# 1931 Glamorgan County Council election

The fourteenth election to Glamorgan County Council, south Wales, took place in March 1931. It was preceded by the 1928 election and followed by the 1934 election.

## Overview of the Result

Labour was defending a secure majority in an election where they faced opposition from the left in the form of the Communist Party, as well as more traditional opponents. The result showed little change from previous years.

## Boundary Changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

## Candidates

13 candidates were returned unopposed.

## Contested Elections

Most of the retiring aldermen were returned.

## Outcome

Labour retains its majority. The party won some additional seats, such as Pentre in the Rhondda where T.A. Thomas had held on against several previous Labour challenges.
In the Cymmer ward, David Thomas, who had failed to hold the seat in 1928 after David Watts-Morgan was elected alderman, was successful after the sitting Independent stood down.

## Results
### Aberaman

Aberaman 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Florence Rose Davies** | 2,408 |
| | Independent | T.Ll. Davies | 1,833 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 575 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Aberavon

Aberavon 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Edward Lewis Hare* | 2,292 |
| | Independent | Horace Hyde Macey | 1,408 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 884 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Abercynon

Abercynon 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Joseph Dicks** | 2,434 |
| | Liberal | Edward J. Thomas | 1,063 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,381 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Aberdare Town

Aberdare Town 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Thomas* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Bargoed

The sitting member had been elected as the official Labour candidate in 1928.
Bargoed 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent Labour | William Henry Hopkins* | 2,434 |
| | Independent | T.C. Jones | 1,204 |
| | Labour | Moses C. Price | 550 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,230 |
| | Independent Labour hold | Independent Labour hold | Swing |

### Barry

Barry 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Rev D.H. Williams** | 1,953 |
| | Labour | Rev R.H. Lomas* | 1,494 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 459 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Barry Dock

Barry Dock 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | W.M. Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Blaengwawr

Blaengwawr 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | William J. Edwards* | 1,156 |
| | Independent | Henry Vause | 518 |
| | Communist | Trevor Williams | 152 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 638 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Bridgend

Bridgend 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent Liberal | Dapho Llewellyn Powell* | 1,713 |
| | Ind. Conservative | William W. Phillips | 1,227 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 486 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Briton Ferry

Briton Ferry 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | George Gethin* | 2,068 |
| | Conservative | J.M. Bevan | 1,500 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 568 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Cadoxton

Cadoxton 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Dudley Thomas Howe | 1,631 |
| | Labour | Frederick Cook | 1,160 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 471 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Caerphilly

Caerphilly 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Evan Phillips | 2,183 |
| | Independent | Joseph Howells** | 2,119 |
| | Communist | Edward Withers | 101 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 64 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Cilfynydd

Cilfynydd 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Arthur Pearson* | 2,306 |
| | Independent | Ivor W. Thomas | 1,358 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 948 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Coedffranc

Coedffranc 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Ogley L. David | 2,170 |
| | Labour | W. Phillip Jenkins* | 1,867 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 303 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Cowbridge

Cowbridge 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | George Lougher | 2,147 |
| | Labour | Emily Jones | 1,487 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 660 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cwm Aber

Cwm Aber 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Rev David M. Jones* | 2,462 |
| | Independent | Griffith H. Lloyd | 845 |
| | Communist | F. Parrish | 95 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,617 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Cwmavon

Cwmavon 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Jones Edwards* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cymmer

Cymmer 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | David Thomas | 997 |
| | Independent | Brinley Ithel Rowlands | 775 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 222 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Dinas Powys

Dinas Powys 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ivor Broadbent Thomas* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Dulais Valley

Dulais Valley 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gwilym Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ferndale

Ferndale 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Alfred Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Gadlys

Gadlys 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John Prowle | 1,328 |
| | Independent | T. Marchant Harries* | 1,000 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 328 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Glyncorrwg

Glyncorrwg 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sir William Jenkins** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Gower

W.H. Davies had won the seat in 1919, and was elected alderman. He failed to be re-elected in 1925 and 1928.
Gower 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | William Henry Davies | 1,761 |
| | Independent | Frederick W. Davies* | 1,602 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 159 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Hengoed

Hengoed 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Evans* | 1,900 |
| | Independent | T.B. Fisher | 1,551 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 349 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Hopkinstown

Hopkinstown 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E.H. Fleming** | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Kibbor

Kibbor 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Edgar L. Chappell | 1,769 |
| | Independent | John Kane | 1,400 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 369 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandaff

Llandaff 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Ind. Conservative | Sir Lewis Lougher* | 862 |
| | Independent Liberal | Mary Annie Powell | 440 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 422 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandeilo Talybont

Llandeilo Talybont 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Caradoc Jones** | 1,885 |
| | Independent | Alfred Morgan | 1,153 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 732 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanfabon

Llanfabon 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | William Bowen* | 1,596 |
| | Independent | Arthur Hopkins | 966 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 630 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llwydcoed

Llwydcoed 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Martha Emma Jones* | 1,563 |
| | Labour | Owen Powell | 926 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 637 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llwynypia

Llwynypia 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Philip Haines Rowlands* | 2,241 |
| | Communist | Lewis R. Jones | 154 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,067 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Loughor

