An election to the Neath Rural District Council in West Glamorgan, Wales was held in April 1937. It was preceded by the 1934 election and was followed, as the 1940 and 1943 elections were postponed due to the Second World War, by the 1946 election.[1]

Overview of the results

Having won control of the authority for the first time in 1934, Labour consolidated their position by winning a number of additional seats across the area with the Independent group, which previously controlled the authority, reduced to only six members.[1]

Candidates

Most seats were contested although a number of Labour candidates were returned unopposed including former chairmen William Jones (Tonmawr) and John James (Onllwyn) even though they had fallen out with their own party a few months earlier.[2]

A feature of the election was the decision of a number of long-serving Independent members not to seek re-election. These included Ogley David, father of the Council and a member for many years, who had also recently stood down from the Glamorgan County Council. His brother, Isaac David, also stood down.[2]

Outcome

Labour captured a number of seats from the Independents, including two vacated by Independents at Blaenrhonddan, another two at Skewen (where the former Glamorgan county councillor W.P. Jenkins headed the poll), and a further seat at Crynant. Labour also regained the seat of Resolven lost at a by-election a few years previously.[1]

Ward Results

Baglan Higher (one seat)

Baglan Higher 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William Jones* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Blaengwrach (one seats)

Blaengwrach 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Albert Vowles* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Blaenrhonddan (three seats)

Blaenrhonddan 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J.T. Evans* 1.055
Labour William R. Griffiths 701
Labour Albert John 616
Independent Daniel Jones 602
Independent David Peregrine Richards 402
Labour hold Swing
Labour gain from Independent Swing
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Clyne (one seats)

Clyne 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles R. Kimber* 225
Independent Thomas A. Davies 188
Majority 37
Labour hold Swing

Coedffranc (five seats)

Coedffranc 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour W.P. Jenkins 1,764
Independent Labour Mary Elizabeth Davies* 1,617
Independent Amy Jones* 1,519
Labour David Jenkins* 1,382
Labour William Davies 1,377
Labour C.W. Rushby 1,275
Labour Thomas Lovering 1,083
Independent Mary Jane Reid 1,013
Independent W.T.A. Macamara 1,009
Labour gain from Independent Swing
Independent Labour gain from Labour Swing
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Dyffryn Clydach (two seats)

Dyffryn Clydach 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Communist Alun C. Thomas 436
Independent David Williams 387
Independent Joseph Thomas* 274
Labour Percy Cantle 265
Independent David Johns 122
Communist gain from Labour Swing
Independent hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward (one seat)

Dulais Higher, Crynant Ward 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John James 334
Independent Daniel Davies 255
Majority 79
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward (one seat)

Dulais Higher, Onllwyn Ward 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John James* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward (two seats)

Dulais Higher, Seven Sisters Ward 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Jones* 747
Independent W.P. Harries* 554
Labour George Adams 450
Labour hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Dulais Lower (one seat)

Dulais Lower 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour J.S. George* 396
Independent Llewellyn Davies 183
Majority 213
Labour hold Swing

Michaelstone Higher (one seat)

Michaelstone Higher 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Patrick Boyle 272
Independent William H. Crouch 165
Majority 107
Labour hold Swing

Neath Higher (three seats)

Neath Higher 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Arthur* 947
Labour Cliff Protheroe* 931
Labour Morgan Morgan* 861
Labour Stephen Jeffreys 573
Independent hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Neath Lower (one seat)

Neath Lower 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Samuel Burnard* Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward (one seat)

Resolven, Cwmgwrach Ward 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edward John Ateyo Unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Resolven, Resolven Ward (two seats)

Resolven, Resolven Ward 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard Geary 718
Independent David John Evans* 517
Independent Mary Jenkins* 378
Independent Benjamin Jones 344
Independent John William Davies 109
Labour gain from Swing
Independent hold Swing

Resolven, Rhigos Ward (two seats)

Resolven, Rhigos Ward 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Rees Morgan Smith* 396
Labour Richard George Norman 323
Labour Henry Walters 317
Independent hold Swing
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Resolven, Tonna Ward (one seat)

Resolven, Tonna Ward 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gethin Thomas 362
Independent Haydn Evans 358
Majority 4
Labour gain from Independent Swing

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Socialist Party Triumphs in Rural Council Elections. Sweeping Victories All Over Area". Neath Guardian. 9 April 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Neath Rural Council Election Prospects. Many Old Faces To Disappear". Neath Guardian. 25 March 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
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