Carmarthenshire County Council election, 1937
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
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
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
Around half the wards were uncontested, mainly in the rural areas.
Contested elections
A similar number of contests took place compared with 1934. This included contests in rural areas between rival Independent candidates.
Retiring aldermen
The aldermen who retired at the election were as follows:
Summary of results
This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections. As noted, there was ambiguity in some cases over the party affiliation.
This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 53 councillors were elected.
| Carmarthenshire County Council 1937 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections |
| Party |
Seats |
Gains |
Losses |
Net gain/loss |
Seats % |
Votes % |
Votes |
+/− |
| |
Liberal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Conservative |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Labour |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Independent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ward results
Abergwili
Ammanford No.1
Boundary Change.
Ammanford No.1 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
John Harries |
unopposed |
|
|
| |
Labour win (new seat) |
Ammanford No.2
Boundary Change.
Ammanford No.2 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Frank Davies* |
708 |
|
|
|
Independent |
David Jones |
487 |
|
|
| |
Labour win (new seat) |
Berwick
Berwick 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
T.S. Bowen* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Burry Port
Boundary Change.
Burry Port 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
W.D. Jenkins |
993 |
|
|
|
Independent |
F.J. Morgan |
672 |
|
|
| |
Labour win (new seat) |
Caio
Carmarthen Division 1 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
William Jones* |
unopposed |
|
|
| |
Independent win (new seat) |
Carmarthen Division 2
Carmarthen Division 2 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
H.S. Holmes* |
unopposed |
|
|
| |
Independent win (new seat) |
Carmarthen Division 3
Carmarthen Division 3 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
J. Ithel P. Thomas* |
unopposed |
|
|
| |
Independent win (new seat) |
Cenarth
Cilycwm
Conwil
Cwmamman
Hengoed
Hengoed 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Joseph Howells* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Kidwelly
Laugharne
Llanarthney
Llanarthney 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
W. Edgar Lewis* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanboidy
Llandebie North
Llandebie South
Llandebie South 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
D.B. Lewis* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Urban
Llandovery
Llandyssilio
Llanedy
Llanedy 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Thomas William Morgan* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanegwad
Llanelly Division.1
Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 2
Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 2 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
W.T. Griffiths |
565 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Brinley R. Jones* |
486 |
|
|
| |
Labour win (new seat) |
Llanelly Division 3
Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 4
Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 4 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Independent |
Martin L. Edwards |
598 |
|
|
|
Labour |
D.J. Charles |
512 |
|
|
| Majority |
|
|
|
| |
Independent win (new seat) |
Llanelly Division 5
Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 6
Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 6 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
W. Douglas Hughes* |
unopposed |
|
|
| |
Labour win (new seat) |
Llanelly Division 7
Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 6 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
J. Llewellyn Evans |
unopposed |
|
|
| |
Labour win (new seat) |
Llanelly Division 8
Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 9
Boundary Change
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llangadock
Llangeler
Llangendeirne
Llangennech
Llangennech 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
D.J. Davies* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llangunnor
Llanon
Llanon 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Rees Morgan* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llansawel
Llanstephan
Llanybyther
Myddfai
Pembrey
Boundary Change
Pontyberem
Boundary Change
Pontyberem 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
David John Jones |
unopposed |
|
|
| |
Labour win (new seat) |
Quarter Bach
Quarter Bach 1934
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
William Watkin Davies |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Rhydcymmerai
St Clears
St Ishmael
Trelech
Trimsaran
Boundary Change
Trimsaran 1937
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Gomer Evans* |
unopposed |
|
|
| |
Labour win (new seat) |
Westfa and Glyn
Whitland
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 (with the number of votes in each case).
References
Bibliography
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