# 1907 Carmarthenshire County Council election

The seventh election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1907. It was preceded by the 1904 election and followed by the 1910 election.

## Overview of the result

The Conservatives made a conscious attempt to contest far more seats than at recent elections in an election dominated by ongoing disputes over disestablishment. However, the Liberals retained a strong majority and many sitting members were returned unopposed.

## Boundary changes

There were minor boundary changes leading to the creation of two additional wards, namely Ammanford and Llandissilio. The new Ammanford ward, which comprised the urban district of Ammanford was created by the division of the Bettws Ward into two. Significant population growth had taken place in the eastern part of the county as a result of the growth of the anthracite coal trade but demands for further additional wards to be formed in the Llanelli district were rejected. The second new ward was at Llandissilio in the western part of the county, on the Pembrokeshire border. It was formed out of portions of the existing Whitland and Llanboidy wards. There was less unanimity in favour of the new Llandissilio ward than was the case at Ammanford, and there were suggestions that an additional rural ward was being created to counterbalance the new industrial ward at Ammanford. A proposal for a third new ward, at Newchurch on the outskirts of Carmarthen was rejected in due course.
As a result of these boundary changes, the Council included 53 elected members as opposed to 51 previously. The number of aldermen remained at 17.

## Retiring aldermen

The aldermen who retired at the election were
* John Bevan,
* Joseph Joseph,
* Sir Lewis Morris,
* Daniel Stephens,
* H J Thomas,
* Thomas Watkins,
* Joseph Mayberry,
* Augustus Brigstocke,

## Candidates

Eighteen wards were contested, compared with only six in 1904.
Four of those elected at the first election in 1889, and who had served continuously since then, sought re-election. Earl Cawdor, Sir James Drummond, C.E. Morris and D.C. Parry (Llanelli) were all returned unopposed.

## Outcome

While a small number of wards were hotly contested and the Conservatives made a small number of gains, their attempt to change the political composition of the council was unsuccessful.
In Llanarthney, a determined attempt was made to unseat Henry Jones-Davies, with allegations that the Conservative David Farr Davies, a colliery manager, was supported by some labour figures.

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Lloyd* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford

New ward. Boundary change.
Ammanford 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Col. David Morris | 349 | | |
| | Liberal | D.J. Jones | 281 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |

### Bettws

Boundary change
Bettws 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Morris | 349 | | |
| | Liberal | William Thomas | 121 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Caio

Caio 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Sir James Hills-Johnes | 234 |
| | Liberal | T. Francis Jones* | 182 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

Brigstocke contested previous elections as a Conservative.
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T.E. Brigstocke* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Rev Andrew Fuller-Mills* | 247 |
| | | Thomas Parke Jones | 71 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Lewis* | 161 |
| | Conservative | P.R. Lewis | 144 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Professor D.E. Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev D.D. Walters | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rees Williams | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Conwil

Conwil 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | | Samuel H. Anthony | 283 |
| | Conservative | Alfred Stephens* | 263 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | W.H. Dempster | 189 |
| | Liberal | John D. Morse | 187 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Henry Jones-Davies* | 313 |
| | Independent | David Farr-Davies | 261 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Evans | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie

Llandebie 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | L.N. Powell | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Urban

Gwynne Hughes had now returned to the Liberal fold.
Llandilo Urban 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | J.W. Gwynne Hughes* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | | |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | J.R. James* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandyssilio

Boundary Change
Llandyssilio 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Benjamin John | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Ll. Thomas* | 340 |
| | Liberal | Griffith V. Davies | 205 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Delme Davies-Evans | 266 |
| | Liberal | T. Lewis | 224 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 42 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 1

Griffiths described himself as an Unionist in 1904
Llanelly Division 1 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W. Griffiths | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Simlett | unopposed | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | William David* | 260 |
| | Labour | Colwyn Morgan | 53 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | D.C. Parry* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joseph Roberts* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R.A. Nevill | unopposed | | |
| | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Rural, Berwick

Llanelly Rural, Berwick 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | David Harry | 199 |
| | Liberal | H.J. Hopkins | 161 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | W.B. Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn

Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev Benjamin Humphreys | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Earl Cawdor* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

The sitting member was elected on the casting vote of the returning officer.
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Thomas Barrett* | 206 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Rees Jones | 206 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llangadock

Llangadock 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Mervyn Lloyd Peel | 245 |
| | Liberal | William Davies* | 235 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colonel W.P. Lewes* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Rev R.H. Jones | 237 |
| | Independent | Thomas Davies | 175 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | C.E. Morris* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanon

Llanon 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Greville* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sir J.H.W. Drummond, Bart.* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Johns* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanybyther

Williams had been elected as a Conservative in 1904.
Llanybyther 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Williams | 234 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Mothvey

Mothvey 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey North

Pembrey North 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev J.H. Rees* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey South

Pembrey South 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | George Eynon Bowen | 368 |
| | Liberal | Richard Thomas Hammond* | 296 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | W.J. Williams | 389 |
| | Liberal | Gwilym Vaughan | 277 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Benjamin Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### St Clears

St Clears 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### St Ishmael

St Ishmael 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Lloyd Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Trelech

Trelech 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland

Whitland 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Dr R.L. Thomas | 226 |
| | Liberal | John Scourfield* | 167 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |

## Election of aldermen

In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following eight aldermen were elected (with the number of votes in each case).