# 1937 Glamorgan County Council election

The sixteenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1937. It was preceded by the 1934 election and followed, due to the Second World War by the 1946 election.

## Overview

Labour's comfortable majority on the council, including the aldermanic bench, remained unchanged.

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

## Candidates

Many candidates were returned unopposed.

## Contested elections

Labour contested almost every seat on the council, with a significant proportion of candidates returned unopposed.
Of the eleven aldermen retiring at the end of their sixth year term, the ten Labour aldermen all sought re-election while Rev D.H. Williams (Ind) stood down from the Council after over thirty years. Alderman Dorothy Rees (Lab), who was elected for three years to fill a vacancy in 1934, also sought re-election.

## Outcome

Labour retained their majority, losing two seats but gaining three.

## Results
### Aberaman

Aberaman 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Florence Rose Davies** | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Aberavon

Aberavon 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edward Lewis Hare* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Abercynon

Abercynon 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joseph Dicks** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Aberdare Town

Aberdare Town 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Thomas Alwyn John | 1,292 |
| | Labour | Tom Williams | 977 |
| | Independent | Henry Cohen | 242 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 315 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Bargoed

Bargoed 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William John Kedward* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Barry

Dudley Howe had previously represented Cadoxton and gained the neighbouring Barry ward from Labour. However, Labour won Cadoxton for the first time against the new candidate.
Barry 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Dudley Thomas Howe* | 2,304 |
| | Labour | W. East* | 2,004 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 300 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Barry Dock

Barry Dock 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Dorothy Rees** | 1,965 |
| | Independent | G. Edward Smith | 1,762 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 203 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Blaengwawr

Blaengwawr 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William J. Edwards* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Bridgend

Bridgend 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William W. Phillips* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Briton Ferry

Briton Ferry 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Gethin* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cadoxton

Cadoxton 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Digby Smith | 1,499 |
| | Independent | A.L. Davies | 1,158 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 341 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Caerphilly

Caerphilly 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Evan Phillips* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cilfynydd

Cilfynydd 1934 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Pearson* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Coedffranc

Coedffranc 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | D.T. Jenkins | 2,916 |
| | Independent | Isaac David | 1,798 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,118 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Cowbridge

Cowbridge 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. John Smith | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cwm Aber

Cwm Aber 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rev David M. Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cwmavon

Cwmavon 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Jones Edwards* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cymmer

Cymmer 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John James Garwood* | 1,167 |
| | Independent | Evan Thomas | 485 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 682 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Dinas Powys

Dinas Powys 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ivor Broadbent Thomas* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Dulais Valley

Dulais Valley 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gwilym Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ferndale

Ferndale 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alfred Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Gadlys

Gadlys 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Thomas Phillips* | 1,802 |
| | Labour | David Idris Bruton | 796 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,006 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Garw Valley

Garw Valley 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Gunter* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Glyncorrwg

Glyncorrwg 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sir William Jenkins** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Gower

Gower 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Fredrick William Davies | 2,083 |
| | Labour | Stanley Jones | 1,480 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 603 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Hengoed

Hengoed 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank Loveday* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Hopkinstown

Hopkinstown 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E.H. Fleming** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Kibbor

Kibbor 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Edgar L. Chappell | 1,769 |
| | Independent | John Kane | 1,400 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 369 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Castell Coch

Castell Coch 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Sir Lewis Lougher* | 1,458 |
| | Labour | Edward Harry Follis | 606 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 852 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandeilo Talybont

Llandeilo Talybont 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Caradoc Jones** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfabon

Llanfabon 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Bowen** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llwydcoed

Llwydcoed 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Martha Emma Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llwynypia

Llwynypia 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Philip Haines Rowlands* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Loughor

Loughor 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David John Davies | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Evans** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Maesteg, East and West

Maesteg East and West 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Jenkins* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Mountain Ash

The sitting member, the Hon. John Bruce (Ind) stood down and Labour gained the seat without a contest.
Mountain Ash 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Justin Lewis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Neath (North)

Neath (North) 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | David Griffith Davies* | 1,336 |
| | Labour | J.W. Morgan | 1,042 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 294 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Neath (South)

Neath (South) 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Charles P. Huins | 1,679 |
| | Independent | Col. R.G. Llewellyn | 912 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 767 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Newcastle

Newcastle 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rev Horatio R. Protheroe* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ogmore Valley

Ogmore Valley 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Communist | Frederick Arthur Llewellyn* | 1,963 |
| | Labour | Stanley James Moore | 833 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,130 |
| | Communist hold | Communist hold | Swing |

### Penarth North

Penarth North 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | H.J. Cook | 1,001 |
| | Independent | F.R. Cratchley | 801 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 200 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Penarth South

Penarth South 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.B. Jones | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pencoed

Pencoed 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mervyn W. Paine* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Penrhiwceiber

Penrhiwceiber 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John William Bath* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pentre

Pentre 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Tye Andrews* | 1,609 |
| | Communist | Abigail Evans | 765 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 844 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Pontardawe

Pontardawe 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Daniel Davies** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pontyclun

Pontyclun 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Johnson Miles* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Port Talbot East

Port Talbot East 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Thomas** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Port Talbot West

Port Talbot West 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Llewelyn David* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Porthcawl

Porthcawl 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W.A. Howell* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pontlottyn

Pontlottyn 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W.A. Hancock* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pontypridd Town

Pontypridd Town 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jesse Powderhill* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Penygraig

Penygraig 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Churchill* | 2,148 |
| | Independent | William John Gribble | 981 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,267 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Porth

Porth 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | People's Candidate | Daniel Jones | 1,067 |
| | Labour | John Talfryn Llewellyn | 1,008 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 59 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Swansea Valley

Swansea Valley 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Jenkins* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Rogers* | 1,484 |
| | Communist | David John Griffiths | 711 |
| | Independent | Harold Whitton Davies | 584 |
| | Independent | Evan Jones | 97 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 773 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Trealaw

Trealaw 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Communist | Lewis Jones | 1,945 |
| | Labour | Richard Jones | 1,315 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 630 |
| | Communist hold | Communist hold | Swing |

### Treforest

Treforest 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Hopkin J. Smith | 1,840 |
| | Labour | Arthur James Chick* | 1,836 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Treherbert

Treherbert 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | David Edward Williams* | 2,856 |
| | Independent | Edwin Jenkins | 402 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,454 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Treorchy

Treorchy 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Hughes* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Tylorstown

Tylorstown 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Lewis** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Vale of Neath

Vale of Neath 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | William A. Betty* | 2,557 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Oliver J. Evans | 1,083 |
| | Independent | J.W. Davies | 659 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,474 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Ynyshir

Ynyshir 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Walter Robins | 1,192 |
| | People's Candidate | Morgan Benjamin | 1,177 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Ystalyfera

Ystalyfera 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Alice Williams* | 2,051 |
| | Plaid Cymru | Wynne Samuel | 873 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,176 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Ystrad

Ystrad 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Walter Henry Winter* | 1,235 |
| | Communist | Edwin Brinley Roberts | 881 |
| | Independent | David Jenkins | 871 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 354 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

## Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1937 election, there were eleven Aldermanic vacancies, and the retiring aldermen were all re-elected.
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
* William Bowen (Lab, Llanfabon)
* David Daniel Davies (Lab, Pontardawe)
* Rose Davies (Lab, Aberaman)
* John Evans (Lab, Maesteg)
* Johnson Dicks (Lab, Abercynon)
* E.H. Fleming (Lab, Hopkinstown)
* William Jenkins (Lab, Glyncorrwg)
* Caradoc Jones (Lab, Llandeilo Talybont)
* David Lewis (Lab, Tylorstown)
* Dorothy Rees (Lab, Barry Dock)
* John Thomas (Lab, Port Talbot)

## By-elections

Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.

### Aberaman by-election

Aberaman by-election 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sydney Herbert Stephens* | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Abercynon by-election

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | | |
| | Independent | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Barry Dock by-election

Labour lost the by-election held following the re-election of Dorothy Rees to the aldermanic bench. The Labour candidate had been elected following Rees's original election as alderman three years previously and at the recent election had unsuccessfully contested the neighbouring Barry ward.
Barry Dock by-election 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | J. Edward Smith | 2,080 |
| | Labour | W. East* | 1,783 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 297 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Glyncorrwg by-election

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | | |
| | Independent | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Hopkinstown by-election

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | | |
| | Independent | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llandeilo Talybont by-election

Llandeilo Talybont :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Llewellyn Davies | 1,501 |
| | Labour | J. Powell | 1,378 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Llanfabon by-election

Llanfabon by-election 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Charles Herbert Davies | 1,387 |
| | Independent | Rev. Henry Withers | 798 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 589 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Maesteg by-election

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | | |
| | Independent | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Pontardawe by-election

Pontardawe by-election 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Williams | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Port Talbot by-election

Joe Brown, former agent to Ramsay Macdonald when he was MP for Aberavon, failed to gain the Labour nomination and ran as an Independent.
Port Talbot by-election 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Llewellyn Heycock | 1,817 |
| | Independent | Joseph A. Brown | 1,248 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 569 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Tylorstown by-election

Tylorstown by-election 1937 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John Mardy Evans* | 1,977 |
| | Communist | George Edward Maslin | 584 |
| | Independent | David John | 284 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,393 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |