The fourteenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1931. It was preceded by the 1928 election and followed by the 1934 election.

Overview of the Result

Labour was defending a secure majority in an election where they faced opposition from the left in the form of the Communist Party, as well as more traditional opponents. The result showed little change from previous years.

Boundary Changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

Candidates

13 candidates were returned unopposed.[1]

Contested Elections

Most of the retiring aldermen were returned.

Outcome

Labour retains their majority.[2] The party won some additional seats, such as Pentre in the Rhondda where T.A. Thomas had held on against several previous Labour challenges.

In the Cymmer ward, David Thomas, who had failed to hold the seat in 1928 after David Watts-Morgan was elected alderman, was successful after the sitting Independent stood down.

Results

Aberaman

Aberaman 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Florence Rose Davies** 2,408
Independent T.Ll. Davies 1,833
Majority 575
Labour hold Swing

Aberavon

Aberavon 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edward Lewis Hare* 2,292
Independent Horace Hyde Macey 1,408
Majority 884
Labour hold Swing

Abercynon

Abercynon 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Dicks** 2,434
Liberal Edward J. Thomas 1,063
Majority 1,381
Labour hold Swing

Aberdare Town

Aberdare Town 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Thomas* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Bargoed

The sitting member had been elected as the official Labour candidate in 1928.

Bargoed 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Labour William Henry Hopkins* 2,434
Independent T.C. Jones 1,204
Labour Moses C. Price 550
Majority 1,230
Independent Labour hold Swing

Barry

Barry 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Rev D.H. Williams** 1,953
Labour Rev R.H. Lomas* 1,494
Majority 459
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Barry Dock

Barry Dock 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal W.M. Davies* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Blaengwawr

Blaengwawr 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William J. Edwards* 1,156
Independent Henry Vause 518
Communist Trevor Williams 152
Majority 638
Labour hold Swing

Bridgend

Bridgend 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Liberal Dapho Llewellyn Powell* 1,713
Ind. Conservative William W. Phillips 1,227
Majority 486
Independent hold Swing

Briton Ferry

Briton Ferry 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Gethin* 2,068
Conservative J.M. Bevan 1,500
Majority 568
Labour hold Swing

Cadoxton

Cadoxton 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Dudley Thomas Howe 1,631
Labour Frederick Cook 1,160
Majority 471
Independent hold Swing

Caerphilly

Caerphilly 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Evan Phillips 2,183
Independent Joseph Howells** 2,119
Communist Edward Withers 101
Majority 64
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Cilfynydd

Cilfynydd 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur Pearson* 2,306
Independent Ivor W. Thomas 1,358
Majority 948
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc

Coedffranc 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ogley L. David 2,170
Labour W. Phillip Jenkins* 1,867
Majority 303
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Cowbridge

Cowbridge 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent George Lougher 2,147
Labour Emily Jones 1,487
Majority 660
Independent hold Swing

Cwm Aber

Cwm Aber 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rev David M. Jones* 2,462
Independent Griffith H. Lloyd 845
Communist F. Parrish 95
Majority 1,617
Labour hold Swing

Cwmavon

Cwmavon 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Jones Edwards* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Cymmer

Cymmer 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Thomas 997
Independent Brinley Ithel Rowlands 775
Majority 222
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Dinas Powys

Dinas Powys 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ivor Broadbent Thomas* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Dulais Valley

Dulais Valley 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwilym Davies* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ferndale

Ferndale 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alfred Evans* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Gadlys

Gadlys 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Prowle 1,328
Independent T. Marchant Harries* 1,000
Majority 328
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Glyncorrwg

Glyncorrwg 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sir William Jenkins** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Gower

W.H. Davies had won the seat in 1919, and was elected alderman. He failed to be re-elected in 1925 and 1928.

Gower 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Henry Davies 1,761
Independent Frederick W. Davies* 1,602
Majority 159
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Hengoed

Hengoed 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas Evans* 1,900
Independent T.B. Fisher 1,551
Majority 349
Labour hold Swing

Hopkinstown

Hopkinstown 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour E.H. Fleming** Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Kibbor

Kibbor 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Edgar L. Chappell 1,769
Independent John Kane 1,400
Majority 369
Independent hold Swing

Llandaff

Llandaff 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Conservative Sir Lewis Lougher* 862
Independent Liberal Mary Annie Powell 440
Majority 422
Independent hold Swing

Llandeilo Talybont

Llandeilo Talybont 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Caradoc Jones** 1,885
Independent Alfred Morgan 1,153
Majority 732
Labour hold Swing

Llanfabon

Llanfabon 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Bowen* 1,596
Independent Arthur Hopkins 966
Majority 630
Labour hold Swing

Llwydcoed

Llwydcoed 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Martha Emma Jones* 1,563
Labour Owen Powell 926
Majority 637
Independent hold Swing

Llwynypia

Llwynypia 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Philip Haines Rowlands* 2,241
Communist Lewis R. Jones 154
Majority 2,067
Labour hold Swing

Loughor

Loughor 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Thomas J. Thomas* 2,245
Labour David J. Davies 1,854
Communist Sarah Edith Williams 143
Majority 391
Independent hold Swing

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Evans** 2,162
Independent Brinley Richards 984
Communist Benjamin Francis 914
Majority 1,172
Labour hold Swing

Maesteg, East and West

Maesteg East and West 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Albert E. Lockyer 2,863
Labour Tom Jenkins 1,746
Majority 1,117
Independent hold Swing

Mountain Ash

Mountain Ash 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Hon. John H. Bruce* 1,836
Labour Justin Lewis 1,727
Majority 109
Independent hold Swing

Neath (North)

Neath (North) 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Liberal David Griffith Davies 1,382
Labour John William Morgan 1,234
Communist Frank Roper 77
Majority 148
Independent hold Swing

Neath (South)

Neath (South) 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rev W. Degwel Thomas* 1,934
Independent Theodore Gibbins 1,907
Majority 27
Labour hold Swing

Newcastle

Newcastle 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rev H.R. Protheroe* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ogmore Valley

The sitting Independent Labour councillor had recently died.

Ogmore Valley 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thomas Lucas 2,337
Independent Thomas Llewellyn 2,152
Majority 349
Labour gain from Independent Labour Swing

Penarth North

Penarth North 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Frank L. Nicholls 1,261
Labour Ernest Edwards 615
Majority 646
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Penarth South

Penarth South 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Samuel Thomas* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pencoed

The sitting member, W.A. Howell, switched to contest the Porthcawl ward and Labour won the seat.

Pencoed 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mervyn W. Paine 1,819
Independent David Bayliss 938
Majority 881
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Penrhiwceiber

Penrhiwceiber 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John William Bath 3,130
Independent Mrs Alice Phillips 1,343
Majority 1,787
Labour hold Swing

Pentre

Pentre 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Jenkin Lewis 2,061
Independent Thomas Alfred Thomas* 1,208
Majority 853
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Pontardawe

Pontardawe 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Daniel Davies** 2,787
Independent Rev T.M. Roderick 1,342
Majority 1,445
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Pontyclun

Pontyclun 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Johnson Miles 2,093
Independent Rev. Benjamin Salmon 1,778
Majority 315
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Port Talbot East

Port Talbot East 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Thomas** 1,481
Independent William Arthur Davies 1,226
Majority 255
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot West

Port Talbot West 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Llewelyn David* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Porthcawl

Porthcawl 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.A. Howell* 2,277
Labour Jenkin Jones 1,414
Majority 863
Independent hold Swing

Pontlottyn

Pontlottyn 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.A. Hancock* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Pontycymmer

Pontycymmer 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ted Williams* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Pontypridd Town

Pontypridd Town 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Gwilym Seaton 1,438
Labour Myra O'Brien 1,407
Majority 29
Independent hold Swing

Penygraig

Penygraig 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Job 2,019
Independent John Picton Davies* 1,378
Communist Vivian Howard James 231
Majority 641
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Porth

Porth 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Evans* Unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Swansea Valley

Swansea Valley 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Jenkins 2,903
Independent Richard Thomas* 2,058
Majority 945
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Dicks* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Trealaw

Trealaw 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Atkins 1,649
Independent Edwin Jenkins 993
Communist John James Townsend 213
Majority 656
Labour hold Swing

Treforest

Treforest 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur James Chick* 2,104
Independent Zenos Thomas 1,968
Majority 136
Labour hold Swing

Treherbert

Treherbert 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Edward Williams* 2,674
Independent Frederick George Dingley 715
Majority 1,959
Labour hold Swing

Treorchy

Treorchy 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Hughes* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Tylorstown

Tylorstown 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Lewis** 1,907
Communist George Edward Maslin 872
Majority 935
Labour hold Swing

Vale of Neath

Vale of Neath 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William A. Betty* 3,169
Independent Rees Howells 2.229
Communist W.J. Sherlock 129
Majority 940
Labour hold Swing

Ynyshir

Ynyshir 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Daniel Jones 1,744
Labour Thomas Henry Matthews 1,594
Majority 150
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Ystalyfera

Ystalyfera 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Daniel T. Jones* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ystrad

Ystrad 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sidney Cadogan* 2,417
Independent Henry Harris 951
Majority 1,466
Labour hold Swing

Election of Aldermen

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 1931 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies, and the retiring aldermen were all re-elected.[3]

The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:

  • William Bowen (Lab, Llanfabon)
  • David Daniel Davies (Lab, Pontardawe)
  • Rose Davies (Lab, Aberaman)
  • John Evans (Lab, Maesteg)
  • Johnson Dicks (Lab, Abercynon)
  • E.H. Fleming (Lab, Hopkinstown)
  • William Jenkins (Lab, Glyncorrwg)
  • Caradoc Jones (Lab, Llandeilo Talybont)
  • David Lewis (Lab, Tylorstown)
  • John Thomas (Lab, Port Talbot)
  • Rev D.H. Williams (Ind, Barry)

By-elections

Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.

Aberaman by-election

Aberaman by-election 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sydney Herbert Stephens*
Labour hold Swing

Abercynon by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Barry by-election

Barry by-election 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent L.P. Griffiths 2,032
Labour Rev R.H. Lomas 1,624
Majority 408
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Glyncorrwg by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Hopkinstown by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llandeilo Talybont by-election

Llandeilo Talybont
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Llewellyn Davies 1,501
Labour J. Powell 1,378
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Llanfabon by-election

Llanfabon by-election 1931
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Herbert Davies 1,212
Independent William Jones 1,169
Majority 43
Labour hold Swing

Maesteg by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Pontardawe by-election

Pontardawe by-election 1925
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Williams Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Port Talbot by-election

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour
Independent
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Tylorstown by-election

Tylorstown by-election 1931
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

  1. "Glamorgan Contests. Eleven Aldermen Seek Election". Western Mail. 24 February 1931. p. 11. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. "County Council Elections. Small Polls in Monmouth and Glamorgan". Western Mail. 3 March 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. "Expenses of Members. Another Glamorgan Council "Storm"". Western Mail. 13 March 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 7 March 2021.

Bibliography

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