# 1913 Carmarthenshire County Council election

The ninth election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1913. It was preceded by the 1910 election and followed, due to the First World War and the postponement of the 1916 elections, by the 1919 election.

## Overview of the result

The Liberals retained a strong majority although the elections were far less politicized than in previous years. With a few exceptions, members were returned unopposed.

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes.

## Candidates

Only two of those elected at the first election in 1889, and who had served continuously since then, sought re-election. Sir James Drummond, the Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire and D.C. Parry (Llanelli) were both returned unopposed.

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Griffiths* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford

Ammanford 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Col. David Morris* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Bettws

Bettws 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Tom Morris* | 503 |
| | Liberal | Henry Folland | 285 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Williams | 142 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 218 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Caio

Caio 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sir James Hills-Johnes* | unopposed | | |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Dr David Denzil Harries* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev Andrew Fuller-Mills* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | H.S. Holmes | 152 |
| | Liberal | John Lewis* | 136 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | H.F. Blagdon-Richards* | 268 |
| | Conservative | John Crossman | 243 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Lewis* | 261 |
| | Conservative | David Evans | 231 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | J. Campbell-Davys | 246 |
| | Liberal | Daniel Lewis | 99 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 147 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Conwil

Conwil 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alfred Stephens* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | W.H. Dempster | 223 |
| | Liberal | T.S.K. Morse | 184 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 39 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | W. Jones Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie

Llandebie 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | L.N. Powell* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | J.W. Gwynne Hughes* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J.P. Carbery Vaughan Pryse-Rice* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Benjamin John* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1910 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Delme Davies-Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Griffiths | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Simlett* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1910 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William David* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | D.C. Parry* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joseph Roberts* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev Hugh Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1910 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Rural, Berwick

Llanelly Rural, Berwick 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | David Hughes | 299 |
| | Liberal | David Harry* | 289 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | W.B. Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn

Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev Benjamin Humphreys | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Harris | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Thomas Rees Jones | 261 |
| | Liberal | Ben Rees | 170 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 91 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Llangadock

Llangadock 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mervyn Lloyd Peel* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | William Lewes* | 360 |
| | Liberal | Rev Edward Teilo Owen | 320 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Rev R.H. Jones | 273 |
| | Liberal | Rev Ben Morris | 238 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev Evan B. Lloyd | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanon

Llanon 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Greville* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1913 :
| 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 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Johns* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1913 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Thomas Jones | 334 |
| Liberal | Dr E. Jones | 240 |
| Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Mothvey

Mothvey 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey North

Pembrey North 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Rev James Howell Rees* | 302 |
| | Liberal | David Evans | 227 |
| | Conservative | William Bassett | 184 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Pembrey South

Pembrey South 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Dr John Henry Williams | 390 |
| | Independent | George Eynon Bowen* | 202 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 188 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | W.J. Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1910 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Benjamin Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### St Clears

St Clears 1910 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### St Ishmael

St Ishmael 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Lloyd Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Trelech

Trelech 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Philip Phillips | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland

Whitland 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | William Thomas | 228 |
| | Conservative | Dr R.L. Thomas* | 184 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | 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. At the statutory meeting there was disagreement over the election of aldermen with the Liberals initially nominating eight of their number for the eight vacancies. However, W.J. Williams of Brynamman withdrew in favour of a Conservative, Dudley Drummond.
Following the elections the following eight aldermen were elected:
* H. Jones-Thomas, retiring alderman (47)
* J. Llew. Thomas, retiring alderman (45)
* W. Mabon Davies, retiring alderman (44)
* Thomas Thomas, retiring alderman. (45)
* Dudley Drummond, from outside the council (48)
* Professor Jones, retiring alderman (47)
* C. E. Morris, retiring alderman (43)
* John Lewis, elected member for Cenarth (40)

## Aldermanic vacancies between 1913 and 1919

Both W. Mabon Davies and Professor D.E. Jones died in the months following the election and the appointment of new aldermen in their place took place at the quarterly meeting of the council in late July. Several members objected to aspects of the process, including the perceived lack of aldermen from some parts of the county and the private meetings to decide upon nominations (from which Conservative councillors were said to be excluded). After a prolonged discussion it was decided to postpone the decision on a replacement for Professor Jones.
W. Mabon Davies was replaced by a member who had withdrawn his name at the annual meeting some months previously.
* W.J. Williams (Liberal), elected member for Quarter Bach
At the October quarterly meeting there was disagreemnet among members for the western division over a replacement for Professor Jones. The successful candidate received 28 votes as opposed to 18 for the Rev. J.H. Rees and 10 for the Rev. Arthur Fuller-Mills of Carmarthen.
* Ben Evans (Liberal), elected member for Rhydymcerau

## By-elections between 1913 and 1919
### Ammanford by-election, 1913

A by-election was held in the Ammanford division in June 1913 following the death of Councillor David Morris, a Liberal councillor. Erne Hewlett, general manager of Ammanford Collieries, and an active Conservative, ran on a non-political basis and won the seat, despite Liberal attempts to make the contest a political one.
Ammanford by-election 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Erne Hewlett | |
| | Liberal | David Griffiths Davies | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Independent gain from Liberal | Independent gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Quarter Bach by-election, 1913

A by-election was held in the Quarter Bach division on 5 September 1913 following the elevation of W.J. Williams to the aldermanic bench.
Quarter Bach by-election 1913 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Gwilym Vaughan | 430 |
| | Liberal | D.W. Lewis | 252 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |