The seventeenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1946. It was preceded by the 1937 election after the 1940 and 1943 elections were postponed due to the Second World War. It was followed by the 1949 election.
Overview
editLabour's comfortable majority on the council, including the aldermanic bench, remained unchanged.
Boundary changes
editThere were no boundary changes at this election.
Candidates
editA 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
editLabour 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
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Florence Rose Davies** | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Edward Lewis Hare* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Joseph Dicks** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Alwyn John | 1,292 | |||
Labour | Tom Williams | 977 | |||
Independent | Henry Cohen | 242 | |||
Majority | 315 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Bargoed
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William John Kedward* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
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
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Dorothy Rees** | 1,965 | |||
Independent | G. Edward Smith | 1,762 | |||
Majority | 203 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William J. Edwards* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William W. Phillips* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | George Gethin* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Digby Smith | 1,499 | |||
Independent | A.L. Davies | 1,158 | |||
Majority | 341 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Evan Phillips* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Edryd Lewis | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | P. John Smith | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Cwm Aber
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev David M. Jones* | Unopposed | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Cwmavon
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Jones Edwards* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John James Garwood* | 1,167 | |||
Independent | Evan Thomas | 485 | |||
Majority | 682 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Ivor Broadbent Thomas* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | George Adams | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alfred Evans* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Gadlys
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Phillips* | 1,802 | |||
Labour | David Idris Bruton | 796 | |||
Majority | 1,006 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Garw Valley
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Charles Gunter* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sir William Jenkins** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Fredrick William Davies | 2,083 | |||
Labour | Stanley Jones | 1,480 | |||
Majority | 603 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Hengoed
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Thomas Evans** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Hopkinstown
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Tom Waite | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Edgar L. Chappell | 1,769 | |||
Independent | John Kane | 1,400 | |||
Majority | 369 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Castell Coch
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Sir Lewis Lougher* | 1,458 | |||
Labour | Edward Harry Follis | 606 | |||
Majority | 852 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Llandeilo Talybont
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Caradoc Jones** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanfabon
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Bowen** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Martha Emma Jones* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Philip Haines Rowlands* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David John Davies | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Evans** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold |
Maesteg, East and West
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Tom Jenkins* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | W.K. Owen | 1,445 | |||
Labour | Edgar Owen | 991 | |||
Majority | 454 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev W. Degwel Thomas** | 1,484 | |||
Independent | Katie Davies | 1,035 | |||
Majority | 449 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev Horatio R. Protheroe* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ogmore Valley
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Communist | Frederick Arthur Llewellyn* | 1,963 | |||
Labour | Stanley James Moore | 833 | |||
Majority | 1,130 | ||||
Communist hold | Swing |
Penarth North
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | H.J. Cook | 1,001 | |||
Independent | F.R. Cratchley | 801 | |||
Majority | 200 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Penarth South
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | D.B. Jones | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Pencoed
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Mervyn W. Paine* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Penrhiwceiber
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John William Bath* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Daniel Davies** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Pontyclun
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Theo Griffiths | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Port Talbot East
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Thomas** | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Port Talbot West
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Llewelyn David* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Porthcawl
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | W.A. Howell* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W.A. Hancock* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Pontypridd Town
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Ivor M. Jenkins | 1,458 | |||
Independent | Cyril R. Morgan | 1,450 | |||
Majority | 8 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Thomas Churchill* | 2,148 | |||
Independent | William John Gribble | 981 | |||
Majority | 1,267 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Porth
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Thomas Griffiths | 976 | |||
Independent | Daniel Jones* | 974 | |||
Communist | Murray Williams | 868 | |||
Majority | 2 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Swansea Valley
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Jenkins* | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch
editParty | 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
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Communist | Lewis Jones | 1,945 | |||
Labour | Richard Jones | 1,315 | |||
Majority | 630 | ||||
Communist hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Arthur W. Harris | 2,507 | |||
Independent | Ceiriog Williams | 1,029 | |||
Majority | 1,478 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Llewellyn* | 3,345 | |||
Communist | George Thomas | 1,964 | |||
Majority | 1,391 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Treorchy
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rhys Evans** | 4,401 | |||
Communist | Ivor Williams | 1,077 | |||
Majority | 3,324 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Tylorstown
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Llewellyn Jones | 1,984 | |||
Communist | Frederick J. Morton | 942 | |||
Majority | 1,042 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Vale of Neath
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William A. Betty* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Ivor Jones | 1,855 | |||
Independent | Morgan Benjamin | 1,418 | |||
Majority | 437 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ystalyfera
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alice Williams* | 2,051 | |||
Plaid Cymru | Wynne Samuel | 873 | |||
Majority | 1,176 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
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
editIn 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
editEleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen. At Neath, Charles P. Huins held his seat with a majority which exceeded that gained by Alderman Degwel Thomas at the triennial election.[6]
Aberaman by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sydney Herbert Stephens* | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Neath South by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Charles P. Huins | 1,571 | |||
Independent | John Walter Jones | 896 | |||
Majority | 675 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanfabon by-election
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Charles Herbert Davies | 1,387 | |||
Independent | Rev. Henry Withers | 798 | |||
Majority | 589 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Tylorstown by-election
editParty | 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.