# 1931 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1931. It was preceded by the 1928 election and followed by the 1934 election.

## Overview of the result

The Independent group remained the majority grouping on the Council. In the Llanelli area the potential for Labour to win further ground was complicated by the appearance of Communist Party candidates.

## Boundary changes

There was one boundary change, namely the division of the existing Llandybie ward into two divisions, each of which was won by Labour.

## Summary of results

Only a minority of the 53 divisions were contested. 53 councillors were elected.

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford

Ammanford 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David George* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Bettws

Bettws 1931 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | John Phillips* | 1,379 |
| Independent | D.M. Richards | 800 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Caio

Caio 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Isaac Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Katherine Isobel Harries | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Lewis David Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H.S. Holmes* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Price Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ellenora James* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ivor Elystan Campbell-Davys* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Conwil

Conwil 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Thomas Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Alfred Stephens* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Thomas Stephen Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1931 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | David Stephens* | 1,561 |
| Labour | Thomas Thomas | 604 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | C. Vaughan* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie North

Boundary Change
Llandebie North 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gwilym R. Thomas | 552 | | |
| | Independent | David O. Davies | 403 | | |
| | Independent | Frederick Davies | 225 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Llandebie South

Boundary Change
Llandebie South 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.B. Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Evan Davies* | 560 |
| | Independent | John Henry James | 424 |
| | Independent | Owen Jones | 169 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Lord Dynevor* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Harry Vaughan Watkins* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Edward James* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T.J. Parry-Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1931 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Daniel Roberts* | 1,047 |
| Labour | S.T. Vicary | 257 |
| Communist | A. Evans | 51 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Brinley R. Jones* | 488 |
| | Independent | James Jones | 371 |
| | Labour | John Roberts | 323 |
| | Independent | Elizabeth Thomas | 49 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1931 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Joseph Roberts* | 521 |
| Labour | Percy M. Evans | 252 |
| Communist | Brin Jones | 55 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | W.T. Morris* | 670 |
| | Labour | Thomas Charles | 624 |
| | Communist | William Morris | 50 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Gwen Trubshaw* | 621 |
| | Labour | Mary M. Griffiths | 174 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | W. Douglas Hughes | 636 |
| | Independent | Agnes H. Evans | 334 |
| | Communist | Enoch Collins | 51 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1928 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W. Powell Rees* | 806 |
| Labour | David John | 184 |
| Communist | Henry Jones | 16 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1928 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | H.W. Bowen | 515 |
| Independent | William Davies* | 377 |
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 28 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Rural, Berwick

Llanelly Rural, Berwick 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | David Harry | 999 |
| | Labour | J.R. Jones* | 680 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

Joe Howells stood as an Independent against the official Labour candidate and won by a very narrow margin.
Llanelly Rural, Hengoed 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Joseph Howells* | 436 |
| | Independent | D.J. Stone | 420 |
| | Labour | John Harris | 398 |
| | Communist | Arthur Evans | 11 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn

Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn 1931 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | William Jones* | 998 |
| Communist | S. Edwards | 180 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W.J. Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | E. Haydn Davies* | 709 |
| | Independent | Mary P.A.E. Mansell | 171 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangadock

Llangadock 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R.E. Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Henry Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Jenkins* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1931 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | D.J. Davies | 570 |
| Independent | David J. Jones* | 548 |
| Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Edwards* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanon

Llanon 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rees Morgan* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Evan Harris* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1931 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | T.Ll. Haries | 369 |
| Independent | John James Bowen* | 355 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Evan Morgan Evans | 562 |
| | Independent | W. James Williams* | 527 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Myddfai

Myddfai 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey North

Pembrey North 1928 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Gomer Evans | 1.095 |
| | Independent | David Evans* | 455 |
| | Communist | Brin Jones | 79 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Pembrey South

Pembrey South 1928 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John Henry Williams* | 994 |
| | Independent | Daniel Davies | 293 |
| | Communist | Henry Jones | 22 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1931 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | William Jones* | 886 |
| Independent | Gomer Harries | 680 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Gwendoline Lloyd-Price* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Clears

St Clears 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Joseph David Rees* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Ishmael

St Ishmael 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Walter Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Trelech

Trelech 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Lewis L. Bowen* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland

Whitland 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Thomas Lewis Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

## Election of aldermen

In addition to the 53 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 nine aldermen were elected. Eight were retiring aldermen (some of whom had not fought an election for many years) while Joseph Roberts had been re-elected in Llanelly Division 3.
* T.R. Jones, Cross Hall
* James Phillips, St Clears
* Philip Phillips, Pencraig
* W.R. Rogers, Closyfran
* Rev William Thomas, Llanboidy
* David Davies, Rhyblid
* John Thomas, Llanelli
* Joseph Roberts, Llanelli
* W.N.Jones, Ammanford
In addition, W.D. Davies, recently re-elected unopposed for the Llanegwad division, was elevated to the aldermanic bench following the death of L.N. Powell.

## By-elections 1931-1934
### 1931 Llanegwad by-election

A by-election was scheduled for March 1931 following the elevation of W.D. Davies to the aldermanic bench. B. Davies of Glancothi was elected unopposed in his place.
Llanegwad by-election March 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | B. Davies | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### 1931 Llanelly Division 3 by-election

A by-election was held in April due to the elevation of Joseph Roberts to the aldermanic bench. Strong objections were raised in the local press to the prospect of several Independent candidates contesting the vacancy, and these fears were realised when Labour candidate Percy Evans headed the poll with around a third of the votes cast. Gomer Thomas, chosen as an official candidate by the Ratepayers' Association, polled only 89 votes.
Llanelly Division 3 by-election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Percy M. Evans | 389 |
| Independent | D. Haddon Jones | 296 |
| Independent | James Jones | 248 |
| Independent | Gomer Thomas | 89 |
| Independent | Elizabeth Thomas | 10 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### 1932 Llandissilio by-election

A by-election was held in December 1932 following the elevation of Edward James to the aldermanic bench. Henry Morris, a mamber of Whitland RDC for 28 years, was elected by a narrow majority
1932 Llandissilio by-election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Henry Morris | 285 |
| Independent | Rev W.S. Thomas | 269 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |