1949 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1949.[1] It was preceded by the 1946 election and followed, by the 1952 election.

Overview of the result

After steadily increasing their representation throughout the inter-war period, the Labour Party finally won a majority on the Council, and strengthened their hold by taking nine of the ten vacancies on the aldermanic bench. Labour victories included taking a seat in the Borough of Carmarthen for the first time. Gwynfor Evans, President of Plaid Cymru, was returned for the Llangadog ward.

Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes.

Unopposed returns

There were a number of unopposed returns, both in Labour held seats and in the western part of the county, which was described as still being 'traditionally Liberal in character'.[2]

Contested elections

While there were more unopposed returns than in 1946, many wards were keenly contested. Electioneering reached a peak in Llanelli where an Independent association was formed to fight the elections as a united front against Labour. However, Labour won all but two seats in Llanelli town.

Retiring aldermen faced the electorate for the first time since 1937. In Llangyndeyrn, Alderman Rev. James Jenkins, a member of the Council since 1925, was defeated by the retiring Labour councilor. However, Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw was one of only two Independent candidates to secure election in Llanelli.

Summary of results

This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections. In some cases there is an ambiguity in the sources over the party affiliations and this is explained below where relevant.

This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 53 councillors were elected.

Carmarthesnhire County Council 1949: elected members
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour
  Plaid Cymru 1
  Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1949 : following election of new aldermen
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour
  Plaid Cymru 1
  Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1949 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour
  Plaid Cymru 1
  Independent

Ward results

Abergwili
Abergwili 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Col. Grismond P. Philipps* 631
Labour David John Evans 399
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Ammanford No.1
Ammanford No.1 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Haydn Lewis* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Ammanford No.2

Boundary Change.

Ammanford No.2 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour John Harries* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Berwick
Berwick 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Thomas Sidney Bowen* 1,172
Independent William John Thomas 743
Independent Elvet Pugh 155
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Burry Port
Burry Port 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Edward Lewis* 1,525
Independent Archibald Edgar Morgan 714
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Caio
Caio 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Thomas Davies* 685
Independent Frank Wolsely Armitage 271
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Division 1
Carmarthen Division 1 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour G.V. Davies 769
Independent William Jones* 736
Independent Labour D.W. Davies 49
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Carmarthen Division 2
Carmarthen Division 2 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent J.O. Morgans* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Carmarthen Division 3
Carmarthen Division 3 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent J. Verdi Jenkins* 700
Labour W.D. Jones 575
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Cenarth
Cenarth 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent D.J. James Jones* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Cilycwm
Cilycwm 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent J.A. Owen* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Conwil
Conwil 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent W.A. Phillips* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Cwmamman
Cwmamman 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour David Davies* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Hengoed
Hengoed 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour David John Stone* 1,312
Independent Sydney Phillip James 393
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Kidwelly
Kidwelly 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour J. Amos Jones* 869
Independent David Phillips 626
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Laugharne
Laugharne 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Rev. Chancellor S.B. Williams* 689
Labour W.J. John 497
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanarthney
Llanarthney 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour W. Edgar Lewis* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanboidy
Llanboidy 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent William Joshua Phillips* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandebie North
Llandebie North 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Gwilym R. Thomas* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llandebie South
Llandebie South 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Evan Bevan* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Rural 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent William John Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llandilo Urban
Llandilo Urban 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent James Morgan Davies* 866
Labour E. Gwyn Williams 224
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llandovery
Llandovery 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Anthony H. Gower* 564
Independent James James 412
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llandyssilio
Llandyssilio 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Hugh Davies unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanedy
Llanedy 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Thomas William Morgan* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanegwad
Llanegwad 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Griffith Evans* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division.1
Llanelly Division.1 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Rev David Penry Jones* 1,016
Independent Henry Richards 764
Independent James Jones 222
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 2
Llanelly Division 2 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour William T. Griffiths* 976
Independent John Zammit 737
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 3
Llanelly Division 3 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Mrs Claudia R. Rees* 631
Independent David J. Edmunds 313
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 4
Llanelly Division 4 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Mrs Charlotte Hopkins* 1,115
Independent Sidney Ellis 955
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 5
Llanelly Division 5 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw** 530
Labour Ben Howells 403
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanelly Division 6
Llanelly Division 6 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour W. Douglas Hughes* 815
Independent William Hughes 182
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 7
Llanelly Division 6 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour J. Llewellyn Evans* 762
Independent Aneurin Thomas 462
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 8
Llanelly Division 7 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour George M. McConkey 868
Independent Fred Howells* 530
Communist Martin H. Thomas 17
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llanelly Division 9
Llanelly Division 8 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent A.H. Olive* 987
Labour John A. Palmer 803
Communist Brinley James 80
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent T.J. Williams* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent John Davies* 789
Independent William Harry 211
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llangadog
Llangadog 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Richard Evans unopposed
Plaid Cymru gain from Independent Swing

