1919_Glamorgan_County_Council_election

1919 Glamorgan County Council election

1919 Glamorgan County Council election

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The tenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1919. It was preceded by the 1913 election and followed by the 1922 election.

Overview of the Result

In this first post-war election a significant advance was made by the Labour Party, which captured a number of seats, and established a comfortable majority on the Council for the first time.[1]

Boundary Changes

A number of boundary changes had taken place since the previous election. The extension of the Swansea Borough boundary caused the disappearance of the Llansamlet, Morriston, Sketty, and Oystermouth divisions which were no longer part of the county. Four new divisions were created in other parts of the county. The old Margam division was divided into two (Margam East and Port Talbot West), and the Llantrisant division was likewise divided into two new wards, namely Gilfach Goch and Tonyrefail. Llantwit Fardre, a new division was also created at Hopkinstown, Pontypridd and the old Aber division was divided into the Cwm Aber and Llanfabon divisions.[2] The number of wards remained at 66.

Candidates

38 of the 66 councilors were returned unopposed.[3]

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Most of the re-elected Conservatives represented wards on the outskirts of Cardiff and in the Vale of Glamorgan. Labour candidates were returned unopposed in a number of the mining valleys although sitting Liberals were also unopposed in some of these localities.

Of the eleven retiring aldermen, seven sought re-election to the Council. Three of these namely E.H. Fleming (Lab, Hopkinstown), William Jones (Lab, Mountain Ash) and William Llewellyn (Lib, Ogmore Vale) were returned unopposed.

Contested Elections

Many of the contested elections resulted in the decision of the Labour Party to run more candidates than ever before. The distribution of these candidates was not uniform, with candidates being run in all Rhondda wards bar two (where two long-serving Liberals went unopposed). In contrast there was only one contested elections in the Aberdare district, and this was more personal than political.[4] Despite the Labour advance at district level in the pre-war period they fielded no candidates.

Outcome

A number of seats changed hands as Labour captured twelve seats and lost only one. Most attention focused on the defeat of two members who had served since 1889, namely Alderman J.M. Smith (Aberavon) and Alderman W.H. Mathias (Rhondda) lost to Labour challengers, but Labour victories occurred in most parts of the county .[5] A third retiring alderman, Evan Davies (Lib, Maesteg) was also defeated while the Rev D.H. Williams (Lib, Barry) sought off a Labour challenger.

Results

Aberaman

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Aberavon

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Abercynon

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Aberdare Town

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Bargoed

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Barry

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Barry Dock

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Blaengwawr

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Bridgend

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Briton Ferry

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Cadoxton

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Caerphilly

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Cilfynydd

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Coedffranc

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Coity

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Cowbridge

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Cwm Aber

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Cwmavon

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Cymmer

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Dinas Powys

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Dulais Valley

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Ferndale

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Gadlys

The sitting member was heavily defeated by the minister of Tabernacle, Aberdare.[6]

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Garw Valley

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Glyncorrwg

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Gower

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Hengoed

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Hopkinstown

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Kibbor

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Llandaff

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Llandeilo Talybont

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Llanfabon

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Llantrisant

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Llwydcoed

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Llwynypia

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Loughor

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Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon

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Maesteg, East and West

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Mountain Ash

Lord Aberdare was initially nominated but withdrew, allowing retiring alderman William Jones to be returned unopposed.[7]

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Neath (North)

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Neath (South)

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Newcastle

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Ogmore Valley

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Penarth North

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Penarth South

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Penrhiwceiber

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Pentre

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Pontardawe

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Port Talbot East

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Port Talbot West

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Porthcawl

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Pontlottyn

Alderman William Williams withdrew in favour of sitting councillor William Hammond.[7]

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Pontypridd

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Penygraig

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Porth

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Swansea Valley

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Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch

The Liberal candidate had sought to withdraw before polling day but missed the deadline and his name was therefore included on the ballot.[7]

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Trealaw

The sitting member, David Charles Evans, licensed victualler, withdrew, allowing the Labour candidate to be returned unopposed.[7]

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Treforest

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Treherbert

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Treorchy

Long-serving councillor, Thomas Jones, was defeated and W.P. Thomas withdrew before the poll.[7]

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Tylorstown

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Vale of Neath

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Ynyshir

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Ystalyfera

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Ystrad

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Election of Aldermen

In addition to the elected councillors the County Council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1919 election, there were twelve aldermanic vacancies, following the resignation of Alderman J.E. Evans.[8]

It was initially resolved to re-elect the four retiring aldermen who had been successful at the recent election, namely:

  • E.H. Fleming (Lab, Hopkinstown)
  • William Jones (Lib, Mountain Ash)
  • William Llewellyn (Lib, Ogmore Vale)
  • Rev D.H. Williams (Lib, Barry)

In addition, the following eight new aldermen were elected:

  • Llewellyn David (Ind, Port Talbot)
  • Daniel Daniels (Lib, Dulais Valley)
  • W.H. Davies (Lab, Gower)
  • Joseph Howells (Lib, Caerphilly)
  • Hubert Jenkins (Lab, Cwm Aber) - elected alderman for three years
  • William Jenkins (Lab, Glyncorrwg)
  • David Lewis (Lab, Tylorstown)
  • William Thomas (Lib, Aberdare)

By-elections

Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.

Aberdare

Retired grocer F.W. Mander was returned unopposed following William Thomas's election as alderman.[9]

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Barry by-election

The by-election at Barry was caused by the re-election of the Rev, D.H. Williams as alderman. John Lowden, who had held the seat for fifteen years and had stood down in favour of D.H. Williams at the recent election, was defeated by a Labour candidate.[10]

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Caerphilly by-election

A Conservative replaced a Liberal at this by-election.[11]

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Gower by-election

Farmer Charles Bevan of Port Eynon held the seat for Labour following W.H. Davies's appointment as alderman.[9]

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Hopkinstown by-election

The successful candidate, John Tristram, was an engine driver on the Taff Vale Railway and the local secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen.[12]

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Port Talbot West by-election

Edward Lowther, general manager of the Port Talbot Railway and Docks company chosen as joint Conservative and Liberal candidate defeated Thomas Griffiths (Lab).[13]

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Notes


    References

    1. "Labour's Good Day. Election Surprises in Glamorgan". Western Mail. 4 March 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    2. "Council Elections. The Nominations for Glamorgan". Western Mail. 25 February 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    3. "Some Surprises. Glamorgan Council Elections". Cambria Daily Leader. 4 March 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
    4. "County Council Elections". Aberdare Leader. 1 March 1919. p. 8. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    5. "Glamorgan's New Council. Labour Gains at the Liberal Expense". Western Mail. 5 March 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
    6. "County Council Election". Aberdare Leader. 8 March 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    7. "County Council Elections". Western Mail. 26 February 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
    8. "New Aldermen. Changes in Glamorgan Council". Western Mail. 14 March 1919. p. 4. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
    9. "New County Councillors". Western Mail. 1 April 1919. p. 7. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
    10. "Labour Achievement. Prominent Barry Educationalist Defeated in Bye-Election". Western Mail. 14 April 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
    11. "New County Councillor". Western Mail. 16 April 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
    12. "Rhondda Bye-Election. New Labour Member for Glamorgan County Council". Western Mail. 19 April 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
    13. "Election Results". Western Mail. 7 April 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 3 February 2021.

    Bibliography

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

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