1946 Glamorgan County Council election

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The seventeenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1946. It was preceded by the 1937 election and the 1940 and 1943 elections were postponed due to the Second World War. It was followed by the 1949 election.

Overview[edit]

Labour's comfortable majority on the council, including the aldermanic bench, remained unchanged.

Boundary changes[edit]

There were no boundary changes at this election.

Candidates[edit]

A 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[edit]

Labour 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[edit]

Aberaman[edit]

Aberaman 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Florence Rose Davies**
Labour hold Swing

Aberavon[edit]

Aberavon 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edward Lewis Hare* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Abercynon[edit]

Abercynon 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Dicks** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Aberdare Town[edit]

Aberdare Town 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas Alwyn John 1,292
Labour Tom Williams 977
Independent Henry Cohen 242
Majority 315
Independent hold Swing

Bargoed[edit]

Bargoed 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William John Kedward* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Barry[edit]

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.

Barry 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Dudley Thomas Howe* 2,304
Labour W. East* 2,004
Majority 300
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Barry Dock[edit]

Barry Dock 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dorothy Rees** 1,965
Independent G. Edward Smith 1,762
Majority 203
Labour hold Swing

Blaengwawr[edit]

Blaengwawr 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William J. Edwards* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Bridgend[edit]

Bridgend 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William W. Phillips* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Briton Ferry[edit]

Briton Ferry 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Gethin* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Cadoxton[edit]

Cadoxton 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Digby Smith 1,499
Independent A.L. Davies 1,158
Majority 341
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Caerphilly[edit]

Caerphilly 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Evan Phillips* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Cilfynydd[edit]

Cilfynydd 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W. Edryd Lewis Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc[edit]

Coedffranc 1946
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

Cowbridge[edit]

Cowbridge 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour P. John Smith Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Cwm Aber[edit]

Cwm Aber 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rev David M. Jones* Unopposed
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Cwmavon[edit]

Cwmavon 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Jones Edwards* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Cymmer[edit]

Cymmer 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John James Garwood* 1,167
Independent Evan Thomas 485
Majority 682
Labour hold Swing

Dinas Powys[edit]

Dinas Powys 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ivor Broadbent Thomas* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Dulais Valley[edit]

Dulais Valley 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Adams Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ferndale[edit]

Ferndale 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alfred Evans* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Gadlys[edit]

Gadlys 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas Phillips* 1,802
Labour David Idris Bruton 796
Majority 1,006
Independent hold Swing

Garw Valley[edit]

Garw Valley 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Gunter* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Glyncorrwg[edit]

Glyncorrwg 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sir William Jenkins** Unopposed
Labour hold

Gower[edit]

Gower 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Fredrick William Davies 2,083
Labour Stanley Jones 1,480
Majority 603
Independent hold Swing

Hengoed[edit]

Hengoed 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas Evans** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Hopkinstown[edit]

Hopkinstown 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tom Waite Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Kibbor[edit]

Kibbor 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Edgar L. Chappell 1,769
Independent John Kane 1,400
Majority 369
Independent hold Swing

Castell Coch[edit]

Castell Coch 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Sir Lewis Lougher* 1,458
Labour Edward Harry Follis 606
Majority 852
Independent hold Swing

Llandeilo Talybont[edit]

Llandeilo Talybont 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Caradoc Jones** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanfabon[edit]

Llanfabon 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Bowen** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llwydcoed[edit]

Llwydcoed 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Martha Emma Jones* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llwynypia[edit]

Llwynypia 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Philip Haines Rowlands* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Loughor[edit]

Loughor 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David John Davies Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon[edit]

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Evans** Unopposed
Labour hold

Maesteg, East and West[edit]

Maesteg East and West 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tom Jenkins* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Mountain Ash[edit]

The sitting member, the Hon. John Bruce (Ind) stood down and Labour gained the seat without a contest.

Mountain Ash 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Justin Lewis Unopposed
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Neath (North)[edit]

Neath (North) 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.K. Owen 1,445
Labour Edgar Owen 991
Majority 454
Independent hold Swing

Neath (South)[edit]

Neath (South) 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rev W. Degwel Thomas** 1,484
Independent Katie Davies 1,035
Majority 449
Labour hold Swing

Newcastle[edit]

Newcastle 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rev Horatio R. Protheroe* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ogmore Valley[edit]

Ogmore Valley 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Communist Frederick Arthur Llewellyn* 1,963
Labour Stanley James Moore 833
Majority 1,130
Communist hold Swing

Penarth North[edit]

Penarth North 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour H.J. Cook 1,001
Independent F.R. Cratchley 801
Majority 200
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Penarth South[edit]

Penarth South 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent D.B. Jones Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pencoed[edit]

Pencoed 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mervyn W. Paine* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Penrhiwceiber[edit]

Penrhiwceiber 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John William Bath* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Pentre[edit]

Pentre 1946
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

Pontardawe[edit]

Pontardawe 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Daniel Davies** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Pontyclun[edit]

Pontyclun 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Theo Griffiths Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot East[edit]

Port Talbot East 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Thomas** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot West[edit]

Port Talbot West 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Llewelyn David* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Porthcawl[edit]

Porthcawl 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.A. Howell* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pontlottyn[edit]

Pontlottyn 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.A. Hancock* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Pontypridd Town[edit]

Pontypridd Town 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ivor M. Jenkins 1,458
Independent Cyril R. Morgan 1,450
Majority 308
Labour hold Swing

Penygraig[edit]

Penygraig 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas Churchill* 2,148
Independent William John Gribble 981
Majority 1,267
Labour hold Swing

Porth[edit]

Porth 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas Griffiths 976
Independent Daniel Jones* 974
Communist Murray Williams 868
Majority 2
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Swansea Valley[edit]

Swansea Valley 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Jenkins*
Labour hold Swing

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch[edit]

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch 1937
Party 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[edit]

Trealaw 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Communist Lewis Jones 1,945
Labour Richard Jones 1,315
Majority 630
Communist hold Swing

Treforest[edit]

Treforest 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur W. Harris 2,507
Independent Ceiriog Williams 1,029
Majority 1,478
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Treherbert[edit]

Treherbert 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Llewellyn* 3,345
Communist George Thomas 1,964
Majority 1,391
Labour hold Swing

Treorchy[edit]

Treorchy 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rhys Evans** 4,401
Communist Ivor Williams 1,077
Majority 3,324
Labour hold Swing

Tylorstown[edit]

Tylorstown 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Llewellyn Jones 1,984
Communist Frederick J. Morton 942
Majority 1,042
Labour hold Swing

Vale of Neath[edit]

Vale of Neath 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William A. Betty* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ynyshir[edit]

Ynyshir 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ivor Jones 1,855
Independent Morgan Benjamin 1,418
Majority 437
Labour hold Swing

Ystalyfera[edit]

Ystalyfera 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alice Williams* 2,051
Plaid Cymru Wynne Samuel 873
Majority 1,176
Labour hold Swing

Ystrad[edit]

Ystrad 1946
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[edit]

In 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[edit]

Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen. At Neath, Charles P. Huins held his seat with a majority whip exceeded that gained by Alderman Degwel Thomas at the triennial election.[6]

Aberaman by-election[edit]

Aberaman by-election 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sydney Herbert Stephens*
Labour hold Swing

Neath South by-election[edit]

Neath South by-election 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles P. Huins 1,571
Independent John Walter Jones 896
Majority 675
Labour hold Swing

Llanfabon by-election[edit]

Llanfabon by-election 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Herbert Davies 1,387
Independent Rev. Henry Withers 798
Majority 589
Labour hold Swing

Tylorstown by-election[edit]

Tylorstown by-election 1947
Party 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]

  1. ^ "County Council Election Prospects". Neath Guardian. 15 February 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Communist Fare Badly in the Rhondda". Western Mail. 9 March 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  3. ^ "County Election Results". Pontypridd Observer. 9 March 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Communist Wins at Skewen. Surprise Election Result". Neath Guardian. 15 March 1946. p. 6. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Seniority Ignored in Selection of Chairman". Western Mail. 15 March 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  6. ^ "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.
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