Llangeler
Llangeler 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Daniel Griffiths 908
Independent John Evans 812
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llangendeirne
Llangendeirne 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Rev R.G. James* 1,012
Independent Rev James Jenkins** unopposed
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llangennech
Llangennech 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Thomas Bowen* 815
Independent John Rees 369
Independent Trefor Beasley 101
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llangunnor
Llangunnor 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent William Parry Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanon
Llanon 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Sidney Jones* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llansawel
Llansawel 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Daniel Williams 317
Independent John Morgan* 275
Majority
Independent hold Swing

Llanstephan
Llanstephan 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent T.Ll. Haries* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Llanybyther
Llanybyther 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Benjamin Edward Davies* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Myddfai
Myddfai 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Morgan Lewis Jones* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Pembrey
Pembrey 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Simon John Elwyn Samuel* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Pontyberem
Pontyberem 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour David John Jones* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Quarter Bach
Quarter Bach 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour William Watkin Davies* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Rhydcymmerai
Rhydcymmerai 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent David Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Clears
St Clears 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Joseph David Rees* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

St Ishmaels
St Ishmaels 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Trevor Rhys Morris* 685
Independent William Anthony 600
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Trelech
Trelech 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Simon Owen Thomas* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Trimsaran
Trimsaran 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Labour Brinley Jenkins* unopposed
Independent Labour hold Swing

Westfa
Westfa 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Emrys Aubrey* unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Whitland
Whitland 1946
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent William Hughes Mathias* unopposed
Independent hold Swing

Election of aldermen

In addition to the 57 councillors the council consisted of 19 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following nine aldermen were elected.

  • W. Douglas Hughes, Labour
  • Emrys Aubrey, Labour
  • T.S. Bowen, Labour
  • T.W. Morgan, Labour
  • D.J. Jones, Labour
  • W.W. Davies, Labour
  • J. Amos Jones, Labour
  • W.T. Griffiths, Labour
  • J. Llewellyn Evans, Labour
  • Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw, Independent

By-elections

Following the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held.[3] In Llanelli, the Independents gained two seats but Labour won the seat vacated by Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw.

Berwick by-election
Berwick by-election 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour William Isaac Daniel 921
Independent Labour Emrys Daniel Lewis 873
Independent Elvet Pugh 22
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Kidwelly by-election
Kidwelly by-election 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour J.H. Williams 999
Independent W.G. Gilbert 294
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanedy by-election
Llanedy by-election 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Gwyn Howells unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 2 by-election
Llanelly Division 2 by-election 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent John Zammit 984
Labour T.M. Price 795
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Llanelly Division 5 by-election
Llanelly Division 5 by-election 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Ben Howells 454
Independent Harry Richards 307
Majority
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Llanelly Division 6 by-election
Llanelly Division 6 by-election 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour W.J. Davies 666
Independent Harry Beaton 310
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Llanelly Division 7 by-election
Llanelly Division 7 by-election 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Mrs Eleanor Thomas 616
Labour Miss Elsie Jones 590
Majority
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Pontyberem by-election
Pontyberem by-election 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour John Williams unopposed
Labour hold Swing

Quarter Bach by-election
Quarter Bach by-election 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Josiah Jones 1,422
Independent Owen A. Jenkins 920
Majority
Labour hold Swing

Westfa by-election
Westfa 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour W.J.F. Thomas 1,389
Independent Archibald Ivor Bailey 373
Majority
Labour hold Swing
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References
  1. "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 8 April 1949.
  2. "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 18 March 1949.
  3. "By-Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 27 May 1949.
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