# 1946 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1946. The 1940 and 1943 elections were postponed due to the Second World War, therefore the election was preceded by the 1937 election and followed, by the 1949 election.

## Overview of the result

The Independents retained their majority despite a strong Labour challenge, which saw an increase in the number of candidates contesting wards outside of the industrial south and east of the county. Retiring aldermen were also obliged to face the electorate before being re-elected to the bench.

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes.

## Candidates

There were 24 unopposed returns, including in Llandybie North and Pembrey, where the sitting Independent member retired and Labour was returned unopposed. In the former seat, Gwilym R. Thomas regained the seat that he had lost in 1937. In total, six Independent and eighteen Labour candidates were returned unopposed. A further Independent candidate was returned at Myddfai after the sitting councillor, W.R. Clement, withdrew.
A feature of the election was that the Council, at its most recent quarterly meeting, discussed a proposal that aldermen should, in future, only be selected from amongst elected members. Such motions had been proposed in the past by Labour members but, on this occasion, a number of Independents agreed. retiring aldermen were obliged to seek re-election, and in many cases faced opposition from retiring councillors. This occurred in four wards, including at Cwmamman, where the chairman of the council, John Phillips (Ind) was opposed by retiring councillor David Davies (Lab). Two Independents who faced opposition from retiring aldermen, namely Capt. Ithel Thomas (Carmarthen) and Griffith Evans (Llanegwad) had spoken in favour of changing the system at the quarterly meeting.
Labour contested more seats than in previous elections, including all three seats in Carmarthen Borough. A solitary Plaid Cymru candidate, the party president, Gwynfor Evans, was nominated at Llangadog.

## Contested elections

Many wards were keenly contested following the reinstatement of electoral politics after nine years. The clsest contest was at Llangadog where Thomas Jones, chairman of Llandeilo Rural District Council, defeated Gwynfor Evans, the president of Plaid Cymru by one vote after three recounts.
In the Llanelli and Ammanford areas, Labour won ground, particularly in Llanelli town where three wards were gained from the Independents. In Ward Three, it was alleged that a Labour leaflet was distributed after dark the night before the election making personal allegationas against the defending Independent candidate, James Jones. Labour also defeated the sitting Independent at Llangeler (a rural ward where the party had been successful once before largely due to the local woollen industry). Labour also won the St Ishmaels ward for the first time.
Another feature was that long-serving aldermen faced the electorate. The only Labour loss was at Cwmamman where Ald. John Phillips, a member of the Council since 1922 narrowly defeated the sitting Labour councillor David Davies. In Carmarthen Town, Ald. William Price Williams was defeated by the retiring Independent, as were Ald. Evan Harris at Llansawel and Ald. W.D. Davies at Llanegwad.

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | G.P. Philipps | 667 |
| | Independent | D.J. Williams* | 351 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Ammanford No.1

Ammanford No.1 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford No.2

Ammanford No.2 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Harries* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Berwick

Berwick 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | T.S. Bowen* | 1,150 |
| | Independent Labour | Elvet Pugh | 396 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Burry Port

Burry Port 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W.D. Jenkins* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Caio

Caio 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Thomas Davies* | 486 |
| | Independent | Isaac Williams | 418 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Division 1

Carmarthen Division 1 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | William Jones* | 701 |
| | Labour | J.E. Hughes | 625 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Division 2

Carmarthen Division 2 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | J.O. Morgans* | 1,003 |
| | Labour | G.G. Richards | 461 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Division 3

Carmarthen Division 3 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | J. Ithel P. Thomas* | 516 |
| | Labour | W.C. Ferman | 482 |
| | Independent | William Price Williams** | 396 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | D.J. James Jones | 576 |
| | Independent | Ellenora James* | 313 |
| | Independent | J. Clement Davies | 278 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 263 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Arthur Owen* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Conwil

Conwil 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | William Howell Phillips | 523 |
| | Independent | E.J. Evans | 472 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cwmamman

Cwmamman 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | John Phillips** | 1,091 |
| | Labour | David Davies* | 1,030 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Hengoed

Hengoed 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joseph Howells** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Amos Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | S.B. Williams* | 542 |
| | Independent | W.G. John | 404 |
| | Labour | H.G. Taylor | 203 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Edgar Lewis* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Williams* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie North

Llandebie North 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gwilym R. Thomas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Llandebie South

Llandebie South 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Benjamin Lewis** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Evan Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J.M. Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Anthony H. Gower | 485 |
| | Labour | James James | 307 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Edward James** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas William Morgan* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Griffith Evans* | 694 |
| | Independent | W.D. Davies** | 352 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Rev D. Penry Jones | 567 |
| | Communist | Enoch Collins | 245 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W.T. Griffiths* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | C.R. Rees | 600 |
| | Independent | James Jones* | 332 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Charlotte Hopkins | 997 |
| | Independent | Martin L. Edwards* | 612 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W.T. Griffiths* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W.J. Davies | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1946 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Fred Howells* | 642 |
| Labour | A. Palmer | 532 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 9

Llanelly Division 9 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | A.H. Olive* | 843 |
| | Labour | J.M. Davies | 764 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | T.J. Williams | 680 |
| | Labour | Stephen Griffiths | 393 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | John Davies | 658 |
| | Independent | William Harry | 256 |
| | Independent | Thomas Richard Evans | 72 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangadog

Llangadog 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Thomas Jones | 406 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Gwynfor Evans | 405 |
| | Independent | W. Jones | 299 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | S.R. Thomas | 808 |
| | Independent | R.G. Owen* | 792 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rev R.G. James (Lab) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Bowen | 731 |
| | Independent | Luther Rolfe | 361 |
| | Independent Labour | S. Morlais J. Lloyd | 278 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | William Edwards* | 513 |
| | Independent | W.P. Thomas | 482 |
| | Independent | David Jenkins | 186 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanon

Llanon 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Sidney Jones | 1,629 |
| | Independent | Eva M. Harris | 661 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | John Morgan* | 282 |
| | Independent | Evan Harris** | 279 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T.Ll. Haries* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies* | 877 |
| | Independent | Thomas Morgan | 574 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Myddfai

Myddfai 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Emlyn Lewis James | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey

Pembrey 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Simon J. Elwyn Samuel | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Pontyberem

Pontyberem 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David John Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Watkin Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | David Thomas* | 320 |
| | Independent | T.H. Lewis | 217 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### St Clears

St Clears 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Joseph David Rees* | 1,005 |
| | Independent | Gwladys Olwen Buckley | 333 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### St Ishmaels

St Ishmaels 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Trevor Rhys Morris | 577 |
| | Independent | David Jones | 363 |
| | Independent | John W. Jones Cremlyn | 284 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Trelech

Trelech 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | S.O. Thomas* | 741 |
| | Independent | Stephen Davies | 282 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Trimsaran

Trimsaran 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gomer Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Westfa

Westfa 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Emrys Aubrey* | 1,601 |
| | Independent | W.D. Ford | 626 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Whitland

Whitland 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Hughes Mathias* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

## Election of aldermen

In addition to the 57 councillors the council consisted of 19 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. For the first time, all retiring aldermen were obligd to seek re-election before being re-elected as aldermen, At the annual meeting on 16 March, five Independent and four Labour aldermen were elected. Considerable debate took place about the method of selection, with the traditional method of selecting on the basis of seniority abandoned. These included four former aldermen re-elected at the election, namely Joseph Howells (Lab, Hengoed), Edward James (Ind, Llandyssilio), D.B. Lewis (Lab, Tycroes) and John Phillips (Ind, Cwmamman).
The nine aldermen elected were:
* Evan Davies (Ind, Llandeilo)
* Frank Davies (Lab, Ammanford)
* William Edwards (Ind, Llangunnor)
* Gomer Evans (Lab, Trimsaran)
* Joseph Howells (Lab, Hengoed)
* D.B. Lewis (Lab, Tycroes)
* Edward James (Ind, Llandyssilio)
* John Phillips (Ind, Cwmamman)
* J. Ithel P. Thomas (Ind, Carmarthen)

## By-elections 1946-49

Following the decision that retiring aldermen could no longer be re-appointed withoit facing the electorate, nine by-elections were called. In six of these there were unopposed returns, with three former councillors who had styood down in favour of retiring aldermen being returned. David Davies, who had unsuccessfully challenged retiring alderman John Phillips at Cwmamman, was also returned without opposition.
The three contested by-elections were all won by Independents. The successful candidate at Llangunnor, W. Parry Thomas, had recently been discharged by Carmarthen magistrates after being accused of offences during the triennial election.

### Ammanford by-election

Llanedy by-election 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Haydn Lewis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Division 3 by-election

Carmarthen Division 3 by-election 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | J. Verdi Jenkins | 719 |
| | Labour | Mary Davies | 371 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 348 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cwmamman by-election

Cwmamman by-election 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Hengoed by-election

Hengoed by-election 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.J. Stone* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandeilo Rural by-election

Llandeilo Rural by-election 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | William John Thomas | 919 |
| | Independent | Llewellyn Williams Thomas | 606 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 313 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandybie by-election

Llandybie by-election 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Evan Bevan* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandysilio by-election

Llandysilio by-election 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Hugh Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangunnor by-election

Llangunnor by-election 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | W. Parry Thomas | 766 |
| | Independent | B.F. Herbert | 392 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 374 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Trimsaran by-election

Trimsaran by-election 1946 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Brinley Jenkins | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |