. Independents Capture All Seats". Llanelly Star. 8 November 1930. p. 2. Retrieved 31 October 2024.

[LS_31-10-31-26] "Monday's Elections. A Plethora of Candidates". Llanelly Star. 31 October 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 12 November 2024.

[LS_7-11-31-27] "Labour Lose a Seat. Independent Gain in Ward II". Llanelly Star. 7 November 1931. p. 3. Retrieved 12 November 2024.

[LS_22-10-32-28] "Too Many Independent Candidates (editorial". Llanelly Star. 22 October 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 19 November 2024.

[LS_5-11-32-29] "One New Member for the Council Chamber". Llanelly Star. 5 November 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 19 November 2024.

[LS_12-11-32-30] "New Mayor on Many Topics". Llanelly Star. 12 November 1932. p. 9. Retrieved 20 November 2024.

[LS_19-11-32-31] "Eleven Candidates Seek Three Seats. Split Votes Again in Council Bye-elections". Llanelly Star. 19 November 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 20 November 2024.

[HW_3-12-32-32] "Socialists Regain Lost Seats. Llanelly Results in Bye-election". Llanelly Star. 3 December 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2024.

[LS_4-11-33-33] "Two New Members for Council Chamber. Socialists Win a Seat from Independents". Llanelly Star. 4 November 1933. p. 7. Retrieved 21 November 2024.

[LS_3-11-34-34] "First Communist Councillor. Surprise Success in the Election". Llanelly Star. 3 November 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 21 November 2024.

[LS_2-11-35-35] "Ward 3 Election Shock. Mr Powell Rees Out". Llanelly Star. 2 November 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2024.

[LS_9-11-35-36] "The New Aldermen". Llanelly Star. 9 November 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 26 November 2024.

[LS_19-10-35_GE_obit-37] "Choir Sings Hymns at Graveside. Burial of Councillor Grant Evans". Llanelly Star. 19 October 1935. p. 8. Retrieved 26 November 2024.

[LS_30-11-35-38] "Communists Snubbed. Ward Three Victory They Didn't Get". Llanelly Star. 30 November 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 26 November 2024.

[LS_4-11-36-39] "Two New Members for Council Chamber. Socialists Win a Seat from Independents". Llanelly Star. 4 November 1936. p. 7. Retrieved 21 November 2024.

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