1904 Carmarthenshire County Council election
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The sixth election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1904.[1] It was preceded by the 1901 election and followed by the 1907 election.
Overview of the result
[edit]The Liberals retained a strong majority with a majority of members returned unopposed.[2] From the outset the election was dominated by the debate over the implementation of the 1902 Education Act, which was fiercely opposed by the radical wing of the Welsh Liberal Party.
Candidates
[edit]The election was fought on more explicitly political lines, largely as a result of the way the education question dominated the election. Following the nominations, the Liberals already had a majority due to the number of candidates returned unopposed.[3] These included all eight candidates in the Llanelli Urban area, including Joseph Roberts, who was returned unopposed, with the support of the local Trades and Labour Council, for the division previously represented by the veteran tinplate leader, Tom Phillips, who retired due to ill health.[3][n 1]
Two sitting members, Col. J.W. Gwynne Hughes of Tregib, chairman of the council and his kinsman, Colonel Gwynne Hughes of Glancothy, stood as Unionists due to the education question.
Only six of those elected at the first election, and who had served continuously since then, sought re-election. None of the retiring aldermen stood as candidates.
Outcome
[edit]There were a number of changes. At Laugharne, J.D. Morse, the member since 1889, was defeated by a Conservative while the Liberals captured seats from the Conservatives at Carmarthen, Llandovery and St Clears. Colonel Gwynne Hughes of Glancothy was defeated by a Liberal at Llanegwad.
The Liberals took all nine of the vacant aldermanic seats, with both J.S. Tregoining and Sir James Hills-Johnes receiving small numbers of votes.
Abergwili
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Lloyd* | 296 | |||
Conservative | H.W. Pryse | 125 | |||
Majority | |||||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Bettws
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | William Nathaniel Jones* | 527 | |||
Liberal | Tom Jones | 505 | |||
Majority | |||||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Caio
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | T. Francis Jones* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | T.E. Brigstocke* | 268 | |||
Liberal | H.W. Thomas | 207 | |||
Majority | |||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Rev Andrew Fuller-Mills* | 255 | |||
Conservative | D. Davies | 135 | |||
Majority | |||||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Lewis | 162 | |||
Conservative | James John* | 159 | |||
Majority | 3 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |
Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Professor D.E. Jones* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Cenarth
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | David Davies* | unopposed | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Cilycwm
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | James Rees* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Conwil
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Thomas Jones* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Kidwelly
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Alfred Stephens* | unopposed | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Laugharne
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Richard Evans | 185 | |||
Liberal | John D. Morse* | 152 | |||
Majority | 33 | ||||
Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing |
Llanarthney
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Henry Jones-Davies* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanboidy
[edit]David Thomas had been elected as a Conservative in 1901.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | David Thomas* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llandebie
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | David Davies* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llandilo Rural
[edit]William Jones had been elected as an Independent at previous elections.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | William Jones* | unopposed | |||
Liberal gain from Independent | Swing |
Llandilo Urban
[edit]Gwynne Hughes had previously sat as a Liberal.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | J.W. Gwynne Hughes* | unopposed | |||
Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing |
Llandovery
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | J.R. James | 193 | |||
Conservative | Walter Powell Jeffreys* | 105 | |||
Majority | |||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |
Llanedy
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Ll. Thomas* | 280 | |||
Conservative | R.H. Sampson | 210 | |||
Majority | 70 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanegwad
[edit]Gwynne Hughes had previously sat as a Liberal and failed to defend the seat as an Unionist.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | D.J. Harries | 257 | |||
Unionist | Col. W. Gwynne Hughes* | 210 | |||
Majority | |||||
Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing |
Llanelly Division 1
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | W. Griffiths | unopposed | |||
Unionist hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 2
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | W. Williams | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 3
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | William David* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 4
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Rev Thomas Johns* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Liberal hold |
Llanelly Division 5
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | D.C. Parry* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 6
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Joseph Roberts | Unopposed | |||
Majority | |||||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 7
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Thomas Jones* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanelly Division 8
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Joseph Williams* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanelly Rural, Berwick
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | D. Harry | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanelly Rural, Hengoed
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | David John* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Rev B. Humphreys | 293 | |||
Liberal | Rev John Evans | 129 | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Earl Cawdor* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative hold |
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Thomas Barrett* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llangadock
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | William Davies* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llangeler
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Colonel W.P. Lewes* | unopposed | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Llangendeirne
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | William Jenkins* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llangennech
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | T. Thomas | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llangunnor
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | C.E. Morris* | 182 | |||
Conservative | David Evan Stephens | 160 | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanon
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Morgan Jones* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llansawel
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Sir J.H.W. Drummond, Bart.* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Conservative hold |
Llanstephan
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Johns* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Llanybyther
[edit]Williams was one of two Liberal candidates in 1901 when both polled the same number of votes and Williams lost on the toss of a coin.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | J. Thomas | 266 | |||
Conservative | David Williams | 234 | |||
Majority | 32 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Mothvey
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | David Davies* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Pembrey North
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Rev J.H. Rees* | 272 | |||
Liberal | Dr J.H. Williams | 174 | |||
Unionist | Rev W.G. Williams | 129 | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Pembrey South
[edit]This ward was not recorded in the local press.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas F. Wilkins | 391 | |||
John G. Thomas | 148 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Quarter Bach
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | W.J. Williams | 296 | |||
Liberal | Gwilym Vaughan | 289 | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Rhydcymmerai
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Benjamin Evans* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
St Clears
[edit]Dr Thomas had sat as a Conservative but was said to have fought this election as a 'radical'.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | J. Lewis | 253 | |||
Liberal | Dr R.L. Thomas* | 182 | |||
Independent | Capt. D.J. Powell | 28 | |||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |
St Ishmael
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Lloyd Thomas* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Trelech
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | W. Thomas | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Whitland
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | J. Scourfield* | unopposed | |||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Election of aldermen
[edit]In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following nine aldermen were elected (with the number of votes recorded in each case).
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
- John Williams, retiring alderman (47)
- John Lewis, retiring alderman (45)
- D.L. Jones, retiring alderman (42)
- R.W. Stephens, retiring alderman (48)
- John Rees, retiring alderman (42)
- Rev William Davies, retiring alderman (42)
In addition, two new aldermen were elected:
- W.N. Jones, elected member for Betws (46)
- Thomas Jones, elected member for Llanelli Ward 7 (42)
- Rev Thomas Johns, elected member for Llanelli Ward 4 (42
Four retiring aldermen were not re-elected:
- J.S. Tregoning, Iscoed, Conservative
- Rev. W. Thomas, Whitland, Liberal
- David Evans, Llangennech, Liberal
- James Hill-Johnes, Dolaucothy, Conservative
All the elected aldermen were supported by the majority of members.[4]
By-elections between 1904 and 1907
[edit]Betws by-election 1904
[edit]A by-election was held on 23 April due to the elevation of W.N. Jones to the aldermanic bench. The Rev. Towyn Jones, Garnant, consented to stand after two public meetings at Ammanford and in Cwmamman and was expected to be returned unopposed. However, he was opposed by David John Jones, an Ammanford ironmonger and a prominent Congregationalist, who refused to withdraw. After a contest between two Liberals which involved the local MP, Abel Thomas, Towyn Jones was elected by a relatively comfortable majority.[5]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | J. Towyn Jones | 611 | |||
Liberal | David John Jones | 416 | |||
Majority | 195 | ||||
Turnout | |||||
Liberal hold | Swing |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Joseph Roberts was the nominee of the Trades and Labour Council and was described in some sources as a Labour candidate.
References
[edit]- ^ "Carmarthenshire County Council Elections. Sweeping Victory for the National Policy". Carmarthen Weekly Reporter. 11 March 1904. p. 1. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ^ "County Council Nominations". Carmarthen Journal. 4 March 1904. p. 5. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ a b "The Pending Fight (editorial)". Llanelly Mercury. 3 March 1904. p. 4. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "Carmarthenshire County Council. Statutory Meeting". Carmarthen Journal. 18 March 1904. p. 5. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ^ "Amman Valley Bye-Election. Return of the Rev. Towyn Jones". Carmarthen Weekly Reporter (supplement). 29 April 1904. p. 1. Retrieved 23 March 2023.