# 1913–1939 Llanelly Borough Council elections

Llanelly Borough Council was created in 1913 when the existing Llanelly Urban District Council was granted full borough status.

## 1913 Llanelly Borough Council election

The first election for the newly incorporated borough of Llanelly was held on 3 November 1913. All the seats were contested with the majority of the members of the former Urban District Council being elected. Apart from the nine candidates nominated by the Labour Association - three in each ward - the election was said to have been fought on non-political and non-sectarian lines, with the majority of the aspirants standing as Independents.

### Ward One

Ward One 1913 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | W.H. Samuel* | 897 |
| Independent | Joseph Roberts | 865 |
| Independent | Roland T. Thomas* | 827 |
| Independent | Gwilym R. Price* | 824 |
| Independent | David Jennings | 779 |
| Labour | John Simlett* | 632 |
| Independent | W.E. Clements | 628 |
| Independent | James Hansard | 593 |
| Labour | William Vivian | 560 |
| Independent | W.T. Davies | 534 |
| Independent | William Davies | 447 |

### Ward Two

Ward Two 1913 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | D.J. Davies* | 1,048 |
| Independent | E. Willis Jones* | 1,009 |
| Independent | Thomas Jones* | 984 |
| Independent | W.B. Jones* | 939 |
| Independent | D.R. Jones | 888 |
| Independent | T. Hay Samuel | 742 |
| Independent | Dan Williams | 687 |
| Independent | J. Thomas | 674 |
| Labour | G.H. Stacey | 664 |
| Independent | D. Davies | 540 |
| Labour | Sam Jones | 530 |
| Independent | J. Lewis Phillips | 424 |
| Labour | T.H. Evans | 366 |

### Ward Three

Ward Three 1913 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Herbert D. Rees* | 601 |
| Independent | W.P. Rees | 538 |
| Labour | Nathan Griffiths* | 444 |
| Independent | J.W. Thomas | 432 |
| Independent | J.L. Jones | 347 |
| Labour | John Hughes | 345 |
| Independent | Owen Jones | 342 |
| Labour | Morgan Morgan* | 332 |
| Independent | W.M. Davies* | 325 |
| Independent | S.H. Bevan | 295 |

### By-elections

At the inaugural statutory meeting of the new council on Monday, 10 November, presided over by the new mayor, Sir Stafford Howard, six aldermen were elected (two from each ward) resulting in by-elections for the remaining six seats on the council. D. James Davies, John Simlett and Herbert Rees were elected aldermen for six years, and Joseph Roberts, Bramwell Jones and Nathan Griffiths for three years.
The by-elections were held on 25 November, with five of the seats being won by Independent candidates.

### Ward One by-election (two seats)

Ward One by-election 1913 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.E. Clement | 800 |
| Independent | W.T. Davies | 699 |
| Labour | William Vivian | 661 |
| Labour | P. Williams | 276 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two by-elections 1913 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | D. Williams | 622 |
| Independent | John Thomas | 599 |
| Labour | G.H. Stacey | 564 |
| Independent | D. Davies | 541 |
| Independent | J. Lewis Phillips | 293 |
| Independent | T. Harris | 163 |
| Independent | J. Davies | 125 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three by-elections 1913 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Morgan Morgan | 400 |
| Independent | William Davies | 339 |
| Labour | Owen Jones | 322 |
| Independent | H. Williams | 297 |
| Independent | W. Davies | 285 |

## 1919 Llanelly Borough Council election

In the first post-war election, Labour candidates won four of the six seats, three of which were gains from Independent candidates. The Llanelly Mercury expressed the hope that the infusion of new blood would lead to an improvement in the govrnamce of the town.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1919 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Evan Roberts | 1,068 |
| Independent | Martin R. Richards* | 979 |
| Independent | Frank J. Rees* | 945 |
| Labour | David Williams | 744 |
| Independent | John Llewellyn | 405 |
| Independent | John Marker | 409 |
| Independent | Alicia Phillips | 321 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1919 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Thomas Charles | 1,779 |
| Discharged Soldiers and Sailors | Capt. J. Evans | 1,491 |
| Labour | Thomas Davies | 1,267 |
| Independent | W.T. Morris | 667 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1919 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Owen Jones | 873 |
| Labour | H. Steve Davies | 781 |
| Independent | William Davies* | 653 |
| Independent | J.W. Thomas* | 258 |

## 1921 Llanelly Borough Council election

Independent candidates won five of the six seats, including William Davies, who regained the seat he lost in 1919.. The Labour Association was criticised for running a slate of candidates and creating costs to the ratepayers.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1921 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | David Jennings | 1,878 |
| Independent | Frank J. Rees* | 1,809 |
| Labour | Mrs Elias Davies | 581 |
| Independent | T.L. Stewart | 401 |
| Independent | Llew Arthur | 354 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1921 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | E. Willis Jones* | 2,061 |
| Independent | T. Hay Samuel* | 1,644 |
| Labour | Tom Harries | 859 |
| Independent | G.W. Dillon | 712 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1921 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Davies | 1,268 |
| Labour | John Hughes* | 923 |
| Independent | Thomas Morgan | 673 |
| Independent | David John | 516 |

## 1922 Llanelly Borough Council election

Only one of the three wards was contested at this election, which was overshadowed by the ongoing General Election.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1922 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Evan Roberts* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent | Martin R. Richards* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1922 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas Charles* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent | J. Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1922 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | H. Steve Davies* | 1,094 |
| Labour | Owen Jones* | 1,021 |
| Independent | David Harries | 843 |

## 1923 Llanelly Borough Council election

The Labour Party launched a campaign to improve their position on the authority and this led to a more politiciced campoagn than in previous years. Aldermen also stood down but the death of D. James Davies, former owner of the South Wales Press, left one vacancy. However, only two of the six Labour candidates were elected.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1923 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Joseph Roberts** | 1,634 |
| Independent | W.E. Clement* | 1,362 |
| Labour | Tom Hughes | 878 |
| Independent | R.J. Edmunds | 800 |
| Labour | T.D. Phillips | 623 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1923 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.T. Morris | 2,021 |
| Labour | James Davies* | 1,709 |
| Labour | Elias Davies* | 1,637 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1923 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W. Powell Rees* | 1,803 |
| Labour | Morgan Morgan | 901 |
| Labour | Stanley Davies | 825 |

## 1924 Llanelly Borough Council election

The contest, held at the same time as a General Election campaign, resulted in Labour losing one seat.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1924 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Frank J. Rees* | 2,223 |
| Independent | David Jennings* | 1,919 |
| Labour | R. Phillips | 860 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1924 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | T. Hay Samuel* | 1,909 |
| Labour | Elias Davies* | 1,739 |
| Labour | Ben Griffiths | 1,275 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1924 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Davies* | 1,247 |
| Independent | Theo Jenkins | 973 |
| Labour | John Hughes* | 873 |
| Labour | J.J. Winter | 552 |

## 1925 Llanelly Borough Council election

All three wards wre contested and local press coverage focused on the more radical elements within the Labour campaign with Enoch Collins being described as an avowed Communist. Th outcome was a net loss of one Labour seat. While Labour held both setas in Ward Three the more moderate Tom Charles was ousted in Ward Two. Press attention locally focused on the defeat of Neft and Collins in Ward One while it was claimed that Charles would have held his seat had he stood as an Independent.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1925 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Daniel Roberts* | 2,277 |
| Independent | Martin R. Richards* | 2,120 |
| Labour | R. Neft | 603 |
| Labour | Enoch Collins | 532 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1925 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Jack Evans* | 1,987 |
| Independent | W.E. Davies | 1,823 |
| Labour | Thomas Charles* | 1,547 |
| Labour | Ben Griffiths | 1,185 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1925 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | H. Steve Davies* | 1,209 |
| Labour | Owen Jones* | 1,146 |
| Independent | Alban Evans | 663 |

## 1926 Llanelly Borough Council election

All three wards were keenly contested and the Labour Party launched a campaign to improve their position on the authority and this led to a more politiciced campaign than in previous years. Aldermen also stood down, including the retiring mayor, J.L. Jones. Much to the surprise of the local press, Labour won four of the six seats with two retiring aldermen and W.T. Morris, a sitting county councillor, among those defeated. J.L. Jones, first elected in 1910, finished at the foot of the poll. There was criticism of Indepdnents for fielding too many candidates and allowing Labour candidates to be elected on a split vote. The practice of expecting retiring aldermen to seek election in competition with retiring councillors was also questioned.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1926 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | J.H. Williams* | 1,480 |
| Labour | John Hughes | 1,413 |
| Independent | R.P. Thomas** | 1,311 |
| Independent | W.E. Clement* | 1,045 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1926 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Tom Charles | 2,085 |
| Independent | Jack Auckland | 1,437 |
| Independent | W.H. Charles | 1,338 |
| Independent | W.T. Morris* | 981 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1926 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Morgan Morgan | 1,094 |
| Labour | Stanley Davies* | 1,013 |
| Independent | W.J. Davies | 687 |
| Independent | Tom Morgan | 600 |
| Independent | J.L. Jones** | 592 |

### By-elections

At the statutory meeting on 9 November, David Jennings (Ind), T. Hay Samuel (Ind) and Morgan Morgan (Lab) were elected aldermen, causing by-elections in each ward. The Independents won two of these but the ex-mayor was again defeated in Ward Three.

### Ward 1 by-election (one seat)

Ward 1 by-election 1926 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R.P. Thomas | | | |
| | Labour | W.L. Rees | | | |

### Ward 2 by-election (one seat)

Ward 2 by-election 1926 :
| Party | Candidate |
| Independent | W.H. Charles |
| Labour | D. James Davies |
| Independent | T. Griffiths |

### Ward 3 by-election (one seat)

Ward 3 by-election 1926 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | H.W. Bowen | 976 | | |
| | Independent | J.L. Jones | 581 | | |

## 1927 Llanelly Borough Council election

Coverage prior to the election suggested that the Labour Association washopeful of winning at least three seats. However, Labour lost the one seat that they held as the Independnets won all six seats. Roland Thomas, who briefly lost his seat the previous year, was among those re-elected.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1927 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Frank J. Rees* | 2,370 |
| Independent | Roland P. Thomas* | 1,897 |
| Labour | W.L. Rees | 1,090 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1927 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.H. Charles* | 1,872 |
| Independent | John Williams | 1,697 |
| Labour | Elias Davies* | 1,598 |
| Labour | D. James Davies | 1,371 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1927 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Theo Jenkins* | 1,319 |
| Independent | William Davies* | 1,081 |
| Labour | W. Jones | 705 |
| Labour | Alf Davies | 597 |

## 1928 Llanelly Borough Council election

All three wards were contested. In Ward One, the two retiring Independent members faced a number of opponents including former Labour councillor Elias Davies and two Independents, Tom Hughes and William Vivian, who had links to the labour movement. In Ward Two,, the two retiring members who had both served since 1919 were opposed by Labour candidates who included the Divisional party's local organizer, Douglas Hughes. Finally, in Ward Three, Labour was defending oth seats but a string Independent challenge was mounted. A self-appointed 'Ratepayers Association' formally supported five non-Labour candidates.. Independents held five seats while in Ward 3, Owen Jones, a Labour councillor for nine years, lost his seat to another Labour candidate.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1928 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Martin R. Richards* | 2,122 |
| Independent | Daniel Roberts* | 1,957 |
| Labour | Elias Davies | 945 |
| Independent | Tom Hughes | 855 |
| Independent | William Vivian | 838 |
| Labour | Harry Rees | 591 |
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 96 |
| Communist | Harry Jones | 80 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1928 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.E. Davies* | 2,449 |
| Independent | Jack Evans* | 2,432 |
| Labour | John Hughes | 1,377 |
| Labour | Douglas Hughes | 1,341 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1928 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.J. Davies | 1,101 |
| Labour | D. Grant Evans | 1,092 |
| Labour | Owen Jones* | 1,085 |
| Communist | Bryn Jones | 113 |

## 1929 Llanelly Borough Council election

In addition to the six councillors, three aldermen stood down. However, Joseph Roberts and E. Willis Jones, both of whom had been members of the authority since Llanelli obtained borough status in 1913, chose to stand down.. At the election, Elias Davies regained the seat he lost two years previously (having unsuccessfully contested Ward One in 1928) while in Ward Three, Labour councillor Stanley Davies lost at the expense of retiring aldermen, W. Powell Rees. Former Labour councillor Owen Jones, now running as an Independent, was unsuccessful.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1929 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | J.H. Williams* | 1,625 |
| Labour | John Hughes* | 1,507 |
| Independent | William Vivian | 1,215 |
| Independent | D. Haddon Jones | 1,006 |
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 61 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1929 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Tom Charles* | 2,167 |
| Labour | Elias Davies | 1,779 |
| Independent | Jack Auckland* | 1,579 |
| Communist | Bryn James | 109 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1929 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W. Powell Rees** | 1,369 |
| Labour | H.W. Bowen* | 1,173 |
| Labour | Stanley Davies* | 929 |
| Independent | Owen Jones | 613 |
| Communist | Harry Jones | 64 |

### By-elections

At the statutory meeting, Martin R. Richards, Jack Evans and William Davies (all Independents) were appointed aldermen. Coverage of the by-elections highlighted the failure of Independents to rally around a single candidate. Labour won two of the wards and came within a small margin of winning all three.

### Ward 1 by-election (one seat)

Ward 1 by-election 1929 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Vivian | 1,076 |
| Labour | Percy M. Evans | 1,060 |
| Independent | D. Haddon Jones | 688 |
| Independent | Tom Hughes | 434 |

### Ward 2 by-election (one seat)

Ward 2 by-election 1929 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. James Davies | 1,464 | | |
| | Independent | Jack Auckland | 1,282 | | |

### Ward 3 by-election (one seat)

Ward 3 by-election 1929 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | F. Stanley Davies | 1,127 | | |
| | Independent | Owen Jones | 489 | | |

## 1930 Llanelly Borough Council election

Independent candidates won all seats in an election dominated by a dispute over the purchase of the tramway company by the borough council, a proposal supported by Labour councillors.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1930 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Frank J. Rees* | 2,471 |
| Independent | Roland P. Thomas* | 2,230 |
| Labour | Percy M. Evans | 1,612 |
| Labour | S. Vicary | 1,031 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1930 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.H. Charles* | 1,875 |
| Independent | Joseph Preece | 1,658 |
| Labour | John Hughes | 1,508 |
| Labour | J.G. Davies | 1,348 |
| Communist | Brin James | 218 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1930 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Theo Jenkins* | 1,314 |
| Independent | Robert Richards | 1,252 |
| Labour | Stanley Davies* | 994 |
| Labour | T. Colvin | 518 |
| Communist | J. Cowern | 45 |
| Communist | Arthur Evans | 26 |

## 1931 Llanelly Borough Council election

The election wa fought in the immediate aftermath of the 1931 General Election when Dr J.H. Williams had once again been returned as Labour member for the Llanelli constituency following a straight fight with a 'National' candidate, Frank J. Rees (a member of the borough council). Twenty candidates contested the three wards, including a full slate of Communist candidates for the first time (although the party had failed to raise a deposit to contest the recent General Election). A heavy poll saw five Independents returned, including a gain from Labour in Ward Two. In Ward One, the sitting Independents polled stronlgly and held off thechallenge of Labour, including Percy Evans, who had been returned to Carmarthenshire County Council at a by-election earlier in the year following a split in the Labour vote.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1931 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Vivian* | 3,052 |
| Independent | Daniel Roberts* | 2,298 |
| Labour | Percy M. Evans | 1,533 |
| Labour | John Davies | 891 |
| Communist | Arthur Evans | 194 |
| Communist | E. Leyshon | 131 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1931 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.E. Davies* | 2,238 |
| Independent | Martin L. Edwards | 1,712 |
| Labour | D. James Davies* | 1,712 |
| Labour | William Willams | 1,673 |
| Communist | Bryn James | 333 |
| Communist | E.E. Seward | 172 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1931 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | D. Grant Evans* | 1,162 |
| Independent | W.J. Davies* | 920 |
| Labour | George Davies | 784 |
| Independent | Owen Jones | 598 |
| Independent | Mrs L.C. Jonathan | 496 |
| Independent | F. Howells | 447 |
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 116 |
| Communist | Harry Jones | 52 |

## 1932 Llanelly Borough Council election

The annual election was characterised by multiple candidates in all three wards. The Labour vote was threatened by challenge not only of Communist candidates but also ILP candidates who included some former prominent Labour figures such as Percy Evans, a county councillor, and D. James Davies, a former borough councillor. In Ward 2, three Independent candidates stood, which raised fears of a split vote before the election. In addition to the six councillors, three aldermen came to the end of their term and sought re-election.
In Ward One, retiring alderman David Jennings and sitting member J.H. Williams were returned, with retiring labour member John Hughes losing his seat. His defeat was attributed, in part, to the intervention of an ILP candidate. There had been an expectation that the sitting Labour members in Ward Two would be threatened by the ILP, but they withstood this challenge as well as that of the Independents candidates. These included T. Hay Samuel, the outgoing mayor, a member of the council since its formation in 1913, and retiring alderman; and also W.T.Morris, a sitting County councillor seeking to regain the seat on the borough council that he lost some years previously. The Independents were more successful in Ward Three, where both Labour candidates, including retiring alderman Morgan Morgan, were defeated.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1932 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | J.H. Williams* | 1,995 |
| Independent | David Jennings** | 1,840 |
| Labour | John Hughes* | 1,637 |
| Ind. Labour Party | J.G. Davies | 386 |
| Communist | Bryn James | 331 |
| Ind. Labour Party | Robert J. Rees | 301 |
| Communist | Arthur Evans | 298 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1932 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Tom Charles* | 1,499 |
| Labour | Elias Davies | 1,278 |
| Ind. Labour Party | Percy M. Evans | 1,118 |
| Independent | W.T. Morris | 1,100 |
| Independent | T. Hay Samuel** | 1,066 |
| Ind. Labour Party | D. James Davies | 859 |
| Independent | Tom Jeffreys | 685 |
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 342 |
| Communist | E.E. Seaward | 121 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1932 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W. Powell Rees* | 1,592 |
| Independent | A.H. Olive* | 1,339 |
| Labour | H.W. Bowen* | 951 |
| Labour | Morgan Morgan** | 854 |
| Communist | E. Leyshon | 327 |
| Independent | F. Howells | 326 |
| Communist | Tom Colvin | 166 |

### By-elections

At the statutory meeting, Frank J. Rees (Ind), Tom Charles (Lab) and Theo Jenkins (Ins) wee elected aldermen. As was the case three years previously, concern was expressed about a split Independent vote in Ward Two as both candidates who unsuccessfully fought three weeks earlier again stood for the single seat. W.T. Morris withdrew before the poll but Hay Samuel and the official Labour candidate were defeated by the ILP. Labour won the other two seats as ex-councillors defeated at the fist election were successful at their second attempt.

### Ward 1 by-election (one seat)

Ward 1 by-election 1932 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | John Hughes* | 1,427 |
| Ind. Labour Party | James G. Davies | 248 |
| Communist | Bryn James | 90 |

### Ward 2 by-election (one seat)

Ward 2 by-election 1932 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Ind. Labour Party | Percy M. Evans | 1,172 |
| Independent | T. Hay Samuel* | 883 |
| Labour | John Hughes | 853 |
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 50 |

### Ward 3 by-election (one seat)

Ward 3 by-election 1932 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | H.W. Bowen* | 1,079 |
| Independent | Fred Howells | 591 |
| Communist | E. Leyshon | 164 |

## 1933 Llanelly Borough Council election

The election resulted in Labour gaining one seat from the Independents. This was in Ward Two, where Douglas Hughes, a county councillor since 1931, took a seat despite the Labour vote being split by the intervention of the ILP. In Ward One, Mervyn Paton, clerk to Kidwelly Borough Council, took a seat at the expense of Roland Thomas, a long-serving member who was also a leading figure in the Welsh Rugby Union. There was an increase in the Communist vote in all three wards.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1933 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Mervyn D.J. Paton | 1,838 |
| Labour | John Hughes* | 1,837 |
| Independent | Roland P. Thomas* | 1,470 |
| Ind. Labour Party | James G. Davies | 651 |
| Communist | Brin James | 536 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1933 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | W. Douglas Hughes | 1,495 |
| Independent | W.H. Charles* | 1,339 |
| Ind. Labour Party | D. James Davies | 1,254 |
| Labour | Ben Griffiths | 1,012 |
| Independent | Joseph Preece* | 893 |
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 422 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1933 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | H.W. Bowen* | 1,197 |
| Independent | Robert Richards* | 1,105 |
| Independent | Dr L.C. Edwards | 894 |
| Communist | E. Leyshon | 497 |

## 1934 Llanelly Borough Council election

Eight seats were contested, as opposed to the usual six, following the resignation of Jack Evans and the death of Frank J. Rees. J.H. Williams and Elias Davies had been elevated to the aldermanic bench to fill the two vacancies resulting in three seats being vacant in Wards One and Two. The outstanding feature was the surprise election of Ernest Leyshon, the Communist candidate, in Ward Three, although his success at the Harbour Trust election in September had indicated a further increase in support for the Communists. Elsewhere, Roland Thomas was elected to fill the vacancy in Ward One following his defeat the previous year.

### Ward One (three seats)

Ward One 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Daniel Roberts* | 2,151 |
| Independent | William Vivian* | 2,005 |
| Independent | Roland P. Thomas | 1,871 |
| Labour | Joseph Howells | 1,046 |
| Communist | Bryn James | 887 |
| Labour | J. Williams | 838 |
| Labour | H. Rees | 797 |
| Ind. Labour Party | J.G. Davies | 438 |
| Communist | Arthur Evans | 319 |
| Ind. Labour Party | E. Jones | 285 |

### Ward Two (three seats)

Ward Two 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.E. Davies* | 1,816 |
| Independent | Martin L. Edwards* | 1,622 |
| Labour | Daniel Rees | 1,612 |
| Labour | William Williams | 1,484 |
| Ind. Labour Party | D. James Davies | 1,346 |
| Independent | Mrs Daisy Lewis | 1,207 |
| Labour | T.H. Jenkins | 816 |
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 625 |
| Communist | H. Jones | 246 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | D. Grant Evans* | 1,185 |
| Communist | Ernest Leyshon | 1,112 |
| Independent | W.J. Davies* | 726 |
| Independent | W.J. Thomas | 645 |
| Labour | G. Every | 517 |

## 1935 Llanelly Borough Council election

In addition to the six councillors, three aldermen retired leaving a potential nine retiring members competing for six seats. However, following previous concersn about a split Independent votes, Roland P. Thomas (Ward One) and William Davies (Ward Three) decided not to seek re-election and wait for the forthcoming by-elections.
In both Wards One and Two, the Independent candidates prevailed, with Alderman Elias Davies, only elevayed to the aldermanic bench the previous year, losing his seat. Retiring ILP member Percy Evans was also defeated. Ward Three, however, saw a huge surprise when W. Powell Rees, a borough councillor for twenty years and a serving county councillor, being comfortably defeated by the Communist candidate Brinley James.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1935 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | David Jennings* | 2,272 |
| Independent | Martin R. Richards** | 2,180 |
| Labour | H. Percy Rees | 1,343 |
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 1,016 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1935 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Daniel Rees* | 1,737 |
| Independent | W.E. Phillips | 1,641 |
| Labour | Elias Davies** | 1,605 |
| Independent | G.F. Austin | 1,341 |
| Ind. Labour Party | D. James Davies | 905 |
| Ind. Labour Party | Percy M. Evans* | 773 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1935 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | A.H. Olive* | 1,565 |
| Communist | Brinley James | 1,373 |
| Independent | W. Powell Rees** | 1,192 |
| Labour | Glyn Every | 786 |

### By-elections

At the statutory meeting, Dan Roberts (Ind), W.E. Davies (Ind) and H.W. Bowen (Lab) were elected aldermen. A further vacancy in Ward Three was created by the death the previous month of the Labour councillor, D. Grant Evans.
Much attention focused on Ward Three, where the Communists sought further success but they fell short by 32 votes behind ex-Alderman William Davies and Labour candidate John Griffiths. In Wards One and Two, old members regained seats as the Communists did not contest. Roland Thomas, first elected to the former Urban District Council in 1911, was again returned.

### Ward 1 by-election (one seat)

Ward 1 by-election 1935 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Roland P. Thomas* | 1,738 | | |
| | Labour | H. Percy Rees | 1,082 | | |

### Ward 2 by-election (one seat)

Ward 2 by-election 1935 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Elias Davies | 1,602 |
| Ind. Labour Party | D. James Davies | 833 |
| Independent | John Zammit | 665 |

### Ward 3 by-election (one seat)

Ward 3 by-election 1935 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Davies** | 1,013 |
| Labour | John Griffiths | 947 |
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 932 |
| Independent | W.J. Davies | 771 |
| Labour | George Davies | 420 |
| Independent | J. Bradbury | 133 |

## 1936 Llanelly Borough Council election

Two sitting members were defeated but the overall composition of the Council remained unchanged.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1936 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Dr H.D. Llewellyn | 2,232 |
| Independent | Mervyn D.J. Paton* | 2,141 |
| Labour | John Hughes* | 1,308 |
| Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans | 1,163 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1936 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | W. Douglas Hughes* | 1,865 |
| Labour | D.J. Joseph | 1,695 |
| Independent | W.H. Charles* | 1,579 |
| Independent | Mrs Daisy Lewis | 1,259 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1936 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | J. Griffiths* | 1,257 |
| Independent | A.G. Brown | 717 |
| Communist | Enoch Collins | 541 |
| Labour | H. Heath | 518 |
| Independent | P.W. Beynon | 380 |
| Independent | J. Bradbury | 93 |

## 1937 Llanelly Borough Council election

All three wards were closely contested and the defeated candidates including three sitting county councillors, namely Martin L. Edwards, who lost his seat in Ward Two; and J. Llewellyn Evans and David Richards who both failed to gain seats. W. Powell Rees regained a seat in Ward Three after being defeated by a Communist candidate in 1935. The Llanelly Star decried the split in the Independent vote which cotributed to the defeat of long-serving member William Davies.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Roland P. Thomas* | 1,792 |
| Independent | William Vivian* | 1,640 |
| Labour | David L. Richards | 1,607 |
| Independent | E.E. Powell | 858 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | W.J. Davies | 1,693 |
| Independent | W.H, Charles | 1,647 |
| Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans | 1,634 |
| Independent | Martin L. Edwards* | 1,588 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W. Powell Rees | 1,337 |
| Independent | Robert Richards | 1,022 |
| Independent | William Davies* | 940 |
| Labour | Harry Heath | 614 |
| Communist | Ernest Leyshon* | 439 |

### By-elections

Two by-elections were held during the first half of 1938 following the deaths of long-serving councillors William Vivian and Roland P. Thomas.

### Ward One by-election 1938

A by-election was held on 17 February 1938 following the death of William Vivian. William Davies, former mayor and a member for 21 years who had been defeated in Ward Three the previous November, won the seat by a narrow margin despite a split Independent vote.
Ward One by-election February 1938 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Davies | 1,670 |
| Labour | David L. Richards | 1,520 |
| Independent | E.E. Powell | 426 |

### Ward One by-election 1938

A by-election was held on 5 May 1938 following the death of Roland P. Thomas. David Richards, having lost narrowly at the previous by-election, was elected with a comfortable majority.
Ward One by-election May 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David L. Richards | 1,646 | | |
| | Independent | J. Preece | 1,100 | | |

## 1938 Llanelly Borough Council election

Three aldermen and six councilors stood down. The mayor, Elias Davies, indicated that he would retire but ultimately chose to oppose the official Labour candidates. He was unsuccessful in Ward Two. In Ward One. David Jennings and Martin Richards, members since pre-1914 days were comfortably returned ahead of the Labour candidate, County Alderman Joseph Howell. In Ward Three, Communist Brin James was defeated.

### Ward One (two seats)

Ward One 1938 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | David Jennings* | 2,066 |
| Independent | Martin R. Richards** | 1,866 |
| Labour | Joseph Howell | 1,370 |
| Independent | W. Hughes | 904 |

### Ward Two (two seats)

Ward Two 1938 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Daniel Rees* | 2,264 |
| Independent | W.E. Phillips* | 1,737 |
| Labour | D.J. Charles | 1,662 |
| Independent | Mrs Daisy Lewis | 936 |
| Independent Labour | Elias Davies** | 819 |

### Ward Three (two seats)

Ward Three 1935 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | A.H. Olive* | 1,638 |
| Independent | Theo Jenkins** | 1,119 |
| Communist | Brinley James* | 787 |
| Labour | T.M. Price | 683 |
| Independent | W.J. Davies | 384 |
| Independent | J. Bradbury | 102 |

### By-elections

At the statutory meeting, David Jennings, W.H. Charles and Robert Richards were elected aldermen. This was the second occasion that Jennings had been appointed for a six years term. At the ensuong by-elections, Brin James regained his seat in Ward Three as a Communist, although he had broken with the local party. In Ward One, the Labour candidate Joseph Howell was again unsuccessful while D.J. Charles was returned unopposed in Ward Two.

### Ward 1 by-election (one seat)

Ward 1 by-election 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H.F.M. Coombs | 1,344 | | |
| | Labour | Joseph Howell | 1,257 | | |

### Ward 2 by-election (one seat)

Ward 2 by-election 1938 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.J. Charles | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |

### Ward 3 by-election (one seat)

Ward 3 by-election 1938 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Communist | Brin James | 802 |
| Independent | Frederick Howells | 689 |
| Labour | T.M. Price | 499 |
| Independent | William Thomas | 242 |
| Independent | J. Bradbury | 19 |