# 1937 Cardiganshire County Council election

The sixteenth election to Cardiganshire County Council took place in March 1937. It was preceded by the 1934 election and, after those scheduled for 1940 and 1943 were postponed due to the Second World War, by the 1946 election.

## Candidates

36 of the 50 councillors were returned unopposed and this resulted in fourteen contests, one fewer than three years previously Political affiliations did not feature in the election.

## Retiring aldermen

Eight aldermen retired, of whom four sought election.

## Contested elections

Following the fourteen contests, three retiring members (including one who withdrew too late to be removed from the ballot paper) were defeated while two retiring aldermen were defeated by incumbent councillors.

## Outcome

Very little change took place as a result of an election in which only one sitting member lost his seat.

## Results
### Aberaeron

Aberaeron 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Mary Nesta Poulgrain* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Aberbanc

Aberbanc 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Ieuan John Luke | 501 |
| | Independent | Benjamin John Davies* | 423 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 78 |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing |

### Aberporth

Aberporth 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Rev Evan Melinfab Lewis | 453 |
| | Independent | Thomas Rhys Williams | 179 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 274 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Aberystwyth Division 1

Aberystwyth Division 1 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Edwards* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Aberystwyth Division 2

Aberystwyth Division 2 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Capt. B. Taylor Lloyd | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Aberystwyth Division 3

Aberystwyth Division 3 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Barclay Jenkins* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Aberystwyth Division 4

Aberystwyth Division 4 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T.C. Jenkins* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Aberystwyth Division 5

Aberystwyth Division 5 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Mrs M.E. Roberts* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Aberystwyth Division 6

Aberystwyth Division 6 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Llewellyn Samuel* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Aeron

Aeron 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Evan Thomas Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Borth

Borth 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Bow Street

Bow Street 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Edward James* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cardigan North

Cardigan North 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Hubert Maxwell Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cardigan South

Cardigan South 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cilcennin

Cilcennin 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Evan Evans | 262 |
| | Independent | Henry Lewis* | 205 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 57 |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing |

### Cwmrheidol

Cwmrheidol 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Llew J. Lewis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Devil's Bridge

Devil's Bridge 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J.G. Morris Davies** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Felinfach

Felinfach 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Mrs Gladys Mary Douglas* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Goginan

Goginan 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | John Williams* | 204 |
| | Independent | William Thomas* | 192 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Lampeter Borough

Lampeter Borough 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Lewis* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanarth

Llanarth 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Rev J.M. Lloyd Thomas* | 368 |
| | Independent | David Christmas Evans | 214 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 154 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanbadarn Fawr

Llanbadarn Fawr 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Emile Thomas Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanddewi Brefi

Llanddewi Brefi 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Rev John Ellis Williams* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandygwydd

Llandygwydd 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David James* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandysul North

Llandysul North 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Josiah Richard Jones* | 323 |
| | Independent | Griffith Davies | 250 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 73 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandysul South

Llandysul South 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Lewis* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llansysiliogogo

Llandysiliogogo 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Rees Williams* | 285 |
| | Independent | James Elias Jones+ | 220 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 65 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanfair Clydogau

Llanfair Clydogau 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Joseph Gwyn Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfarian

Llanfarian 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Richard Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel y Creuddyn

Llanfihangel y Creuddyn 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Daniel Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangoedmor

Llangoedmor 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Evan Davies* | 314 |
| | Independent | T.D. Roberts | 174 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 140 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangeitho

Llangeitho 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Daniel Lodwick Herbert* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangrannog

Llangrannog 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Williams* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanilar

Llanilar 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | R.J.R. Loxdale+ | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanrhystyd

Llanrhystyd 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Rowland Hugh Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanllwchaiarn

Llanllwchaiarn 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Evan Parry Jenkins* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llansantffraed

Llansantffraed 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Capt. David Morgan* | 304 |
| | Independent | Isaac Frederick Jones | 190 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 114 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanwnen

Llanwnen 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanwenog

Llanwenog 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Meredith Ll. Gwarnant Williams* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Lledrod

Lledrod 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Richard David Herbert** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Nantcwnlle

Nantcwnlle 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | John Edwardes Rogers Lewis | 160 |
| | Independent | John Lloyd Edwardes | 134 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### New Quay

New Quay 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | David Oswald Davies | 318 |
| | Independent | Jack Evans | 287 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Penbryn

Penbryn 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | David Lloyd Thomas | 259 |
| | Independent | John William Lewis+ | 235 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Strata Florida

Strata Florida 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Morgan Jones* | 239 |
| | Independent | William James Jones | 159 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 80 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Taliesin

Taliesin 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Basil Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Talybont

Talybont 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Rev Fred Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Trefeurig

Trefeurig 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Richard R. Davies | 113 |
| | Independent | John Thomas | 110 |
| | Independent | William James* | 5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing |

### Tregaron

Tregaron 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Roderick Lloyd* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Troedyraur

Troedyraur 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Ysbyty Ystwyth

Ysbyty Ystwyth 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Joshua Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

## Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 50 councillors the council consisted of 16 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1937 election, there were eight aldermanic vacancies which were filled at the annual meeting. There was some controversy due to the fact that the principle did seniority was not observed in the selection of aldermen. The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
* Sir D.C. Roberts, Aberystwyth
* R.J.R. Loxdale, Llanilar
* J.G. Morris Davies, Devil's Bridge
* E.J. Davies, New Quay
* W.E. Matthews, Cardigan
In addition, the following four new aldermen were elected:
* David Evans, Troeduraur
* Meredydd Ll.G. Williams, Llanwenog
* Rev John Ellis Williams, Llanddewi Brefi
The following retiring aldermen had been re-elected as members of the council but were not re-elected as aldermen:
* R.D. Herbert, Lledrod
The five re-elected aldermen had served at least two previous terms while Meredith Gwarnant Williams had been an alderman from 1922 until 1928.

## By-elections

Five by-elections were held following the election of aldermen. Morgan Davies was returned unopposed at Llanddewi Brefi as was the incumbent councillor at Llanilar, James Isaac, who had stood down in favour of Alderman Loxdale. New members were elected for the three other divisions, including Devil's Bridge where the veteran member T. Mason Jones, who had returned to the council in 1934 after fifteen years absence did not stand due to ill health.

### Devil's Bridge by-election

Devil's Bridge by-election 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Rev T. Noah Jones | 180 |
| | Independent | Morgan Morgan | 129 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanddewi Brefi by-election

Llanddewi Brefi by-election 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Morgan Davies | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanilar by-election

Llanilar by-election 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Isaac* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanwenog by-election

Llanwenog by-election 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | David Lloyd James | 391 |
| | Independent | J. Elias Jones | 213 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 178 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Troedyraur by-election

Troedyraur by-election 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | James Jenkins Davies | 484 |
| | Independent | Owen Evans | 331 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 153 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |