1928 Glamorgan County Council election
The thirteenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1928. It was preceded by the 1925 election and followed by the 1931 election.
Overview of the Result
[edit]Labour was defending a secure majority in an election that was more bitterly fought than in previous year, in the wake of divisions persisting after the General Strike and lockout of 1926. Non-Labour candidates largely coalesced under an Independent banner but lost further ground as Labour won additional seats
Boundary Changes
[edit]There were no boundary changes at this election.
Candidates
[edit]20 candidates were returned unopposed, only five won whom were Labour.[1]
Following the death of Dr T.H. Morris (Rhondda) there were ten retiring aldermen, nine of whom sought re-election. The only exception was Thomas Luther Davies (Aberaman).
Contested Elections
[edit]The pattern of contests was similar to 1925, although Labour did challenge some long-serving aldermen including W.R. Davies (first elected in 1898) at Cilfynydd and Enoch Davies in the Rhondda. In the Garw Valley ward, retiring alderman Rev. William Saunders was opposed by the sitting Independent councillor as was Alderman D.T. Williams in the Swansea Valley ward.
Outcome
[edit]Labour gained a number of seats, increasing their majority on the County Council.[2]
A notable result in the Dulais Valley was the defeat of coal owner Daniel Daniels, former chairman of the Council, by Labour candidate Gwilym Davies. Daniels had not been re-elected as an alderman three years previously and the result came after a series of disputes in the mining industry.
In the Cilfynydd ward, Labour candidate Arthur Pearson defeated Alderman W.R. Davies, first elected to the council in 1898. Labour had won the seat in 1919 but in 1922 stood down to allow Davies to be returned unopposed. The decision to oppose him reflected the increasingly partisan politics of the mining valleys and Davies was narrowly defeated.
A similar situation arose in Treherbert, a seat won for Labour by D.E. Williams in 1919. Williams stood down in favour of Alderman Enoch Davies in 1922 but having been returned unopposed in 1925 he stood against Davies and was returned by several hundred votes. Enoch Davies had served as a member of the Council since 1901, and was a prominent tradesman and nonconformist.[3]
Labour lost only two seats, at Penygraig in the Rhondda and also Pontardawe.[4] The latter was significant as it was also represented by Alderman Dan Dai Davies, jailed for his role in the anthracite strike and disturbances of 1925. Labour consolidated their majorities in many others, including seats gained three years previously.
Results
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Sydney Herbert Stephens* | 2,410 | |||
Independent | Augustus Davies | 1,681 | |||
Majority | 729 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Edward Lewis Hare* | 2,369 | |||
Independent | E. Marchant Jenkins | 1,984 | |||
Majority | 385 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Richard A. Thomas | 2,473 | |||
Liberal | Edward J. Thomas | 1,579 | |||
Majority | 394 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William Thomas* | Unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |
Bargoed
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Henry Hopkins* | 2,760 | |||
Independent | Gus Jones | 1,786 | |||
Majority | 974 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev R.H. Lomas | 1,909 | |||
Independent | E.T. Lawrence* | 1,669 | |||
Majority | 240 | ||||
Labour gain from Liberal | Swing |
Barry Dock
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | W.M. Davies* | 2,139 | |||
Independent | P.J. O'Donnell | 880 | |||
Majority | 1,259 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William J. Edwards* | 1,541 | |||
Independent | Henry Vause | 750 | |||
Majority | 791 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Dapho Llewellyn Powell* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | George Gethin* | 1,946 | |||
Independent | W.J. Hill | 1,714 | |||
Majority | 232 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | J.R. Llewellyn* | Unopposed | |||
Majority | |||||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Edwards* | 2,412 | |||
Labour | Evan Phillips | 2,345 | |||
Majority | 67 | ||||
Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Arthur Pearson | 1,912 | |||
Independent | William Roberts Davies** | 1,773 | |||
Majority | 139 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Phillip Jenkins* | 2,149 | |||
Independent | Ogley L. David | 2,077 | |||
Majority | 72 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Colonel H.R. Homfray* | 2,061 | |||
Labour | David E. Harris | 1,132 | |||
Majority | 919 | ||||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing |
Cwm Aber
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Hubert Jenkins** | Unopposed | |||
Majority | |||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Cwmavon
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Jones Edwards* | 1,728 | |||
Independent | Percy Jacob | 1,241 | |||
Majority | 487 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
In 1922 David Watts-Morgan had stood down in favour of retiring Liberal alderman Morgan Williams but by 1928 Williams had retired from public life.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Watts-Morgan* | 1,378 | |||
Independent | Mrs R.D. Chalke | 925 | |||
Majority | 453 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Claude D. Thompson* | Unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Gwilym Davies | 2,338 | |||
Independent | Daniel Daniels* | 1,421 | |||
Majority | 917 | ||||
Labour gain from Liberal | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Jabez Davies* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Gadlys
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | T. Marchant Harries* | Unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Tom John* | 2,135 | |||
Independent | Dr Alfred Davies | 1,095 | |||
Majority | 1,040 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Frederick W. Davies* | 2,041 | |||
Labour | William Henry Davies | 1,534 | |||
Majority | 407 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Hengoed
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Thomas Evans | 1,810 | |||
Independent | Edward Richards* | 1,466 | |||
Majority | 344 | ||||
Labour gain from Liberal | Swing |
Hopkinstown
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Tristram* | ||||
Independent | W.E. Summers | 1,131 | |||
Majority | 701 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | H. Spence Thomas* | 2,501 | |||
Labour | W.S. Collins | 857 | |||
Majority | 1,644 | ||||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Lewis Lougher* | Unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing |
Llandeilo Talybont
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Thomas Jones | 2,086 | |||
Independent | Ben Oliver | 1,437 | |||
Majority | 649 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Llanfabon
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Bowen* | 1,502 | |||
Independent | Arthur Hopkins | 1,037 | |||
Majority | 465 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Martha Emma Jones | Unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | James Evans** | Unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas J. Thomas* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Hughes* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Maesteg, East and West
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Albert E. Lockyer | 2,471 | |||
Labour | George Hitchings | 1,129 | |||
Majority | 1,612 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Lord Aberdare* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Hopkin Morgan** | Unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |
Davies failed to hold Neath South having stood down in favour of Alderman Hopkin Morgan in neighbouring Neath North.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev W. Degwel Thomas | 1,880 | |||
Independent | David Griffith Davies* | 1,714 | |||
Majority | 175 | ||||
Labour gain from Liberal | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Edward Horace Mole* | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ogmore Valley
[edit]Six years previously, the SWMF candidate had defeated a railwaymen's nominee but that result was now reversed.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent Labour | Thomas A. Job | 2,157 | |||
Labour | David J. Thomas* | 1,808 | |||
Majority | 349 | ||||
Independent Labour gain from Labour | Swing |
Penarth North
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Peter Freeman | 802 | |||
Independent | Walter Hallett* | 801 | |||
Majority | 1 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
Penarth South
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Samuel Thomas* | Unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing |
Pencoed
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | W.A. Howell* | Unopposed | |||
Independent hold | Swing |
Penrhiwceiber
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John William Bath | Unopposed | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Alfred Thomas* | Unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | C. Gilbertson | 2,150 | |||
Labour | Charles Williams* | 1,986 | |||
Majority | 164 | ||||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Pontyclun
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Thomas Jenkins* | 1,949 | |||
Labour | Johnson Miles | 1,636 | |||
Majority | 313 | ||||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing |
Port Talbot East
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Taliesin Mainwaring | 1,461 | |||
Independent | William Arthur Davies | 1,363 | |||
Majority | 98 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Port Talbot West
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Llewelyn David* | 1,778 | |||
Labour | Joseph Brown | 1,020 | |||
Majority | 758 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Porthcawl
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William Elias | 2,585 | |||
Labour | William J. Owen | 1,626 | |||
Majority | 959 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Hammond had previously been elected as a Liberal.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Hammond* | 1,683 | |||
Independent | A.E. Gardner | 552 | |||
Majority | 1,131 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Pontycymmer
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev. William Saunders** | 2,260 | |||
Independent | Jonathan Maddocks* | 1,519 | |||
Majority | 741 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Pontypridd Town
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | H.R. Evans* | 1,651 | |||
Labour | D.L. Davies | 1,127 | |||
Majority | 524 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | J.P. Davies | 1,680 | |||
Labour | Nefydd Thomas* | 1,628 | |||
Majority | 52 | ||||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Porth
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | William Evans* | Unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |
Swansea Valley
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | D.T. Williams** | 2,596 | |||
Independent | Richard Thomas* | 2,042 | |||
Independent | Mrs E. Jones | 363 | |||
Majority | 554 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William Arthur Jones* | 1,646 | |||
Independent | E.W. Evans | 1,535 | |||
Majority | 111 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Trealaw
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Enoch Treharne* | 1,764 | |||
Independent | Rev T.L. Jones | 1,133 | |||
Independent Labour | A. Boyce | 1,072 | |||
Majority | 631 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Arthur James Chick* | 2,175 | |||
Independent | R. Roper | 1,850 | |||
Majority | 325 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Enoch Davies was defeated after 27 years after the sitting Labour councillor did not withdraw in his favour
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Edward Williams* | 2,426 | |||
Independent | Enoch Davies** | 2,019 | |||
Majority | 407 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Treorchy
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rhys Evans* | 3,118 | |||
Independent | John Samuel | 2,316 | |||
Majority | 802 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Tylorstown
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John Mardy Evans* | 2,060 | |||
Independent | Daniel Ashton | 874 | |||
Majority | 1,186 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Vale of Neath
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | William A. Betty | 2,250 | |||
Independent | D.H. Jones* | 2.004 | |||
Majority | 46 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | George Dalling* | 2,145 | |||
Independent | Dan Jones | 1,449 | |||
Majority | 699 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ystalyfera
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | John David Brazell* | 2,177 | |||
Independent | T. Alex Evans | 1,170 | |||
Majority | 1,007 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Dr W.E. Thomas* | Unopposed | |||
Independent gain from Liberal | 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 1928 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies, all of which all of which were filled by Labour nominees despite the protestations of their opponents.[5]
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
- Hubert Jenkins (Lab, Cwm Aber)
- Rev William Saunders (Lab, Garw Valley)
- David Thomas Williams (Lab, Swansea Valley)
In addition, the following seven new aldermen were elected:
- J.D. Brazell (Lab, Ystalyfera)
- Jabez Davies (Lab, Rhondda)
- Rhys Evans (Lab, Treorchy)
- William Hammond (Lab, Pontlottyn)
- W. Arthur Jones (Lab, Tonyrefail)
- E.H. Mole (Lab, Newcastle)
- Enoch Treharne (Lab, Rhondda)
- David Watts-Morgan MP (Lab, Rhondda)
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected as members of the Council but were not re-elected as aldermen:
- Hopkin Morgan (Lib, Neath)
- Enoch Davies (Lib, Rhondda)
- James Evans (Lib, Rhondda)
By-elections
[edit]Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.
Cwm Aber by-election
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | |||||
Independent | |||||
Majority | |||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Cymmer by-election
[edit]Following the election of David Watts-Morgan as alderman the by-election was won by the Independent candidate. Mrs Chalke was married to R.D. Chalke, headmaster of Porth Grammar School and the prospective Liberal candidate for Rhondda East, when he was due to oppose Watts-Morgan.[6]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Mrs R.D. Chalke | 1,068 | |||
Labour | David Thomas | 908 | |||
Majority | 160 | ||||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Ferndale by-election
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Alfred Evans | 2,301 | |||
Labour | Dr K. Datta | 1,559 | |||
Communist | Charles Jones | 1,224 | |||
Majority | 742 | ||||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Garw Valley by-election
[edit]Jonathan Maddocks, the sitting Independent councillor, had been defeated by Alderman William Saunders at the regular election, and was again defeated by a Labour candidate.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Ted Williams | 2,370 | |||
Independent | Jonathan Maddocks | 1,391 | |||
Majority | 979 | ||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Newcastle by-election
[edit]Following the appointment of E.H. Mole as alderman, the Rev. H.R. Jenkins, vicar of Penyfai, was elected to represent this ward.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev H.R. Jenkins | 1,734 | |||
Independent | Thomas Butler | 1,252 | |||
Majority | 482 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Pontlottyn by-election
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W.A. Hancock | 1,439 | |||
Liberal | Mrs H. Davies | 909 | |||
Majority | 530 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Swansea Valley by-election
[edit]Following the re-election of D.T. Williams as alderman, Richard Thomas, who had held the seat since 1922 but failed to hold on against Williams, regained the seat as an Independent.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Richard Thomas | 2,547 | |||
Labour | John L. Rees | 2,130 | |||
Majority | 417 | ||||
Independent gain from Labour | Swing |
Tonyrefail by-election
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | |||||
Independent | |||||
Majority | |||||
Labour gain from Independent | Swing |
Trealaw by-election
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Rev R.J. Barker | 2,022 | |||
Independent Labour | Jack Hughes | 1,677 | |||
Majority | 350 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Treorchy by-election
[edit]Following the election of Rhys Evans as alderman, David Hughes, checkweigher at Abergorki Colliery was elected as his successor.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Hughes | 2,726 | |||
Independent Labour | J. Davies | 1,991 | |||
Majority | 737 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Ystalyfera by-election
[edit]Following the election of J.D. Brazell as alderman, Daniel T. Jones of Cwmllynfell, who had held the seat from 1919 until 1922 was elected as his successor.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Daniel T. Jones | 1,962 | |||
Independent | John Griffiths | 982 | |||
Majority | 980 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
References
[edit]- ^ "Strong Glamorgan Attack. Independent Candidates Oppose Retiring Socialists". Western Mail. 28 February 1928. p. 9. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "How the Voting Went. County Council Election Results". Western Mail. 6 March 1928. p. 8. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Williams 1996, p. 54.
- ^ "Glamorgan. Tuesday Declarations Show More Changes". Western Mail. 7 March 1928. p. 9. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Socialist Goodwill. Glamorgan Demonstration of "Co-operation". Ousting of Aldermen". Western Mail. 16 March 1928. p. 7. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ Williams 1996, p. 157.
Bibliography
[edit]- Williams, Chris (1996). Democratic Rhondda: Politics and society 1885-1951. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.