# 1946 Glamorgan County Council election

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

## Overview

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

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

## Candidates

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. However, he ultimately stood down.
Nine of the retiring aldermen sought re-election, the exceptions being the Rev William Saunders and Edgar Chappell.

## Outcome

Labour retained their majority. In the Rhondda Valley, Labour withstood a Communist challenge 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.
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.

## Results
### Aberaman

Aberaman 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Florence Rose Davies** | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Aberavon

Aberavon 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edward Lewis Hare* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Abercynon

Abercynon 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joseph Dicks** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Aberdare Town

Aberdare Town 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Thomas Alwyn John | 1,292 |
| | Labour | Tom Williams | 977 |
| | Independent | Henry Cohen | 242 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 315 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Bargoed

Bargoed 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William John Kedward* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Barry

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

### Barry Dock

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

### Blaengwawr

Blaengwawr 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William J. Edwards* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Bridgend

Bridgend 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William W. Phillips* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Briton Ferry

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

### Cadoxton

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

### Caerphilly

Caerphilly 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Evan Phillips* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Castell Coch

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

### Cilfynydd

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

### Coedffranc

Coedffranc 1946 :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 117 |
| | Communist gain from Labour | Communist gain from Labour | Swing |

### Cowbridge

Cowbridge 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. John Smith | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cwm Aber

Cwm Aber 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rev David M. Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cwmavon

Cwmavon 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Jones Edwards* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cymmer

Cymmer 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John James Garwood* | 1,167 |
| | Independent | Evan Thomas | 485 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 682 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Dinas Powys

Dinas Powys 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ivor Broadbent Thomas* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Dulais Valley

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

### Ferndale

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

### Gadlys

Gadlys 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Thomas Phillips* | 1,802 |
| | Labour | David Idris Bruton | 796 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,006 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Garw Valley

Garw Valley 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Gunter* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Glyncorrwg

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

### Gower

Gower 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Fredrick William Davies | 2,083 |
| | Labour | Stanley Jones | 1,480 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 603 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Hengoed

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

### Hopkinstown

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

### Kibbor

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

### Llandeilo Talybont

Llandeilo Talybont 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Caradoc Jones** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfabon

Llanfabon 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Bowen** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llwydcoed

Llwydcoed 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Martha Emma Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llwynypia

Llwynypia 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Philip Haines Rowlands* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Loughor

Loughor 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David John Davies | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon

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

### Maesteg, East and West

Maesteg East and West 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Jenkins* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Mountain Ash

The sitting member, the Hon. John Bruce (Ind) stood down and Labour gained the seat without a contest.
Mountain Ash 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Justin Lewis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Neath (North)

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

### Neath (South)

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

### Newcastle

Newcastle 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rev Horatio R. Protheroe* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ogmore Valley

Ogmore Valley 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Communist | Frederick Arthur Llewellyn* | 1,963 |
| | Labour | Stanley James Moore | 833 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,130 |
| | Communist hold | Communist hold | Swing |

### Penarth North

Penarth North 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | H.J. Cook | 1,001 |
| | Independent | F.R. Cratchley | 801 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 200 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Penarth South

Penarth South 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.B. Jones | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pencoed

Pencoed 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mervyn W. Paine* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Penrhiwceiber

Penrhiwceiber 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John William Bath* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pentre

Pentre 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Glyn L. Wales | 2,530 |
| | Labour | Glyn Evans | 978 |
| | Communist | Thomas Evans | 414 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,552 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Penygraig

Penygraig 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Churchill* | 2,148 |
| | Independent | William John Gribble | 981 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,267 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Pontardawe

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

### Pontlottyn

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

### Pontyclun

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

### Pontypridd Town

Pontypridd Town 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Ivor M. Jenkins | 1,458 |
| | Independent | Cyril R. Morgan | 1,450 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Port Talbot East

Port Talbot East 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Thomas** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Port Talbot West

Port Talbot West 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Llewelyn David* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Porth

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

### Porthcawl

Porthcawl 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W.A. Howell* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Swansea Valley

Swansea Valley 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Jenkins* | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Rogers* | 1,484 |
| | Communist | David John Griffiths | 711 |
| | Independent | Harold Whitton Davies | 584 |
| | Independent | Evan Jones | 97 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 773 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Trealaw

Trealaw 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Communist | Lewis Jones | 1,945 |
| | Labour | Richard Jones | 1,315 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 630 |
| | Communist hold | Communist hold | Swing |

### Treforest

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

### Treherbert

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

### Treorchy

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

### Tylorstown

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

### Vale of Neath

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

### Ynyshir

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

### Ystalyfera

Ystalyfera 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Alice Williams* | 2,051 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Wynne Samuel | 873 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,176 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Ystrad

Ystrad 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Sidney Cadogan** | 1,931 |
| | Communist | Annie Powell | 1,189 |
| | Independent | Thomas Aldridge | 853 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 742 |
| | Labour hold | 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 1946 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies, all of which all of which were filled by Labour nominees despite the protestations of their opponents. 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

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

### Aberaman by-election

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

### Neath South by-election

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

### Llanfabon by-election

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

### Tylorstown by-election

Tylorstown by-election 1947 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John Mardy Evans* | 1,977 |
| | Communist | George Edward Maslin | 584 |
| | Independent | David John | 284 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,393 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |