# 1934 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1934. It was preceded by the 1931 election and followed by the 1937 election.

## Overview of the result

The Independent group remained the majority grouping on the Council, with Labour polling strongly in the industrial south and east of the county. In the Llanelli area, Communist Party candidates contested a number of seats but polled a low vote in all cases.

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes.

## Candidates

Only a minority of the 53 divisions were contested. Labour fielded 30 candidates, more than ever before; eleven of whom were returned unopposed. A greater number of contests took place in 1934 in Carmarthenshire than at any time since the First World War. This was as a result of more contests in rural areas between rival Independent candidates.

## Outcome

There were very few changes as a result of the election. The most striking result was the defeat of the Council chairman, David Harry, in the Berwick ward. The Llanelly Star considered this 'a shabby return' after over twenty years' service. However, the result confirmed a pattern of increasing Labour dominance in the industrial part of the county, and Harry had previously been defeated in 1928 before regaining the seat in 1931.
In Llanelli town, the late withdrawal of W.T. Morris led to the unopposed return of Tom Charles for Labour. Charles had been narrowly defeated by Morris at several previous elections. In Ward Two, Percy Evans, returned at a by-election in 1931 following a split Independent vote, but now standing for the ILP, was defeated.

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford

Ammanford 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Bettws

Bettws 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Caio

Caio 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Isaac Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Katherine Isobel Harries* | 529 |
| Labour | E.J. Richards | 256 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Jones | 504 |
| Labour | Mary Charles | 422 |
| Independent | L.D. Thomas* | 154 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | H.S. Holmes* | 361 |
| Labour | W. Clarke | 204 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | J. Ithel P. Thomas* | 461 |
| Labour | Arthur Phillips | 296 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ellenora James* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Lewis Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Conwil

Conwil 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | J.J. Evans* | 538 |
| Independent | T.L. Harries | 300 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Alfred Stephens* | 662 |
| Labour | S. Evans | 615 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | S.B. Williams* | unpopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | W. Edgar Lewis* | 1,433 |
| Independent | William Gealy | 410 |
| Independent | William Hughes | 252 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Benjamin Salmon | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie North

Llandebie North 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Gwilym R. Thomas* | 685 |
| | Independent | David O. Davies | 571 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llandebie South

Llandebie South 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.B. Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Evan Davies* | 654 |
| | Independent | J.W. Nicholas | 568 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Charles Rhys* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Harry Vaughan Watkins* | 605 |
| Independent | J. James | 154 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Henry Morris* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T.J. Parry-Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Delme Davies-Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Daniel Roberts* | 993 |
| Independent | W.H. Williams | 437 |
| Labour | J.R. Jones | 350 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Brinley R. Jones* | 519 |
| Labour | Richard Phillips | 231 |
| Communist | Brinley Jones | 100 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | D. Haddon Jones | 327 |
| | Independent | James Jones | 272 |
| | Ind. Labour Party | Percy M. Evans* | 236 |
| | Labour | David John | 68 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Ind. Labour Party | Independent gain from Ind. Labour Party | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas Charles | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Gwen Trubshaw* | 546 |
| | Labour | Margaret Griffiths | 142 |
| | Communist | E.F. Seaward | 35 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | W. Douglas Hughes* | 591 |
| | Communist | Enoch Collins | 126 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W. Powell Rees* | 628 |
| Communist | E. Leyshon | 265 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | A.H. Olive | 781 |
| Labour | H.W. Bowen* | 712 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Rural, Berwick

Llanelly Rural, Berwick 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | T.S. Bowen | 1,022 |
| | Independent | David Harry* | 765 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Joseph Howells* | 750 |
| | Independent | D.J. Stone | 625 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn

Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Emrys Aubrey* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.J. Evans* | 504 |
| Labour | T.J. Willams | 365 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E. Haydn Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangadock

Llangadock 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | R.E. Williams* | 578 |
| Independent | W.T. Morgan | 431 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | R.G. Owen* | 774 |
| Labour | Tom Jones | 535 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Jenkins* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | D.J. Davies* | 696 |
| Independent | David J. Jones | 524 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Edwards* | 638 |
| Independent | H. Spencer-Morris | 205 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanon

Llanon 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rees Morgan* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Evan Harris* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | T.Ll. Haries* | 513 |
| Independent | John James Bowen | 286 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | W. James Williams | 691 |
| | Independent | Evan Morgan Evans* | 423 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Myddfai

Myddfai 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W.R. Clement* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey North

Pembrey North 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gomer Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey South

Pembrey South 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Henry Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Gwendoline Lloyd-Price* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Clears

St Clears 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Joseph David Rees* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Ishmael

St Ishmael 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | E.H. Stephens | 537 |
| Independent | William Bowen | 391 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Trelech

Trelech 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Lewis L. Bowen* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland

Whitland 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Thomas Lewis Phillips* | 432 |
| Independent | W.H. Mathias | 186 |
| Independent | W.S. Cole | 184 |
| Independent | H. Williams | 164 |
| 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. There had been suggestions in the past that aldermen should face the elctorate before being re-appointed but when this was suggested by Edgar Lewis (Lab, Llanarthey) at the statutory meeting the suggestion was greeted with laughter. The following nine aldermen were re-elected.
Western Area
* Sir F.D. Williams-Drummond, Hafodneddyn
* W.D. Davies, Parcygroes
* Edward James, Clynderwen
* John Lewis, Meirios Hall
* W. Price Williams, Carmarthen
Eastern Area
* William Greville, Cross Hnads
* Tom Morris, Garnant
* Thomas Thomas, Llangennech
* W.J. Williams, Brynamman