An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1949.[1] It was preceded by the 1946 election and followed, by the 1952 election.
Overview of the result
After steadily increasing their representation throughout the inter-war period, the Labour Party finally won a majority on the Council, and strengthened their hold by taking nine of the ten vacancies on the aldermanic bench. Labour victories included taking a seat in the Borough of Carmarthen for the first time. Gwynfor Evans, President of Plaid Cymru, was returned for the Llangadog ward.
Boundary changes
There were no boundary changes.
Unopposed returns
There were a number of unopposed returns, both in Labour held seats and in the western part of the county, which was described as still being 'traditionally Liberal in character'.[2]
Contested elections
While there were more unopposed returns than in 1946, many wards were keenly contested. Electioneering reached a peak in Llanelli where an Independent association was formed to fight the elections as a united front against Labour. However, Labour won all but two seats in Llanelli town.
Retiring aldermen faced the electorate for the first time since 1937. In Llangyndeyrn, Alderman Rev. James Jenkins, a member of the Council since 1925, was defeated by the retiring Labour councilor. However, Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw was one of only two Independent candidates to secure election in Llanelli.
Retiring aldermen
The aldermen who retired at the election were
Summary of results
This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections. In some cases there is an ambiguity in the sources over the party affiliations and this is explained below where relevant.
This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 53 councillors were elected.
Carmarthesnhire County Council 1949: elected members |
Party |
Seats |
Gains |
Losses |
Net gain/loss |
Seats % |
Votes % |
Votes |
+/− |
|
Labour |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carmarthenshire County Council 1949 : following election of new aldermen |
Party |
Seats |
Gains |
Losses |
Net gain/loss |
Seats % |
Votes % |
Votes |
+/− |
|
Labour |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carmarthenshire County Council 1949 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections |
Party |
Seats |
Gains |
Losses |
Net gain/loss |
Seats % |
Votes % |
Votes |
+/− |
|
Labour |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plaid Cymru |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ward results
Abergwili
Ammanford No.1
Ammanford No.1 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Haydn Lewis* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Ammanford No.2
Boundary Change.
Ammanford No.2 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
John Harries* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Berwick
Burry Port
Caio
Carmarthen Division 2
Carmarthen Division 3
Cenarth
Cilycwm
Conwil
Cwmamman
Cwmamman 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
David Davies* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Hengoed
Kidwelly
Laugharne
Llanarthney
Llanarthney 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
W. Edgar Lewis* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanboidy
Llandebie North
Llandebie North 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Gwilym R. Thomas* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llandebie South
Llandebie South 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Evan Bevan* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Urban
Llandovery
Llandyssilio
Llanedy
Llanedy 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Thomas William Morgan* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanegwad
Llanelly Division.1
Llanelly Division 2
Llanelly Division 3
Llanelly Division 3 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Mrs Claudia R. Rees* |
631 |
|
|
|
Independent |
David J. Edmunds |
313 |
|
|
Majority |
|
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanelly Division 4
Llanelly Division 4 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Mrs Charlotte Hopkins* |
1,115 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Sidney Ellis |
955 |
|
|
Majority |
|
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanelly Division 5
Llanelly Division 6
Llanelly Division 7
Llanelly Division 8
Llanelly Division 9
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llangadog
Llangeler
Llangendeirne
Llangendeirne 1946
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Rev R.G. James* |
1,012 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Rev James Jenkins** |
unopposed |
|
|
Majority |
|
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llangennech
Llangunnor
Llanon
Llanon 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Sidney Jones* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llansawel
Llanstephan
Llanybyther
Myddfai
Pembrey
Pembrey 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Simon John Elwyn Samuel* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Pontyberem
Pontyberem 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
David John Jones* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Quarter Bach
Quarter Bach 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
William Watkin Davies* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Rhydcymmerai
St Clears
St Ishmaels
Trelech
Trimsaran
Westfa
Westfa 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Emrys Aubrey* |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Whitland
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. Following the elections the following nine aldermen were elected.
- W. Douglas Hughes, Labour
- Emrys Aubrey, Labour
- T.S. Bowen, Labour
- T.W. Morgan, Labour
- D.J. Jones, Labour
- W.W. Davies, Labour
- J. Amos Jones, Labour
- W.T. Griffiths, Labour
- J. Llewellyn Evans, Labour
- Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw, Independent
By-elections
Following the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held.[3] In Llanelli, the Independents gained two seats but Labour won the seat vacated by Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw.
Berwick by-election
Kidwelly by-election
Llanedy by-election
Llanedy by-election 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Gwyn Howells |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanelly Division 2 by-election
Llanelly Division 5 by-election
Llanelly Division 6 by-election
Llanelly Division 6 by-election 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
W.J. Davies |
666 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Harry Beaton |
310 |
|
|
Majority |
|
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Llanelly Division 7 by-election
Pontyberem by-election
Pontyberem by-election 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
John Williams |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Quarter Bach by-election
Quarter Bach by-election 1949
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Labour |
Josiah Jones |
1,422 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Owen A. Jenkins |
920 |
|
|
Majority |
|
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Westfa by-election
References
- ↑ "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 8 April 1949.
- ↑ "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 18 March 1949.
- ↑ "By-Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 27 May 1949.
Bibliography
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