Loughor 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Thomas J. Thomas* | 2,245 |
| | Labour | David J. Davies | 1,854 |
| | Communist | Sarah Edith Williams | 143 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 391 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon

Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyffyllon 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John Evans** | 2,162 |
| | Independent | Brinley Richards | 984 |
| | Communist | Benjamin Francis | 914 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,172 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Maesteg, East and West

Maesteg East and West 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Albert E. Lockyer | 2,863 |
| | Labour | Tom Jenkins | 1,746 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,117 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Mountain Ash

Mountain Ash 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Hon. John H. Bruce* | 1,836 |
| | Labour | Justin Lewis | 1,727 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 109 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Neath (North)

Neath (North) 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent Liberal | David Griffith Davies | 1,382 |
| | Labour | John William Morgan | 1,234 |
| | Communist | Frank Roper | 77 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 148 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Neath (South)

Neath (South) 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Rev W. Degwel Thomas* | 1,934 |
| | Independent | Theodore Gibbins | 1,907 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Newcastle

Newcastle 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rev H.R. Protheroe* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ogmore Valley

The sitting Independent Labour councillor had recently died.
Ogmore Valley 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Thomas Lucas | 2,337 |
| | Independent | Thomas Llewellyn | 2,152 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 349 |
| | Labour gain from Independent Labour | Labour gain from Independent Labour | Swing |

### Penarth North

Penarth North 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Frank L. Nicholls | 1,261 |
| | Labour | Ernest Edwards | 615 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 646 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Penarth South

Penarth South 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Samuel Thomas* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pencoed

The sitting member, W.A. Howell, switched to contest the Porthcawl ward and Labour won the seat.
Pencoed 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Mervyn W. Paine | 1,819 |
| | Independent | David Bayliss | 938 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 881 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Penrhiwceiber

Penrhiwceiber 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John William Bath | 3,130 |
| | Independent | Mrs Alice Phillips | 1,343 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,787 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Pentre

Pentre 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | James Jenkin Lewis | 2,061 |
| | Independent | Thomas Alfred Thomas* | 1,208 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 853 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Pontardawe

Pontardawe 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | David Daniel Davies** | 2,787 |
| | Independent | Rev T.M. Roderick | 1,342 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,445 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Pontyclun

Pontyclun 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Johnson Miles | 2,093 |
| | Independent | Rev. Benjamin Salmon | 1,778 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 315 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Port Talbot East

Port Talbot East 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John Thomas** | 1,481 |
| | Independent | William Arthur Davies | 1,226 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 255 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Port Talbot West

Port Talbot West 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Llewelyn David* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Porthcawl

Porthcawl 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | W.A. Howell* | 2,277 |
| | Labour | Jenkin Jones | 1,414 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 863 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Pontlottyn

Pontlottyn 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W.A. Hancock* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pontycymmer

Pontycymmer 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ted Williams* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pontypridd Town

Pontypridd Town 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Gwilym Seaton | 1,438 |
| | Labour | Myra O'Brien | 1,407 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Penygraig

Penygraig 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | William Job | 2,019 |
| | Independent | John Picton Davies* | 1,378 |
| | Communist | Vivian Howard James | 231 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 641 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Porth

Porth 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Evans* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Swansea Valley

Swansea Valley 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | David Jenkins | 2,903 |
| | Independent | Richard Thomas* | 2,058 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 945 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch

Tonyrefail and Gilfach Goch 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Dicks* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Trealaw

Trealaw 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | John Atkins | 1,649 |
| | Independent | Edwin Jenkins | 993 |
| | Communist | John James Townsend | 213 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 656 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Treforest

Treforest 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Arthur James Chick* | 2,104 |
| | Independent | Zenos Thomas | 1,968 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 136 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Treherbert

Treherbert 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | David Edward Williams* | 2,674 |
| | Independent | Frederick George Dingley | 715 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,959 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Treorchy

Treorchy 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Hughes* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Tylorstown

Tylorstown 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | David Lewis** | 1,907 |
| | Communist | George Edward Maslin | 872 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 935 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Vale of Neath

Vale of Neath 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | William A. Betty* | 3,169 |
| | Independent | Rees Howells | 2.229 |
| | Communist | W.J. Sherlock | 129 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 940 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Ynyshir

Ynyshir 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Daniel Jones | 1,744 |
| | Labour | Thomas Henry Matthews | 1,594 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 150 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Ystalyfera

Ystalyfera 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Daniel T. Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ystrad

Ystrad 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Sidney Cadogan* | 2,417 |
| | Independent | Henry Harris | 951 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,466 |
| | 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 1931 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)
* John Thomas (Lab, Port Talbot)
* Rev D.H. Williams (Ind, Barry)

## By-elections

Eleven vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.

### Aberaman by-election

Aberaman by-election 1931 :
| 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 by-election

Barry by-election 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | L.P. Griffiths | 2,032 |
| | Labour | Rev R.H. Lomas | 1,624 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 408 |
| | 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 1931 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Charles Herbert Davies | 1,212 |
| | Independent | William Jones | 1,169 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43 |
| | 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 1925 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Williams | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Port Talbot by-election

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

### Tylorstown by-election

Tylorstown by-election 1931 :
| 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 |