# 1937 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1937. It was preceded by the 1934 election. Due to the Second World War no elections were held in 1940 and 1943 therefore the 1937 election was followed by the 1946 election.

## Overview of the result

As in all previous inter-war elections, the Independent group won a majority of the seats and this majority was bolstered by holding the majority of the aldermanic seats also. By 1937 the Labour Party held almost all the seats in the industrial eastern part of the county.

## Boundary changes

There were a number of boundary changes at this election. In Carmarthen town the boundaries were redrawn, reducing the number of wards from four to three. In Llanelli, in contrast, the number of wards were increased from eight to nine following a similar process. An additional ward was also created in Ammanford and new wards at Pontyberem and Trimsaran.
Other wards were renamed or had their boundaries slightly altered.

## Candidates

Around half the wards were uncontested, mainly in the rural areas. At Kidwelly, Sir Alfred Stephens, a member of the Council since 1898 (apart from a short interval between 1907 and 1910) decided to retire.

## Outcome

A similar number of contests took place compared with 1934. This included contests in rural areas between rival Independent candidates. Overall, Labour gained four seats, including three of the newly created wards.
In the Llanelli area, six Labour candidates were returned unopposed including for the new Llanelly Division 7 and Pontyberem wards. The owner of the Llanelly Star, Brinley Jones, was defeated by a Labour candidate, and Labour gained another seat in Burry Port. In Llanelly Ward 3, Haddon Jones was displaced by another Independent, Jim Jones, while in Ward 4, Martin Edwards, a member of Llanelly Borough Council won the seat previously held by the late Tom Charles. In Ward 8, W. Powell Rees, who had lost his borough council seat to Communist Brin James in 1935, now faced the same oppoenent in the county election. On this occasion, however, Rees won very comfortably. Much attention was also focused on Lady Howard Stepney's successful campaign in Pembrey ward.

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford No.1

Boundary Change.
Ammanford No.1 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Harries | unopposed | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Ammanford No.2

Boundary Change.
Ammanford No.2 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Frank Davies* | 708 | | |
| Independent | David Jones | 487 | | |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Berwick

Berwick 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T.S. Bowen* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Burry Port

Boundary Change.
Burry Port 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | W.D. Jenkins | 993 | | |
| Independent | F.J. Morgan | 672 | | |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Caio

Caio 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Thomas Davies | 438 |
| Independent | Isaac Williams* | 297 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Division 1

Carmarthen Division 1 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Carmarthen Division 2

Carmarthen Division 2 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H.S. Holmes* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Carmarthen Division 3

Carmarthen Division 3 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Ithel P. Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ellenora James* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ivor Elystan Campbell Davys* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Conwil

Conwil 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | J.J. Evans* | 523 |
| Independent | J.W.L. Harries | 222 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cwmamman

Cwmamman 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | John Phillips* | 1,068 |
| Independent | D.M. Richards | 735 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Hengoed

Hengoed 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joseph Howells* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | J. Amos Jones | 708 |
| Independent | H.J. Owen | 378 |
| Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | S.B. Williams* | 612 |
| Labour | Owen Williams | 197 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Edgar Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Benjamin Salmon* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie North

Llandebie North 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | David O. Davies | 702 |
| | Labour | Gwilym R. Thomas* | 666 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Llandebie South

Llandebie South 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Benjamin Lewis* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Evan Davies* | 708 |
| | Independent | J.W. Nicholas | 660 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Benjamin Hughes* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Harry Vaughan Watkins* | 586 |
| Labour | James James | 220 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Henry Morris* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas William Morgan* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Griffith Evans* | 576 |
| Independent | Wynne Davies | 265 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 1

Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 1 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Daniel Roberts* | 1,141 | | |
| Ind. Labour Party | J.G. Davies | 465 | | |
| Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Llanelly Division 2

Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 2 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | W.T. Griffiths | 565 | | |
| Independent | Brinley R. Jones* | 486 | | |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Llanelly Division 3

Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 3 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Jones | 400 | | |
| | Labour | C.R. Rees | 309 | | |
| | Independent | D. Haddon Jones* | 252 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Llanelly Division 4

Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 4 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Martin L. Edwards | 598 | | |
| | Labour | D.J. Charles | 512 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Llanelly Division 5

Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 5 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Gwen Trubshaw* | 666 | | |
| | Communist | E.F. Seaward | 25 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Llanelly Division 6

Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 6 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Douglas Hughes* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Llanelly Division 7

Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 7 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans | unopposed | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Llanelly Division 8

Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 8 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | W. Powell Rees* | 857 | | |
| Communist | Brin James | 212 | | |
| Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Llanelly Division 9

Boundary Change
Llanelly Division 8 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | A.H. Olive* | 1,077 | | |
| Labour | R.S. Beynon | 191 | | |
| Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W.J. Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1934 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | E. Haydn Davies* | 612 |
| Independent | E.J. Lewis | 298 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangadock

Llangadock 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | W.T. Morgan | 536 |
| Independent | R.E. Williams* | 493 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | R.G. Owen* | 851 |
| Independent | Thomas Jones | 431 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Jenkins* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.J. Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Edwards* | 528 |
| Independent | J.J. Bowen | 384 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanon

Llanon 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rees Morgan* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Morgan | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T.Ll. Haries* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies | 585 |
| | Independent | W. James Williams* | 529 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Myddfai

Myddfai 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W.R. Clement* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey

Boundary Change
Pembrey 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Lady Howard Stepney | 799 | | |
| Labour | J.J. Davies | 586 | | |
| Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Pontyberem

Boundary Change
Pontyberem 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David John Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Watkin Davies | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Clears

St Clears 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Joseph David Rees* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Ishmael

St Ishmael 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | E.H. Stephens* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Trelech

Trelech 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Lewis L. Bowen* | 525 |
| Independent | J.E. Jones | 295 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Trimsaran

Boundary Change
Trimsaran 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gomer Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Westfa and Glyn

Westfa and Glyn 1937 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Emrys Aubrey* | 1,256 |
| Independent Labour | I.J. Haries | 428 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Whitland

Whitland 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Thomas Lewis Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

## Election of aldermen

In addition to the 57 councillors the council included an aldermanic bench amounting to a third of the number of elected councillors. Following the creation of additional wards an extra aldermanic seat was created. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term.
Following the elections the ten retiring aldermen were re-elected and Gwendoline Trubshaw, the new chairman of the Council, elected to the additional aldermanic seat created as a result of redistribution.

## By-elections 1937-46
### 1937 Llanelly Division 5 by-election

A by-election was held in May due to the elevation of Gwendoline Trubshaw, the current chair of Carmarthenshire County Council, to the aldermanic bench. The Labour candidate secured a narrow victory over a former long-serving member of the Llanelly Borough Council.
Llanelly Division 3 by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Daniel Ll. Richards | 286 | | |
| | Independent | T. Hay Samuel | 245 | | |

### 1938 Llanelly Division 8 by-election

A by-election was held in May due to the elevation of W. Powell Rees to the aldermanic bench following the death of Alderman Joseph Roberts. The Rev. Waldo Roberts, minister of Bethel Baptist Chapel was returned unopposed. He had previously served on Boards of Guardians at Neath and Holyhead.
Llanelly Division 8 by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Rev F. Waldo Roberts | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |

### 1939 Llanelly Division 8 by-election

Having served as a county councillor for less than a year, the Rev. Waldo Roberts died in April 1939. At the by-election, Fred Howells held the seat for the Independents.
Llanelly Division 8 by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Fred Howells | 446 | | |
| | Labour | T.M. Price | 215 | | |